No CrossRef data available.
Article contents
THE VOTIVE OF AIGLATAS, SPARTAN RUNNER. OLD EVIDENCE, NEW KNOWLEDGE
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 May 2018
Abstract
Much of what we know about ancient Sparta is based upon inscriptions. Extant inscribed objects are often left idle in storerooms, treated summarily, with modern scholars reliant upon dated epigraphical publications which focus mainly only on the texts of the inscriptions. However, the study of objects bearing inscribed texts together with their inscriptions can yield information that challenges what we suppose we know about ancient Sparta.
This article analyses a Late Archaic inscribed stele from Sparta, bearing a dedication to Karneios by Aiglatas for his athletic victories. The stele has been used as evidence for two scholarly claims: that athletic competitions were performed at the Karneia festival, and that Apollo Karneios was represented with ram's horns.
Adopting a holistic approach and a comparative methodology, the present study shows that these two modern claims are without foundation. By means of autopsy and comparative analysis, this work proposes a new reading of the inscription and a novel interpretation of Aiglatas’ dedication in its cultural context. In addition, this study does not confirm the existence of gymnastic contests at the Karneia, as claimed by earlier scholars; it argues instead that a torch race may have taken place before sacrifices at the festival. Finally, it is argued that there is no evidence that Apollo Karneios was represented with the ram's horns, which opens up new possibilities for understanding the deity and his religious value within Spartan society.
Η αναθηματική στήλη του Αιγλάτα, Σπαρτιάτη δρομέα. Παλιές μαρτυρίες, νέα γνώση
Τα περισσότερα που γνωρίζουμε για την αρχαία Σπάρτη βασίζονται σε επιγραφές. Και ενώ διάφορα ενεπίγραφα αντικείμενα βρίσκονται σε αποθήκες και συχνά τυγχάνουν συνοπτικής μόνο αναφοράς, οι νεώτεροι ερευνητές βασίζονται συνήθως σε παλαιές επιγραφικές δημοσιεύσεις, που επικεντρώνονται μόνο στα κείμενα. Όμως η μελέτη των ενεπίγραφων αντικειμένων μαζί με τα ίδια τα κείμενα μπορεί να παράσχει πληροφορίες που ανατρέπουν αυτά που υποθέτουμε ότι ξέρουμε για την αρχαία Σπάρτη.
Το άρθρο αυτό αναλύει μια υστεροαρχαϊκή ενεπίγραφη στήλη από τη Σπάρτη, που είχε ανατεθεί στον Κάρνειο από τον Αιγλάτα για τις νίκες του σε αθλητικούς αγώνες. Νεώτεροι ερευνητές έχουν επικαλεσθεί αυτή τη στήλη για να υποστηρίξουν ότι αθλητικοί αγώνες λάμβαναν χώρα κατά την εορτή των Καρνείων, και ότι ο Κάρνειος Απόλλων αναπαρίστατο με κέρατα κριαριού.
Υιοθετώντας μια ολιστική προσέγγιση και μια συγκριτική μεθοδολογία, η παρούσα μελέτη δείχνει ότι οι ισχυρισμοί αυτοί είναι ανυπόστατοι. Κατόπιν αυτοψίας και με συγκριτικά στοιχεία, προτείνουμε μια νέα ανάγνωση της επιγραφής και μια πρωτότυπη ερμηνεία του αφιερώματος του Αιγλάτα μέσα στο πολιτισμικό του πλαίσιο. Επιπλέον, αυτή η μελέτη δεν επιβεβαιώνει την ύπαρξη γυμναστικών αγώνων στα Κάρνεια, όπως ισχυρίζονταν παλαιότεροι ερευνητές, αλλά υποστηρίζει ότι μια λαμπαδηδρομία μπορεί να λάμβανε χώρα πριν την τέλεση των θυσιών κατά τη διάρκεια της εορτής. Τέλος, επιχειρηματολογώ ότι δεν υπάρχουν στοιχεία που να αποδεικνύουν ότι ο Κάρνειος Απόλλων αναπαρίστατο με κέρατα κριαριού, κάτι που προσφέρει νέες δυνατότητες για την κατανόηση της θεότητας και της θρησκευτικής αξίας της μέσα στην Σπαρτιατική κοινωνία.
