Abstract

From the Archaic Period, the Panathenaic festival was central to the display of Athenian civic identity and the projection of power. By integrating religious devotion, mythic narrative, and public performance, the festival transformed the city into a route for communal expression, uniting citizens through ritualized procession, athletic contests, musical competitions, and the presentation of the peplos to Athena.

In this Independent Study, I employ archaeological and philological analysis to demonstrate how the Panathenaic festival, and the Panathenaic Way, utilize space within the city to reinforce hierarchical structures and display the city’s wealth, organization, and religious devotion. I employ the theory of ritual and religion, in combination with excavation reports from the Athenian Agora, to explain communal space and the authority of the polis [city]. In addition, I use Pausanias’s experience of the Panathenaic Procession in combination with my personal experiences with the Acropolis to highlight the power Athens holds in devotion to Athena. By combining ritual and religion, movement, and political authority, the Panathenaic Procession not only reaffirmed Athenian unity but also legitimized Athens as a budding power with a shared civic identity.

Advisor

Florence, Monica

Second Advisor

Navarro-Farr, Olivia

Department

Classical Studies; Archaeology

Disciplines

Classical Archaeology and Art History | Classical Literature and Philology | Other History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology

Keywords

Athena, Panathenaic Procession, Panathenaic Way, statue, civic identity, ritual theory, ritual and religion, Athens, Athenians, Acropolis, Parthenon, ascension, route, classical archaeology

Publication Date

2026

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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