Myth and Religion Revision

Knowledge and Understanding Questions

There will be 16 marks worth of these questions on the paper. Such as:

1. Identify the god/goddess and tell me how you know. (8 marks)

A
B

C D

2. Who is the main official in the source below and how do you know? (2)

3. Where was the Temple of Vesta in Rome located? (1)

4. Identify the Labours of Theseus on the Kylix, explaining how you know which ones they are? (2
marks each – 14 marks)

5. See sources, Livy 1.1 and 1.7: How did Aeneas respond to the following questions?

a. Where did you come from? (1)

b. Why did you leave that place? (1)

c. For what purpose have you landed in Italy? (1)

6. What are the penates? (1)

7. What is pietas? (1)

8. What does this vase show? (2)

9. Why were such vases important to the Greeks? (1)

10. What sporting events took place at the Panathenaia? (3)

11. What is a peplos? (1)

12. What is happening in this source? (2)

13. Why was this significant for Greek religion? (1)

14. Who were the two most important people in charge of the City Dionysia? (2)

15. What is a pompe? (1)

16. What was the komos? (1)

17. What did Romans do at the Lupercalia? (4)

18. What does this relief show and how do you know? (2)

19. Where is the Augustus sculpture you have studied located in Italy? (2)

20. What is prothesis? (2)

21. What is an ekphora? (2)

22. Where did the Greeks bury their dead in Athens? (1)

23. What different types of people would have taken part in a Greek funeral procession? (2)

24. What was the Genesia? (2)

25. When did the Parentalia take place? (2)

Significance questions
There will be two of these questions in Section A and Section B. They are split in two – AO1 (2 marks for two
pieces of information) and AO2 (1 mark for explaining why it’s important or significant).

1. a. In the myth of the contest judged by Cecrops between Athena and Poseidon, what did Athena do

to win? (2)
b. What was the significance of this act to the Athenians? (1)

2. a. In the myth of the Lernaean Hydra, how did Heracles overcome the beast? (2)
b. What was the significance of this Labour to the mythology surrounding the Labours? (1)

3. a. In the myth of Pelops and Hippodamia, how did Pelops win the race with her father? (2)
b. What is the significance of this myth to the Greeks? (1)

4. a. How does Hercules overcome Cacus in Virgil’s Aeneid? (2)

b. What is the significance of this myth to the Romans? (1)

5. a. Describe how Athena is shown being born on the Parthenon in Athens. (2)
b. Why was this myth important to the Greeks, i.e. why did they choose to put it on the temple? (1)

6. a. Describe the layout of a typical Roman temple. (2)

b. What is the significance of the altar to the Romans? (1)

7. a. Describe the job of augur. (2)

b. What is the significance of this role to the Romans? (1)

8. a. Give two roles for the Vestal Virgins? (2)

b. Why are they important to the Romans? (1)

9. a. What is a haruspex? (2)

b. Why were haruspices important to the Romans? (1)

10. a. What happened after the sacrificial animal reached the altar but before it was killed? (2)
b. Why was this important to a sacrifice? (1)

11. a. At the Great Panathenaia, what happened after the rhapsodic and musical contests but before the

tribal contests? (2)

b. Why were these events significant for the Greeks? (1)

12. a. What is the origin of the City Dionysia festival? (2)

b. Why was this important to the Greeks? (1)

13. a. What do the Romans do at the Lupercalia? (2)

b. Why was this important to Roman women? (1)

14. a. In the myth of the Centauromachy, who wins? (2)

b. Why is this significant for the Greeks? (1)

15. a. In which two temples is the Centauromachy portrayed? (2)

b. Explain why this is of significance for the Greeks (1)
16. What is shown in the scene above? (2)
Why did Augustus choose to use this scene on the Ara Pacis? (1)

17. Describe where the Romans carried the dead to before they were buried or cremated. (2)
What does this suggest about Roman attitudes to the dead? (1)

18. Homeric Hymn to Demeter 2.361-369

Keep the spirit in your breast kindly; don’t be too angry for all you could be. I will not be a shameful
husband to you amongst the immortals, being the brother of Zeus the Father. Here you will rule all
that lives and moves, receiving the greatest honours amongst the immortals. Thos who do wrong
and do not appease your power with sacrifices, reverently performing rites, and giving rich gifts, will
have punishment for all their days.

a. Who is speaking in this scene and who were they speaking to? (2)
b. Why was this myth important to the Greeks? (1)

19. In the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice how does Orpheus persuade Pluto to release Eurydice and why
a. Does she not manage to return with him? (2)
b. Why would this scene be appropriate for a Roman sarcophagus? (1)
Detailed-response questions
You will get one of these questions (8 markers) in both section A and Section B, with one or more sources to
prompt you. The stimulus is a starting point, then you need to bring in extra information and examples.

