Temenos

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/temenos

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the etymology?From Ancient Greek τέμενος (témenos)
2. What is the associated space?Contained a sacred precinct known as a hieron
3. Why do people build a temenos?People build a temenos to honor a god, show devotion, and create a protected space where worship and safety can happen.
4. How does a temenos keep people safe?Inside a temenos, the land is protected by the god, so people who enter cannot be arrested or harmed—they have a safe refuge.

Temenos: An ancient Greek term denoting a piece of land set apart and consecrated to a deity or ruler.
Hieron: The sacred precinct or area within a temenos, often the focal point of religious activity.
Asylum: The right to seek refuge and protection within a sacred or inviolable space, as granted by a temenos.