- Type
- Articles
- Information
- Copyright
- Copyright © The Council, British School at Athens 2018
References
REFERENCES
Arias, P.E., Hirmer, M. and Shefton, B.B. 1962. A History of Greek Vase Painting (London).Google Scholar
Aston, E. 2011. Mixanthrôpoi: Animal–Human Hybrid Deities in Greek Religion (Kernos Supp. Vol. 25; Liège).Google Scholar
Aupert, P. 1980. ‘Athletica I. Épigraphie archaïque et morphologie des stades anciens’, BCH 104, 309–15.Google Scholar
Beekes, R.S.P. 2010. Etymological Dictionary of Greek, 2 vols (Leiden and Boston, MA).Google Scholar
Betancourt, P.P. 1977. The Aeolic Style in Architecture: a Survey of its Development in Palestine, the Halikarnassos Peninsula, and Greece, 1000–500 B.C. (Princeton, NJ).Google Scholar
Biers, W.R. and Geagan, D.J. 1970. ‘A new list of victors in the Caesarea at Isthmia’, Hesperia 39, 79–93.Google Scholar
Bowie, E. 2010. ‘Epigram as narration’, in Baumbach, M., Petrovic, A. and Petrovic, I. (eds), Archaic and Classical Greek Epigram (Cambridge and New York), 313–84.Google Scholar
Burkert, W. 1977. Griechische Religion der archaischen und klassischen Epoche (Die Religionen der Menschheit vol. 15; Stuttgart).Google Scholar
Casadio, G. 1994. Storia del culto di Dioniso in Argolide (Filologia e Critica vol. 71; Rome).Google Scholar
Chantraîne, P. 1968. Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue grecque. Histoire des mots vol. 1, Α-Δ (Paris).Google Scholar
Christesen, P. 2012. ‘Athletics and social order in Sparta in the classical period’, ClAnt 31, 193–255.Google Scholar
Christesen, P. 2014. ‘Sport and society in Sparta’, in Christesen, P. and Kyle, D.G. (eds), A Companion to Sport and Spectacle in Greek and Roman Antiquity (Chichester, UK), 146–58.Google Scholar
Christien, J. 2014. ‘Les carrières de Laconie: essai de synthèse’, Dialogues d'histoire ancienne Supplément 11/2014, 171–91.Google Scholar
Condis, I.D. 1950. ‘Capitello eolico di Eresso’, ASAtene 14–16 n.s. 8–10 (1946–8), 25–36.Google Scholar
Dawkins, R.M., Wace, A.J.B., Droop, J.P., Dickins, G., Tillyard, H.J.W., Woodward, A.M. and Tod, M.N. 1906. ‘Laconia I. Excavations at Sparta, 1907’, BSA 13, 1–218.Google Scholar
Day, J.W. 2010. Archaic Greek Epigram and Dedication: Representation and Reperformance (Cambridge and New York).Google Scholar
Delivorrias, A. 1993. “Λακωνικά Ανθέμια”, in Palagia, O. and Coulson, W.D.E. (eds), Sculpture from Arcadia and Laconia. Proceedings of an International Conference Held at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, April 10–14, 1992 (Oxbow Monograph vol. 30; Oxford, UK and Bloomington, IN), 205–16.Google Scholar
Dillon, M. and Garland, L. 2010. Ancient Greece: Social and Historical Documents from Archaic Times to the Death of Alexander the Great, 3rd edn (Routledge Sourcebooks for the Ancient World; London and New York).Google Scholar
Ducat, J. 2006. Spartan Education. Youth and Society in the Classical Period (Swansea).Google Scholar
Fasciato, M. and Leclant, J. 1949. ‘Notes sur les types monétaires présentant une figure imberbe à cornes de bélier’, MÉFR, 7–33.Google Scholar
Gauthier, P. 1995. ‘Du nouveau sur les courses aux flambeaux d'après deux inscriptions de Kos’, RÉG 108, 576–85.Google Scholar
Gauthier, P. and Hatzopoulos, M.B. 1993. La loi gymnasiarchique de Béroia (Μελετήματα vol. 16; Athens).Google Scholar
Golden, M. 2004. Sport in the Ancient World From A to Z (The Ancient World From A to Z; London).Google Scholar
Grenfell, B.P. and Hunt, A.S. 1909. Hellenica oxyrhynchia cum Theopompi et Cratippi fragmentis (Oxford, UK).Google Scholar
