Exploring the Sacred Landscape of the Ancient Peloponnese : Cults and Sacred Places / Eleni Marantou.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Marantou, Eleni, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Peloponnēsos (Greece)--History.

Peloponnēsos (Greece).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (306 pages)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Archaeopress Publishing Ltd, [2024]

Summary:

This book traces the origins of the religious system of the Peloponnese to identify the factors behind its subsequent development from the Geometric to the Classical period. Through a presentation of cult places, the deities worshipped, and the epithets used, the book explores preferences for particular deities and the reasons for this.

Contents:

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page

Contents Page

Preface

Introduction

Notes

Part One

Chapter 1. Arcadia

Mythological - Historical background

Catalogue of Arcadia

i. Arcadian Sanctuaries that can be dated

a. Sanctuaries found or excavated

Lousoi

Kalavryta

Kyllene

Pheneos

Stymphalos

Kontovazaina

Thelpusa

Orchomenos

Mantineia

Tripichi

Tegea

Pallantion

Kaphyai

Glanitsa

Asea

Area north of Asea

Mount Mainalon

Arachamites

Methydrion

Kollines

Karyai

Lykosoura

Mount Lykaion

Phigaleia

Gortys

Theisoa

Alipheira

Heraia

Megalopolis

b. Movable surface finds related to sanctuaries

Perivolia

Ancient Trapezus

Chrysovitsi

Area south of Megalopolis

c. Sacred dateable places known only from written sources

Area north of Megalopolis

ii. Arcadian sanctuaries of questionable dating

Lasta

Kleitor

Stymphalia

Nestani

Tripoli

Aspela

Arvanitokerasia

c. Sacred places known only from written sources

Kynaitha

Psophis

Alea

Dimitsana

Road from Megalopolis to Messene

iii. The survival of ancient sanctuaries - Christian Era

Chapter 2. Elis

Catalogue of Elis

i. Elian sanctuaries that can be dated

Olympia

Kombothekra

Hill of Prophet Elias

Makrysia

North bank of the Alpheios

Epitalion

Letrinoi.

Aspra Litharia

Lepreon

Prasidaki

Skillountia

Elis

Platiana

Phrixa

iii. Elian sanctuaries of questionable date

b. Movable surface finds relating to sanctuaries

Irakleia

Samiko

Makistos

Minthe

Boundaries of Arcadia-Elis

Chapter 3. Messenia

Catalogue of Messenia

i. Messenian sanctuaries that can be dated

Mount Ithome

Ithome/Messene

Mila

Ano Melpeia

Aghios Floros

Thouria/Hellenika

Kalamata Area

Aghios Andreas

Andania

Dimiova

Pylos Area

ii. Messenian sanctuaries of questionable dating

Koroni

Aulon

Gerenia

Kalamata area

Petalidi

Methone

Pylos

Kyparissia

Chapter 4. Laconia

Catalogue of Laconia

i. Laconian Sanctuaries that can be dated

Sparta

Amyklai

Therapne

Aphyssou

Mount Taygetos

Kastraki

Apidia

Kournou

Tainaron

Phoiniki

Kosmas

Gytheion Area

Asopos

Kotronas - Ancient Teuthrone

Dichova

Ano Poula.

Thalamai

Kardamyle

Maleas

ii. Laconian sanctuaries of questionable dating

a. Movable surface finds related to sanctuaries

Glyppia

Kyphanta

Epidaurus Limera

Oitylon

b. Sacred places known only from written sources

Pellana

Hermai

Brasiai

Geronthrai

Zarakas

Boiai

Itis

Gytheion

Las

Mount Ilion

Knakadion

Hypsoi

River Skyras

Pyrrichos

Kainepolis

Leuktra

Mount Kalathion

Alagonia

Part Two

Chapter 5. Special Characteristics

Special characteristics of cult buildings

i. Relation to nature

a. Sanctuaries in relation to water

b. Sacred groves and trees

ii. Functions of sanctuaries

a. Sanctuaries as asylum places

b. Healing places

c. Oracles

Rituals in cult places related to the chthonian cults, and Olympian cults with mixed characteristics

i. Festivals

ii. Special sacrifices

iii. Games

iv. Special features

a. Use of masks during the cult

b. Cult dances

Functions of chthonian nature in sanctuaries

i. Cenotaphs for mythical/heroic figures

ii. Sanctuaries above tombs

iii. Psychopompeia

iv. Eschara - Places of purification

v. Ash altars

vi. Stone benches

vii. Cults in caves and fissures

viii. Side doors in sanctuaries

ix. Abaton/adyton

x. Restrictions on entering the sanctuary

xi. Performance of mystical rituals - Mysteries

xii. Perpetual fire

xiii. Orgies

xiv. Divine commands and punishments for violations

xv. Human sacrifices

xvi. General observations

Chapter 6. Deities Worshipped

Catalogue of Deities

i. Chthonian deities.

Despoina

Eurynome

Hades - Plouto - Zeus with chthonian attributes

ii. Secondary and local deities

Asclepius

Cronus

Demeter and Persephone/Kore (Great Goddesses)

Persephone/Kore

Mother of the Gods - Great Mother - Rhea

Eileithyia

Kouretes

Sosipolis

Diktynna

Eros - Anteros

Hyacinthus

Silenus

Leto

Thetis

Tyche - Moirai

Nymphs

Charites

Muses

Ino - Leukothea

Pan

Dryops

iii. Personifications of the elements of nature

Erymanthos

Helios

Pamisos

The Wind Boreas

iv. Heroic and mythological figures

Achilles

The Dioskouroi

Helen - Menelaus

Heracles

Cassandra/Alexandra - Agamemnon

Odysseus - Penelope

Orestes

Pelops - Hippodameia

Telephus

Arsinoe

Ilaeira and Phoebe

Messene

Anonymous Hero

Evandros

Hipposthenes

Lycourgos

Machaon

Maron and Alpheios

Myiagros/Myacoris

Nikomachos and Gorgasos

Pallas

v. Chthonian deities that evolved into Olympian Gods

Chthonian Aphrodite

Chthonian Athena

Chtonian Artemis - Potnia Theron

Chthonian Demeter

Chthonian Dionysus

Chthonian Hermes

Chthonian Poseidon

vi. Older deities assimilated into later Olympian Gods

Alea - Athena

Chamyne - Demeter

Kidaria - Demeter

Orthia - Artemis

Karneios - Apollo

Maleatas - Apollo

vi. Olympian deities

Zeus

Aphrodite

Apollo

Ares

Artemis

Athena

Dionysus

Hera

Hermes

Poseidon

Observations on the chthonian characteristics of chthonian or Olympian deities with mixed attributes

Chapter 7. Religious, Economic and Social Context

Religious remarks

i. Observations on the cult places

ii. Notes on the substance of the deities worshipped

a. Deities

b. Epithets

c. Preferred deities

d. Correlations of worshipped figures to other regions

Economic observations.

i. Economic growth

ii. Inter-communication of cult places and external contacts

Arcadia

Messenia

Laconia

Summary

Social framework

i. Correlation of the religious, social, and political life of sanctuaries

a. Countryside sanctuaries

1. Suburban sanctuaries

2. Extraurban sanctuaries

3. Neutral border sanctuaries

Conclusions

b. City Sanctuaries

General observations

A comparative presentation of the main cult places of the Peloponnese

Epilogue

Tables

Maps

Bibliography.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9781803277721

1803277726

OCLC:

1435753636