4 marks AO1 (knowledge and understanding)

4 marks AO2 (evaluation and interpretation)

1. How heroic do you believe Heracles was?

2. Whom do you admire more as a founder of Rome, Aeneas or Romulus?

3. Why were the gods important to the everyday lives of the Romans?

4. How important was the Homeric Hymn to Demeter for the Greek understanding of the cycle of the
seasons?

5. Heracles always used brute force over brains during his labours. To what extent do you agree with this
statement?

6. Who was the greater hero, Theseus or Heracles?

7. The Parthenon was more than just a temple, it was a monument to the greatness of Athens. To what
extent do you agree with this statement?

8. Which do you think were more important to Rome, the Pontifex Maximus or the Vestal Virgins?

9. Which do you think was a better way to honour a Roman god, building a temple or conducting a
sacrifice?

10. Who was more significant for their associated city, Heracles for Olympia or Theseus for Athens? Give
reasons for your answer.

11. Why did Plutarch consider Theseus and Romulus good subjects for comparison in his work?

12. ‘The Great Panathenaia was more a celebration of Athens rather than of Athena.’ To what extent do you
agree with this statement?

13. Which do you think the Athenians would enjoy more, the Great Panathenaia of the City Dionysia?

14. How inclusive was the Lupercalia?

15. How appropriately was Saturn worshipped during the Saturnalia?

16. ‘The Saturnalia was a more inclusive festival than the Lupercalia’. To what extent do you agree with this
statement? Support your answer with evidence from both festivals.

17. Do you think the Romans would have enjoyed the Lupercalia or the Saturnalia more? Justify your
answer.
Source A Source C

Source B Source D

18. How successfully have the sculptors depicted the Centauromachy? Use sources A and B as a starting
point and your own knowledge in your answer.

19. How successfully has the sculptor depicted the Amazonomachy? Use Sources C and D as a starting point
and your own knowledge in your answer.

20. How successful was the Augustus of the Prima Porta in promoting the power of Augustus?

21. How successfully did the altar of peace fulfil Augustus’ architectural aims?

22. Which was a better expression of Augustus’s power, the Augustus at Prima Porta or the Ara Pacis?

23. ‘Respecting the dead was more important for the individual family than the city’. To what extent do you
agree with this statement about Greek burial OR Roman burial?

24. Hymn to Demeter: What impression of Demeter do you get from this poem?

25. Hymn to Demeter: ‘Men were pawns that the gods manipulated for their own advantage.’ To what
extent do you agree with this statement?

26. How does Ovid create sympathy for Orpheus in his poem?

27. Why was Orpheus’ story important to the Romans?

Greece and Rome Section C
Stimulus questions
You identify something relevant from the stimuli and analyse what you have recognised.

THERE ARE MORE MARKS FOR AO2 ON THIS QUESTION! This is indicated by the word ‘Explain’. I.e. if a
question is worth 6 marks, there will be 2 marks for AO1 and 4 marks for AO2

1. Source A – Relief from a stone coffin with the abduction of Persephone/Proserpina

Source B – Homeric Hymn to Demeter, lines 267-277; 292- 315; 399-406
Explain why Persephone/Proserpina and Demeter/Ceres were so important to both the Greeks and
the Romans. (6)

2. Source – Homeric Hymn to Demeter or Homeric Hymn to Heracles the Lionhearted

Explain the character of Greek and Roman religion including polytheism and anthropomorphism. (6)

3. Source A – Homeric Hymn to Demeter; Source B – sarcophagus showing abduction of Proserpina

a) Explain why Homer and the deceased’s family may have chosen to use this myth in these contexts.
(3)
b) Explain a benefit of having gods with human forms and qualities. (3)

4. Source – Greek temple, i.e. Parthenon; Source B – Roman temple, i.e. Temple of Portunus
a) Explain how Greek and Roman temples differed in their layout and use. (3)
b) Explain a benefit of having splendid temples. (3)

5. Source A – An extract from Aeschylus’ Source B

Seven against Thebes.

And now here Eteocles makes his vow to the gods who
guard our city’s land, both those who dwell in the plain
and those who watch over its meeting place…I vow
that, if things go well and the city is saved, the citizens
shall redden the gods’ altars with the blood of sheep
and sacrifice bulls to the gods – this is my vow – and
offer trophies, while I crown their holy temples with the
spoil of the enemy’s spear-pierced garments.