Gruben, G. 1972. ‘Naxos und Paros. Dritter vorläufiger Bericht über die Forschungskampagnen 1970 und 1971’, AA 87, 319–79.Google Scholar
Guarducci, M. 1967. Epigrafia Greca 1: Caratteri e storia della disciplina. La scrittura greca dalle origini all'Etá Imperiale (Rome).Google Scholar
Guijarro Ruano, P. 2015. ‘La lengua de las inscripciones métricas laconias anteriores al 400 a.C.’, Cuadernos de Filología Clásica. Estudios griegos e indoeuropeos 25, 25–37.Google Scholar
Guijarro Ruano, P. 2016. ‘La lengua de las inscripciones métricas del Peloponeso (siglos VII–IV a.C.)’ (PhD thesis, Universidad Complutense de Madrid).Google Scholar
Hellmann, M.-C. 2002. L'architecture grecque. 1, Les principes de la construction (Paris).Google Scholar
Hodkinson, S. 1999. ‘An agonistic culture? Athletic competition in archaic and classical Spartan society’, in Hodkinson, S., Powell, A. and Cartledge, P. (eds), Sparta: New Perspectives (London), 147–87.Google Scholar
Hodkinson, S. 2006. ‘Was classical Sparta a military society?’, in Hodkinson, S. and Powell, A. (eds), Sparta and War (Swansea), 111–62.Google Scholar
Imhoof-Blumer, F. 1917. ‘Apollon Karneios auf kyrenäischen und anderen griechischen Münzen’, SNR 21, 5–17.Google Scholar
Kapsalis, G.D. 1909. “Αναθηματική επιγραφή”, Τεσσαρακονταετηρίς τῆς καθηγεσίας Κ. Σ. Κόντου, 275–82.Google Scholar
Keesling, C.M. 2005. ‘Patrons of Athenian votive monuments of the archaic and classical periods. Three studies’, Hesperia 74, 395–426.Google Scholar
Kennell, N.M. 1995. The Gymnasium of Virtue: Education and Culture in Ancient Sparta (Chapel Hill, NC and London).Google Scholar
Kokkorou-Alevras, G.A. 2015. ‘“Throne” of Apollo Amyklaios. Provenance of the stones: preliminary conclusions: Works 2005–2010’, in Delivorrias, A. and Vlizos, S. (eds), Amykles Research Project: Works 2005–2010 (Μουσείο Μπενάκη 11–12 (2011–12) [2015]; Athens), 149–52.Google Scholar
Kokkorou-Alevras, G.A., Efstathopoulos, A., Kopanias, K., Poupaki, E. and Chatzikonstantinou, A. 2006. “Αρχαία Λατομεία στη ‘Γυναίκα’ και στο ‘Πλατυβούνι Ταϋγέτου”, in Kokkorou-Alevras, G.A., Efstathopoulos, A., Kopanias, K., Poupaki, E. and Chatzikonstantinou, A. (eds), Πρακτικά Βʹ Τοπικού Συνεδρίου Λακωνικών Σπουδών, τόμ. Αʹ, Ξηροκάμπι Λακωνίας, 28 Οκτωβρίου – 1 Νοεμβρίου 2004 (Λακωνικαί Σπουδαί. Παράρτημα vol. 13; Athens), 108–32.Google Scholar
Kyle, D.G. 2015. Sport and Spectacle in the Ancient World, 2nd edn (Ancient Cultures; Malden, MA and Oxford, UK).Google Scholar
Lethen, M.L., Stamires, G.A. and Meritt, B.D. 1957. ‘Greek inscriptions’, Hesperia 26, 24–97.Google Scholar
Lippolis, E., Livadiotti, M. and Rocco, G. 2007. Architettura greca. Storia e monumenti del mondo della polis dalle origini al V secolo (Milan).Google Scholar
Lo Monaco, A. 2010. ‘Feasts and games of paides in the Peloponnese of the Imperial period’, in Rizakēs, A.D. and Lepenioti, C.E. (eds), Roman Peloponnese III. Society, Economy and Culture Under the Roman Empire: Continuity and Innovation, (Μελετήματα vol. 63; Athens and Paris), 309–27.Google Scholar
Lupu, E. 2005. Greek Sacred Law. A Collection of New Documents. NGSL (Religions in the Graeco-Roman World vol. 152; Leiden and Boston, MA).Google Scholar
Müller, L., Falbe, C.T. and Lindberg, J.C. 1860. Les Monnaies de la Cyrénaïque (Numismatique de l'ancienne Afrique, vol. 1; Copenhagen).Google Scholar
Nafissi, M. 2013. ‘La stele di Damonon (IG V 1, 213 = Moretti, IAG 16), gli Hekatombaia (Strabo 8,4, 11) e il sistema festivo della Laconia d'epoca classica’, in Berlinzani, F. (ed.), La cultura a Sparta in età Classica. Atti del seminario di Studi, Università Statale di Milano, 5–6 maggio 2010 (Aristhonotos vol. 8; Trento), 105–74.Google Scholar
