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III. Sanctuaries

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 February 2016

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Extract

Popular ideas about Greek places of worship are much influenced by the splendour of a few surviving temples, such as Athena’s Parthenon or Poseidon’s temple at Sounion. Yet these aesthetically pleasing but ruined and empty buildings give little insight into their former functions. So let us first look at sanctuaries proper (§ 1), then their locations (§ 2) and, finally, their secular and religious functions (§ 3).

Type
Research Article
Information
New Surveys in the Classics , Volume 24: Greek Religion with addenda , 1999 , pp. 27 - 37
Copyright
Copyright © The Classical Association 1999

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References

Notes

1. For a relatively short survey see Burkert, GR, pp. 84–98, to be supplemented now by his The Meaning and Function of the Temple’, in Fox, M. V. (ed), Temple in Society (Winona Lake, 1988), pp. 27–47 Google Scholar and ‘Greek Temple Builders: Who, Where, and Why?’, in Hägg, R. (ed), The Role of Religion in the Early Polis (Stockholm, 1995)Google Scholar. Two informative collections: Le sanctuaire grec = Entretiens Hardt 37 (Vandoeuvres and Geneva, 1992); Marinatos/Hägg, Greek Sanctuaries (good bibliography by E. Østby, 192–227).

2. C. Sourvinou-Inwood, ‘Early sanctuaries, the eighth century and ritual space’, in Marinatos/ Hägg, Greek Sanctuaries, pp. 1–17, esp. 8. For the vocabulary of sanctuaries see M. Casevitz, in Roux, G. (ed), Temples et sanctuaires (Lyon, 1984), pp. 81–95 Google Scholar.

3. J. N. Coldstream, ‘Greek Temples: Why and Where?’, in Easterling/Muir, Greek Religion and Society, pp. 67–97; Schmitt, R., Handbuch zu den Tempeln der Griechen (Berne, 1992)Google Scholar. Roofless temples: Hellmann, M.-C., ‘Les ouvertures des toits ou retour sur le temple hypèthre’, Rev. Arch. 1993, 73–90 Google Scholar.

4. Water: Panessa, G., ‘Le risorse idriche dei santuari greci nei loro aspetti giuridici ed economici’, Ann. Se. N. Pisa III 13 (1983), 359-87Google Scholar; S. G. Cole, The uses of water in Greek sanctuaries’, in Hägg, Early Greek Cult Practice, pp. 161–5. Tree: Burkert, GR, pp. 85f. Grove: Scheid, J. et al., Les bois sacrés (Naples, 1983)Google Scholar. Stone: Dowden, Death and the Maiden, pp. 138–40.

5. Altars: Etienne, R. and le Dinahet, M.-Th. (eds), L’espace sacrificiel dans les civilisations méditerranéennes de l’antiquilé (Paris, 1991)Google Scholar; R. Etienne, ‘Autels et sacrifices’, in Sanctuaire grec, pp. 291–312. No temple: Sourvinou-Inwood (n. 2), p. 16 n. 60 (e.g., no temple in the Miletan Delphinion before the Romans).

6. Jung, H., Thronende und sitzende Götter (Bonn, 1982)Google Scholar; add Graf, NK, 44f.

7. Cf. U. Krön, ‘Heilige Steine’, in Froning, Kotinos, pp. 56–70; Fehrentz, V., ‘Der antike Agyieus’, JDAI 108 (1993), 123-96Google Scholar.

8. Cf. Donohue, A. A., Xoana and the Origins of Greek Sculpture (Atlanta, 1988), pp. 226fGoogle Scholar.

9. Graf, NK, 81–96; Versnel, Inconsistencies 2, index s.v. ‘chained gods’. Statues are an under-researched subject, but see Gordon, R., Art History 2 (1979), 5–34 CrossRefGoogle Scholar; I. B. Romano, ‘Early Greek Cult Images and Cult Practices’, in Hägg, Early Greek Cult Practice, pp. 127–33; Larcher, A., ‘Gemalte Götterstatuen. Ein Beitrag zur Ikonographie der pompejanischen Wandmalerei’, in Otto, B. and Ehrl, F. (eds), Echo. Festschrift J. B. Trentini (Innsbruck, 1990), pp. 197–208 Google Scholar; Alroth, B., ‘Changing Modes in the Representation of Cult Images’, in Hägg, R. (ed), The Iconography of Greek Cult in the Archaic and Classical Periods (Athens and Liège, 1992), pp. 9–46 CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

10. Graf, NK, 40 (calling), 214 (Athena’s priest). Birds: Eur., Ion 106–9; Maxmin, J., JHS 95 (1975), 175-80CrossRefGoogle Scholar (metal ‘umbrellas’ to protect statues); Danner, P., ‘ Meniskoi and Obeloi. Zum Schutz von Statuen und Bauwerken vor den Vögeln’, Jahresh. Osten. Arch. Inst. Wien 62 (1993: Hauptblatt), 19–28 Google Scholar.