Study Source A and Source B

a) Explain why the Greeks and Romans engaged in blood sacrifice (3)
b) Explain the role of the temple in honouring Greek and Roman gods (3)
c) Explain the important of the role played by participants during a sacrifice. (3)
d) Explain the important of the animal in blood sacrifice (3)
Source A: A plan of the sanctuary of Dionysus in Athens

Source B: An account of Saturnalia and Lupercalia

The Saturnalia

Meanwhile the head of the slave household, whose responsibility it was to offer sacrifice to the Penates, to
manage the provisions and to direct the activities of the domestic servants, came to tell his master that the
household had feasted according to the annual ritual custom. For at this festival, in houses that keep to
proper religious usage they first of all honour the slaves with a dinner prepared as if for their master; and
only afterwards is the table set again for the head of the household. So then, the chief slave cam in to
announce the time of dinner and to summon the masters to table.
The Lupercalia
The place the Romans call the Lupercal….Now it is true, since the district about the sacred precinct has been
united with the city, it has become difficult to make out by conjecture the ancient nature of the place.
Nevertheless at first we are told there was a large cave under the hill overarched by a dense wood; deep
springs issued from beneath the rocks, and the glen adjoining the cliffs was shaded by thick and lofty trees. In
this place they raised an altar to the god and performed their traditional sacrifice, which the Romans have
continued to offer up to this day in the month of February, after the winter solstice, without altering anything
in the rites then performed.

6. Study Source A and B

a) Explain the importance of the altar in ancient festivals (6)
b) Explain why participants enjoyed ancient festivals. (6)
c) Explain why festival were important for honouring the gods (3)
Source A: a metope from the Parthenon

Source B: an extract from Ovid’s Fasti about the Ara Pacis (Altar of Peace)

My song has led to the altar of peace itself.

…Come, Peace, your graceful tresses wreathed
With laurel of Actium: stay gently in this world,
While we lack enemies, or cause for triumphs:
You’ll be a greater glory to our leaders than war,
May the soldier be armed to defend against arms,
And the trumpet blare only for processions.
May the world far and near fear the sons of Aeneas,
And let any land that feared Rome too little, love her.
Priests, add incense to the peaceful flames,
Let a shining sacrifice fall, brow wet with wine,
And ask the gods who favour pious prayer
That the house that brings peace, may so endure.

7. Explain which you think was a better expression of power, the centauromachy or the Ara Pacis (6)
Source A: an Athenian grave stele dated 390BC

Source B: an extract from the biographer Suetonius describing how Rome planned the funeral of the
emperor Augustus
From Bovilla, a party of Roman knights carried it to the vestibule of his own house in Rome. The senators
vied with one another in proposing… honours for Augustus. Amongst the motions introduced were the
following: that his funeral procession should pass through the triumphal gate preceded by the image of
Victory from the Senate House, and the boys and girls of the nobility should sing his dirge; that on the
day of his cremation iron rings should be worm instead of gold ones; that the name of the month
‘Augustus’ should be transferred to September, because Augustus had been born in September but had
died in the month now called August… although it was decided not to pay him excessive honours, he was
given two funeral eulogies by Tiberius… and by Tiberius’ son Drusus. After which a party of senators
shouldered the body and took it to a pyre on the Campus Martius, where it was burned. Leading knights
then took his ashes and placed them in the family mausoleum.

8. Study Source A and B

a. Explain how funerals could vary dependent on wealth and importance. (6)
b. Explain why stele and mausolea were important to the burial process. (3)

Source A: Homeric Hymn to Demeter 2.394-402

Child, you didn’t eat any food while you were down below, did you? Speak out, don’t hide anything,
so that we both know. For if you have not, you shall come back from hated Hades and live alongside
me and your dark-clouded father, the son of Cronos, honoured by all the immortals. But if you did
eat, you will go back again to the depths of the earth, to live for a third part of the seasons of each
year. The other two parts, however, you shall live alongside me and the other immortals.

Source B: Roman sarcophagus showing Orpheus

9. Explain how stories of journeying to the Underworld were important to the Greeks and Romans (6)
Extended response questions
Last question on Section C. There will be two options, and you will choose one to answer.

AO1 = 5 marks

AO2 = 10 marks

Question answer should be well structured and bring together knowledge and understanding of both Greek
and Roman cultures.

1. Who honoured Hercules more, the people of Olympia or Rome? (15)

2. ‘Demi-gods were more heroic than gods’. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

3. Who constructed more impressive temples, the Greeks or Romans?

4. Whose sacrifices honoured the gods more, the Greeks’ or the Romans’?

5. Who was the greater man, Theseus or Romulus?

6. Who was the greater man, Aeneas or Romulus?

7. Who had more enjoyable festivals, the Greeks or Romans?

8. Who had more inclusive festivals, the Greeks or the Romans?

9. Which civilisation expressed their power better in their architecture, the Greeks or Romans?

10. Whose mythology was better represented in their architecture, the Greeks’ or the Romans’?

11. Who honoured their dead more, the Greeks or Romans?

12. ‘We can learn more about attitudes to the dead from Greek than from Roman funerary sculpture’. To
what extent do you agree with this statement?

13. ‘The Underworld was not something to look forward to.’ To what extent do you agree with this
statement.