''Gerarai'' ( grc-gre, Γεραραί), also known by the
latinized form ''Gerarae'', were priestesses (
Hiereiai
Hiereiai (singular: ''hiereia'') was the title of the female priesthood or priestesses in ancient Greek religion, being the equivalent of the male title '' Hierei''. Ancient Greece had a number of different offices in charge of worship of gods a ...
) of
Dionysus
In ancient Greek religion and myth, Dionysus (; grc, Διόνυσος ) is the god of the grape-harvest, winemaking, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, festivity, and theatre. The Roma ...
in
ancient Greek
Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic p ...
religion.
They presided over sacrifices and participated in the festivals of
Theoinia and
Iobaccheia that took place during the month of
Anthesteria, among other duties. Fourteen in all, they were either sworn in by the Athenian ''
basilinna'' or her husband, the ''
archon basileus ''Archon basileus'' ( grc, ἄρχων βασιλεύς ') was a Greek title, meaning "king magistrate": the term is derived from the words '' archon'' "magistrate" and '' basileus'' "king" or " sovereign".
Most modern scholars claim that in Class ...
''. One of their primary duties during the Anthesteria was to assist in performing the
sacred marriage rites of the queen to Dionysus, and thus held to secrecy. According to a folk etymology, they were called ''Gerarai'', from the Greek word γηράσκω, ''gerasko'', "I grow old". Older women were chosen for the role.
See also
*
Anthesteria (Choes)
*
Bacchae
''The Bacchae'' (; grc-gre, Βάκχαι, ''Bakchai''; also known as ''The Bacchantes'' ) is an ancient Greek tragedy, written by the Athenian playwright Euripides during his final years in Macedonia, at the court of Archelaus I of Macedon. ...
*
Dionysia
The Dionysia (, , ; Greek: Διονύσια) was a large festival in ancient Athens in honor of the god Dionysus, the central events of which were the theatrical performances of dramatic tragedies and, from 487 BC, comedies. It was the s ...
*
Maenad
In Greek mythology, maenads (; grc, μαινάδες ) were the female followers of Dionysus and the most significant members of the Thiasus, the god's retinue. Their name literally translates as "raving ones". Maenads were known as Bassarids, ...
References
*Otto, Walter F. ''Dionysus, Myth and Cult.'' Spring Publications (1989).
*Parke, H. W. "Festivals Of The Athenians" Cornell University Press (1990).
External links
Bacchanalia
– Bibliotheca Arcana (1997)
The Anthesteria
– The Hellenic World (2002)
– The Advent of Dionysus (1997)
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Cult of Dionysus
Ancient Athenian religious titles
Ancient Greek priestesses