11. Cf. Mantis, A. G., Problematu tes eikonographias ton iereion kai ton iereon sten archaia Ellenike techne (Athens, 1990), pp. 28–65 Google Scholar (keys), 82–96 (iconography of priests), 114f (catalogue of preserved keys); Garland, R., ‘Priests and Power in Classical Athens’, in Beard, M. and North, J. (eds), Pagan Priests (London, 1990), pp. 75–91, esp. 77–81Google Scholar; this volume, Ch. 1.3.

12. Adolescents: Bremmer, , ‘The role of the temple in Greek initiatory ritual’, in Actes du Vile Congres de la F.I.E.C. I (Budapest, 1983), 121-4Google Scholar. Identification: Bérard, C., ‘Hommes, prêtres, dieux’, in Waardenburg, J. (ed), Lislam: une religion (Geneva, 1989), pp. 95–120 Google Scholar.

13. Cf. E. Kearns, ‘Between God and Man: Status and Function of Heroes and Their Sanctuaries’, in Sanctuaire grec (pp. 65–99), pp. 65–8. Heroes as warriors: Ar. fr. 240; Van Straten (Ch. 2 n. 23), 187–9 (also on altars).

14. For these roles see especially de Polignac, F., La naissance de la cité grecque (Paris, 1984)Google Scholar; id., ‘Mediation, Competition, and Sovereignty: The Evolution of Rural Sanctuaries in Geometric Greece’, in Alcock, S. and Osborne, R. (eds), Placing the Gods (Cambridge, 1994), pp. 3–18 Google Scholar; Morgan, C., Athletes and Oracles (Cambridge, 1990)Google Scholar; eadem, The origins of pan-Hellenism’, in Marinatos/Hägg, Greek Sanctuaries, pp. 18–44.

15. Locations of sanctuaries in Magna Graecia: Edlund, I., The Gods and the Place (Stockholm, 1987)Google Scholar; Carratelli, G. Pugliese (ed), Magna Grecia 3 (Milano, 1988), pp. 149-58Google Scholar. Greece and the Aegean: A. Schachter, ‘Policy, Cult, and the Placing of Greek Sanctuaries’, in Sanctuaire Grec, pp. 1–57; Osborne/Alcock, Placing the Gods.

16. As is persuasively argued by Graf, F., ‘Culti e credenze religiose della Magna Grecia’, Atti Taranto 21 (Naples, 1982), 157-85, esp. 166Google Scholar.

17. Athena: Burkert, GR, p. 140; Graf, NK, 44. Zeus: Graf, NK, 182, 197, 202f (mountains); Langdon, M., A Sanctuary of Zeus on Mount Hymetlos (Princeton, 1976)Google Scholar; Munn, M. L. Zimmerman, ‘The Zeus Sanctuary on Mt Kokkygion above Hermion, Argolis’, Am. J. Arch. 90 (1986), 192fGoogle Scholar.

18. Graf, , ‘Apollon Delphinios’, Mus. Helv. 36 (1979), 2–22 Google Scholar (near the sea or on the agora); Graf, NK, 222 (A. Lykeios on agora).

19. Cf. S. G. Cole, ‘Demeter in the Ancient Greek City and its Countryside’, in Alcock/Osborne, Placing the Gods, pp. 199–216. Locations of Demeter’s sanctuary on an acropolis (Thebes, Mytiline, Lepreon) may derive from the goddess’s connection with political power (Ch. II.3).

20. Gate: Paus. 2. 5. 4 (Corinth), 2. 18. 3 (Argos, cf. M. Piérart, Bull. Corr. Hell. 106, 1982, 141–9), 2. 35. 11 (Hermione); in general, Olmods, R., LIMC III. 1 (1986)Google Scholar, s.v. Contra Kearns, ‘Between God and Man’, p. 74, who neglects the abnormality of the goddess’s sacrificial victim (a dog: Ch. IV.2) and the regular location of birth-goddesses outside the city (Graf, NK, 421f).

21. Poseidon’s sanctuaries are often near the sea but also in the mountains, cf. Bremmer, ‘Poseidon’; R. Schumacher, ‘Three related sanctuaries of Poseidon: Geraistos, Kalaureia and Tainaron’, in Marinatos/Hägg, Greek Sanctuaries, pp. 62–87.

