Diamond Member Pelican Press 0 Posted February 24, 2025 Diamond Member Share Posted February 24, 2025 This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up Greek Troupe With Phallic Symbols Revives Ancient Phallephoria Under the Acropolis This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up A cheerful and rather unconventional troupe dressed in traditional Dionysiac costumes and masks brightened a chilly February night in downtown Athens, as they re-enacted the ancient Greek procession of Phallephoria -with phallic symbols as it’s evident in the name being the true protagonists of the ritual taking place under the Acropolis. This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up Echoing the Dionysian rituals from 1,700 years ago, Phallephoria is the re-enactement of the original ecstatic tradition, where people dress up as Satyrs, Maenands (Dionysus’ followers) and Silenus (companions and tutors to Dionysus), with the God of wine and ecstasy himself leading the procession. Phallic symbols, which in ancient Greece symbolized the fertile nature, abound within the procession, which is accompanied by the tunes of bagpipes, flutes and percussion. With funny dances and wine, the colorful procession becomes one with the people in the streets of the historic center of Athens, passing through Dionysiou Areopagitou promenade under the Acropolis, Plaka and Monastiraki. In ancient times, the procession would begin from the theater of Dionysus under the Acropolis, where all extant classical Greek plays were first presented, including Aristophanes’ comedies. Phallephoria is being revived for the past ten years during the Greek carnival days, or Apokries in Greek, which is celebrated across the country in late February. It is organized by the Association for the Research and Study of Hellenic Culture with the support of This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up . This year it took place on Sunday, February 23. According to researchers participating in the organization of Phallephoria, the phallus in ancient times was not only a symbol of fertility but was also used as a deterrent. Many ancient Greeks used to place phallic symbols outside their homes, believing they would protect them from evil powers. Phallic processions, called phallika in ancient Greece, were a common feature of Dionysiac celebrations, with the display of fetishized phalluses a common feature. In a famous passage in chapter four of the Poetics, Aristotle (384-322 BC) formulated the hypothesis that the earliest forms of comedy originated and evolved from “those who lead off the phallic processions,” which were still common in many towns at his time. Modern Greek carnival celebrations with phallic symbols tied to ancient Greece In Tyrnavos, the famous – or infamous – “Burani” custom is revived every year during the carnival days as it has been for at least a century now. It is a bold and lewd custom, one of the highlights of carnival celebrations every year. The “Burani” custom has revelers dancing around a cauldron of spinach soup while men holding giant fake ******** beat the women with them. The actual custom dictates that the ****** is filled with booze and men and women have to kiss the tip of it and then drink. The booze is tsipouro, a spirit that Tyrnavos is famous for. The custom has to do with fertility and the coming of Spring. Its roots most likely lie in ancient Dionysian celebrations. The Greek Orthodox Church disapproves of the custom, but this does not stop thousands of locals and visitors from reveling wildly. This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up #Greek #Troupe #Phallic #Symbols #Revives #Ancient #Phallephoria #Acropolis This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up 0 Quote Link to comment https://hopzone.eu/forums/topic/226142-greek-troupe-with-phallic-symbols-revives-ancient-phallephoria-under-the-acropolis/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
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