Németh, G. 1992. ‘Sur l'histoire du theta’, Acta Classica Universitatis Scientiarum Debreceniensis 28, 17–24.Google Scholar
Orlandos, A.K. 1961. “Ἀνασκαφή παλαιoχριστιανικῆς βασιλικῆς Πάρoυ”, Prakt 117, 184–90.Google Scholar
Papadopoulos, J.K. 2014. ‘The Motya Youth: Apollo Karneios, art, and tyranny in the Greek west’, ArtB 96, 395–423.Google Scholar
Parker, R. 1989. ‘Spartan religion’, in Powell, A. and Cartledge, P. (eds), Classical Sparta. Techniques Behind Her Success (London), 142–72.Google Scholar
Peek, W. 1974. Ein neuer spartanischer Staatsvertrag (Abhandlungen der Sächsischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Leipzig, Philologisch-Historische Klasse vol. 65.3; Berlin).Google Scholar
Perrot, G. and Chipiez, C. 1894. Histoire de l'art dans l'antiquité 7. La Grèce de l’épopée, la Grèce Archaïque. Le temple (Paris).Google Scholar
Pettersson, M. 1992. Cults of Apollo at Sparta: the Hyakinthia, the Gymnopaidiai and the Karneia (Skrifter utgivna av Svenska Institutet i Athen vol. 12; Stockholm).Google Scholar
Pipili, M. 1987. Laconian Iconography of the Sixth Century B.C (Monograph, University of Oxford. Committee for Archaeology vol. 12; Oxford, UK).Google Scholar
Robert, L. 1929. ‘Recherches épigraphiques’, RÉA 31.1, 13–20, and ‘Addendum’, RÉA 31.3, 225–6 (reprinted in Robert, L. 1969. Opera Minora Selecta II (Amsterdam), 758–67).Google Scholar
Roehl, H. 1882. Inscriptiones graecae antiquissimae praeter atticas in Attica repertas: consilio et auctoritate Academiae litterarum regiae borussicae (Berlin).Google Scholar
Ross, L. 1837. ‘Uebersicht der archäologischen Bestrebungen und Entdeckungen in Griechenland von 1832 bis 1836’, Archaeologisches intelligenzblatt zur allgemeinen literatur-zeitung 5, 33–40.Google Scholar
Schauenburg, K. 1960. Perseus in der Kunst des Altertums (Antiquitas. Reihe 3, Abhandlungen zur Vor- und Frühgeschichte, zur klassischen und provinzial-römischen Archäologie und zur Geschichte des Altertums vol. 1; Bonn).Google Scholar
Shear, J.L. 2001. ‘Polis and Panathenaia: the history and development of Athena's festival’ (PhD thesis, University of Pennsylvania).Google Scholar
Spawforth, A.J.S. 1984. ‘Notes on the third century A.D. in Spartan epigraphy’, BSA 79, 263–88.Google Scholar
Sterrett, J.R.S. 1901. ‘The torch-race: a commentary on the Agamemnon of Aischylos vv. 324–326’, AJP 22, 393–419.Google Scholar
Stibbe, C.M. 2006. Agalmata. Studien zur griechisch-archaischen Bronzekunst (Babesch Supp. Vol. 11; Leuven and Dudley, MA).Google Scholar
Striano, A. and de la Villa, J. 2008. ‘L'aspect en Laconien’, in Hodot, R. and Vottéro, G. (eds), Dialectes grecs et aspect verbal. Actes de la table ronde de Saint-Etienne, 17–18 juin 2004 (Études anciennes vol. 35; Nancy), 205–25.Google Scholar
Topper, K. 2007. ‘Perseus, the maiden Medusa, and the imagery of abduction’, Hesperia 76, 73–105.Google Scholar
Wiseman, J. 2015. ‘Agonistic festivals, victors, and officials in the time of Nero: an inscribed herm from the gymnasium area of Corinth’, in Gebhard, E.R. and Gregory, T.E. (eds), Bridge of the Untiring Sea. The Corinthian Isthmus from Prehistory to Late Antiquity (Hesperia Supp. Vol. 48; Princeton, NJ), 193–246.Google Scholar
Woodward, A.M., Robert, L. and Woodward, J.M. 1927. ‘Excavations at Sparta, 1924–28’, BSA 29, 1–107.Google Scholar
Wroth, W.W. 1964. Catalogue of the Greek Coins of Troas, Aeolis, and Lesbos (A catalogue of the Greek coins in the British Museum vol. 17. Reprint of the 1894 edition; Bologna).Google Scholar
Wuilleumier, P. 1929. ‘Questions de céramique italiote. La fabrique de Ceglie’, RA 5.30, 185–210.Google Scholar