22. There were no temples of Dionysus in classical times, but the name of his sanctuary in Athens, en limnais, or ‘in the marshes’, suggests locations outside the city, as does thefact that on vases Dionysus’ sanctuary is often a cave, cf. Bérard, C., ‘Axie taure’, in Mélanges. . . Paul Collart (Lausanne, 1976), pp. 61–73 Google Scholar.

23. Hägg, R., in Piérart, M. (ed), Polydipsion Argos = Bull. Corr. Hell. Suppl. 22 (Paris, 1992), pp. 14–16 Google Scholar (Argos); Lattanzi, E., in Cahiers du Centre Jean Bérard 16 (Naples, 1991), 67–71 (Croton)Google Scholar; Junker, K., Der ältere Tempel im Heraion am Sele (Cologne, 1993: Paestum)Google Scholar; H. Kyrieleis, in Marinatos/ Hägg, Greek Sanctuaries, p. 125 (Samos); Corso, A., Ann. Sc. Arch. Atene 62 (1984 [1988]), 97–101 (Paros)Google Scholar. In general: Graf, ‘Culti e credenze’, 166–71.

24. Cf. Motte, A., Prairies et jardins de la Grèce antique (Brussels, 1973), pp. 94–104 Google Scholar; Brulé, P., La fille d’Athènes (Paris, 1987), pp. 197–200 Google Scholar.

25. Leschhorn, W., Gründer der Stadt (Stuttgart, 1984)Google Scholar; Malkin, I., Religion and Colonization in Ancient Greece (Leiden, 1987), pp. 189–240 CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Hornblower, S., A Commentary on Thucydides 1 (Oxford, 1991), pp.20fGoogle Scholar.

26. Faraone, Talismans & Trojan Horses, pp. 115f; Bremmer, , ‘Religious Secrets and Secrecy in Classical Greece’, in Kippenberg, H. and Stroumsa, G. (eds), Secrecy and Concealment in Ancient and Islamic History of Religions (Leiden, 1994)Google Scholar.

27. For the hero-sanctuaries see Kearns, ‘Between God and Man’, although I differ from her interpretation on heroes at the gates (74), cf. Graf, NK, 173–6 (Apollo).

28. Cf. J. S. Rusten, ‘Geíton héros: Pindar’s Prayer to Heracles (N. 7.86-101) and Greek Popular Religion’, HSCP 87 (1983), 289–97, esp. 296 (quotation). Rusten has overlooked the onomastic evidence, which, curiously, was especially popular in the Megarid, cf. Robert, L., Opera minora selecta 5 (Amsterdam, 1989), p. 261 Google Scholar.

29. These aspects are under-researched, but see Ghinatti, F., ‘Manifestazioni votive, iscrizioni e vita economica nei santuari della Magna Grecia’, Studia Patavina 30 (1983), 241–322 Google Scholar.

30. Cf. F. Cooper and S. Morris, ‘Dining in Round Buildings’, and Bookidis, N., ‘Ritual Dining in the Sanctuary of Demeter and Kore at Corinth: Some Questions’, in Murray, O. (ed), Sympotica (Oxford, 1990), pp. 66–85 Google Scholar and 86–94, respectively.

31. See most recently Letoublon, F., ‘Le vocabulaire de la supplication en grec’, Lingua 52 (1980), 325-36CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Parker, Miasma, pp. 181–6; Mikalson, Honor Thy Gods, pp. 69–77.

32. Christensen, K. A., ‘The Theseion: A Slave Refuge at Athens’, Am. J. Anc. Hist. 9 (1984), 23–32 Google Scholar; U. Sinn, ‘Greek sanctuaries as places of refuge’, in Marinatos/Hägg, Greek Sanctuaries, pp. 88–109; Athen. Mitt. 105 (1990), 53–116 (Heraion at Perachora), and Ant. Welt 23 (1992), 175–90 (Sounion).

33. Cf. Osborne, R., ‘Social and economic implications of the leasing of land and property in Classical and Hellenistic Greece’, Chiron 18 (1988), 279–323 Google Scholar; Ampolo, C., ‘The Economics of the Sanctuaries in Southern Italy and Sicily’, in Linders, T. and Alroth, B. (eds), Economics of Cult in the Ancient Greek World (Uppsala, 1992), pp. 25-8Google Scholar; Isager, S. and Skydsgaard, J., Ancient Greek Agriculture (London and New York, 1992), pp. 181-90CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

34. Delos: Brunet, M., Bull. Corr. Hell. 114 (1990), 669-82CrossRefGoogle Scholar. Trees: Henrichs, A., ‘“Thou shalt not kill a tree”: Greek, Manichaean and Indian Tales’, Bull. Am. Soc. Pap. 16 (1979), 85–108 Google Scholar; Jordan, B. and Perlin, J., ‘On the Protection of Sacred Groves’, in Studies Presented to Sterling Dow (Durham NC, 1984), pp. 153-9Google Scholar.

