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HISTORY / LORE:

In some cases, priests were wanderers (referred to as seers), who did purification's, initiations and divination's for pay. These types of priests were a subject of derision and scorn and received little respect.

In other cases, worshipers came together into thiasos or religious clubs. These clubs were usually fourteen in number as that is the most you can have in a circle of couches and still hold a conversation (seven couches with two people each). Each person contributed time, interest, influence and property to a common cause. This was not considered abnormal since a priest was not absolutely necessary to worship and anyone was allowed to perform sacrifices.

However, the most common type of priesthood were the keepers of the sacred items, caretakers of the sanctuaries and leaders of the nomos (usage). These priesthood's were obtained by wills, elections, lottery, purchase or appointment. Each lasted for a year, for a festival cycle (four years) or a lifetime. In all cases, the priest or priestess was a respected member of the community who had authority and economic power (other requirements varied by the god or goddess represented). Their responsibilities included performing religious observances on behalf of the community, presiding over rituals and sacrifices, preparing and participating in festivals, officiating at weddings and funerals, purifying houses after a birth or death, administering oaths, looking after cult property, administering cult affairs and being at the sanctuary at least ten days a month. In return, they received a portion of all sacrifices, sometimes housing and free meals, and respect as a representative of a deity.

There were no priests or priestess. All of them were priests of a specific god or goddess (priest of Dionysos, priestess of Athena, etc.) One person was often the priest or priestess of more than one deity. They never interpreted any religious texts (such as the priests of other religions) but they gain respect by knowing the purpose behind the various religious actions and by making religion into a craft.

In the large temples, priesthood was subdivided into hiereus (priest) or hiereia (priestess) who looked after the hiera (sacred things), spondophoroi (libation bearers), hydrophoroi (carriers of sacred water), manteis (prophets), auletes (musician, exegetai (interpreters or expounders of sacred law), kleidoukhoi (key holders), oinokhoos (wine pourer), grammateus (scribe), mageiros (sacrificer), neokoros (temple caretaker), dadoukhos (torch bearers), hierokeryx (herald who announces the ritual), hierothytai (sacrificing priests), rhabdophroi (peacekeepers at festivals), and many others.

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