Orgy
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| + | "The [[sordid]] details of his [[orgy|orgies]] stank under his very [[nostril]]s." --James Joyce, ''[[A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man]]'' | ||
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| + | # A [[revel]] involving [[indiscriminate]] [[group]] [[sexual activity]], see [[group sex]]. | ||
| + | # Excessive [[indulgence]] in a specified activity. | ||
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| + | [[Image:Bacchanalia by Leveque.jpg|200px|thumb|''[[Bacchanalia]]'' by [[Auguste (Maurice François Giuslain) Léveque]] <br> The Bacchanalia were traditionally held on [[March 16]] and [[March 17]]]] | ||
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| - | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{PAGENAMEE}}] [May 2007] | + | |
| + | An '''orgy''' (όργια) was a [[secret]] [[Cult (religious practice)|cultic]] [[congregation]] at nighttime in [[Ancient Greek religion]], overseen by an ''orgiophant''. | ||
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| + | ==Etymology== | ||
| + | Greek όργια is cognate with έργον "work, effect, [religious] service" (ultimately cognate to English ''work'' itself). The term was loaned into English in the 16th century, via the Latinized ''orgia''. | ||
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| + | Since the 17th century, due to its connection with [[Dionysus]] and the [[Bacchanalia]], the English term ''orgy'' could refer "any [[licentious]] revelry", in particular [[group sex]] or [[promiscuity]], but the term can also denote other acts which may not include sex. For example an "alcoholic orgy" is an event where people show no restraint in alcohol consumption. This is better known as [[binge drinking]]. | ||
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| + | ==The Greek ''orgia''== | ||
| + | An ''orgia'' was a secret rite of the Greek [[Mystery religion]]s, practiced in the worship of [[Demeter]] at [[Eleusis]] (mentioned in the [[Homeric Hymn]] to Demeter) or in worship of [[Dionysus]] ([[Herodotus]] 2.81), the [[Cabeiri]], [[Demeter Achaia]] (Herodotus 2.51, 5.61), [[Orpheus]], [[Eumolpus]], or [[Cybele]]. | ||
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| + | The term could also refer to rites or sacrifices in general, the verb ὀργιάζω denoting ritual celebration. | ||
| + | ==See also== | ||
| + | * [[Bacchanalia]] | ||
| + | * [[Sex party]] | ||
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"The sordid details of his orgies stank under his very nostrils." --James Joyce, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
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The Bacchanalia were traditionally held on March 16 and March 17
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An orgy (όργια) was a secret cultic congregation at nighttime in Ancient Greek religion, overseen by an orgiophant.
Etymology
Greek όργια is cognate with έργον "work, effect, [religious] service" (ultimately cognate to English work itself). The term was loaned into English in the 16th century, via the Latinized orgia.
Since the 17th century, due to its connection with Dionysus and the Bacchanalia, the English term orgy could refer "any licentious revelry", in particular group sex or promiscuity, but the term can also denote other acts which may not include sex. For example an "alcoholic orgy" is an event where people show no restraint in alcohol consumption. This is better known as binge drinking.
The Greek orgia
An orgia was a secret rite of the Greek Mystery religions, practiced in the worship of Demeter at Eleusis (mentioned in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter) or in worship of Dionysus (Herodotus 2.81), the Cabeiri, Demeter Achaia (Herodotus 2.51, 5.61), Orpheus, Eumolpus, or Cybele.
The term could also refer to rites or sacrifices in general, the verb ὀργιάζω denoting ritual celebration.
See also