35. Parker, Miasma, pp. 160–6; Chaniotis, A., ‘Habgierige Götter, habgierige Städte. Heiligtumbesitz und Gebietsanspruch in den kretischen Staatsverträgen’, Klema 13 (1988 [1992]), 21–39 Google Scholar.

36. It was not until the fourth century that these treasures, which the inviolability of sanctuaries had always protected, became the object of looting, cf. Parker, Miasma, pp. 170–6; Pritchett, W., The Greek State at War 5 (Berkeley etc., 1991), pp. 160-8Google Scholar.

37. Selinus: SEG 34.970. Temples as banks: Parker, Miasma, pp. 170–5; C. Ampolo, ‘Fra economia, religione e politica: tesori e offerte nei santuari greci’, Scienze dell’Antichità (henceforth SA) 3–4 (1989-90), 271–9; T. Linders, ‘Sacred Finances: Some Observations’, in Linders/Alroth, Economics of Cult, pp. 9–13.

38. Thomas, R., Oral Tradition & Wrìtten record in Classical Athens (Cambridge, 1989), pp. 38–40 CrossRefGoogle Scholar (Metroon); Hölkeskamp, K.-J., ‘Written Law in Archaic Greece’, PCPhS 38 (1992), 87–117, esp. 99–102Google Scholar.

39. Dodona: van Straten, F. T., ‘Twee orakels in Epirus’, Lampas 15 (1982), 195–230 Google Scholar (also on the Epirote nekyomanteion); Janko, R., The Iliad: A Commentary IV (Cambridge, 1992), p. 350 Google Scholar, makes a strong case for Helloi instead of Selloi, although Archilochus heard Selloi (fr. 183: the seer Selleus), cf. Bossi, F., Studi su Archiloco (Bari, 1990 2), pp. 207-10Google Scholar. Delphi: Morgan, Athletes and Oracles. Olympia: Sinn, U., ‘Die Stellung der Wettkämpfe im Kult des Zeus Olympios’, Nikephoros 4 (1991), 31–54 Google Scholar.

40. Amphiaraion: P. Roesch, in Roux, Temples et sanctuaires, pp. 173–84. Trophoneion: Bonnechère, P. and Bonnechère, M., Les Et. Class. 57 (1989), 289–302 Google Scholar. Didyma and Claros: Parke, H. W., The Sanctuaries of Apollo in Asia Minor (London, 1985)Google Scholar; Fontenrose, J., Didyma. Apollo’s Oracle, Cult and Companions (Berkeley etc., 1988)Google Scholar, with the reviews by Parker, R., CR 39 (1989), 270fGoogle Scholar and Morgan, C., Hermathena 146 (1989), 64-9Google Scholar; Robert, L. and Robert, J., Claws I (Paris, 1989)Google Scholar; de la Geniere, J., ‘Le sanctuaire d’Apollon à Claros; nouvelles découvertes’, REG 103 (1990), 95–110 CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Tuchelt, K., Branchidai – Didyma (Mainz, 1992)Google Scholar.

41. Cf. Parker, R., ‘Greek States & Greek Oracles’, in Cartledge, P. and Harvey, F. (eds), Crux. Essays . . . G. E. M. de Ste. Croix (London, 1985), pp. 298–326 Google Scholar; Morgan, C., ‘Divination and Society at Delphi and Didyma’, Hermathena 147 (1989), 17–42 Google Scholar.

42. The most important studies are by van Straten, F. T.: ‘Gifts for the Gods’, in Versnel, H. S. (ed), Faith Hope and Worship (Leiden, 1981), pp. 65–151 CrossRefGoogle Scholar; ‘Unclassical Religion in Classical Greece: The Archaeological Angle’, Proc. XIIth Congr. Arch. 4 (Athens, 1988), 288–92; ‘Votives and Votaries in Greek Sanctuaries’, in Sanctuaire grec, pp. 247–84. Painted votives: Nowicka, M., ‘Les portraits votifs peints dans la Grèce antique’, Eos 78 (1990), 133-6Google Scholar. Formulas of votives: Lazzarini, M. L., ‘Iscrizioni votive greche’, SA 3-4 (1989-90), 845-59Google Scholar.

43. Phoenicians: Kilian-Dirlmeier, I., ‘Fremde Weihungen in griechischen Heiligtümern von 8. bis zum Begin des 7. Jahrhunderts’, Jahrb. Röm.-Germ. Zentralmus. 32 (1985), 215-54Google Scholar. Etruscan: A.Johnston, Arch. Anz. 1993, 597f.

44. Cf. Jackson, A. H., ‘Hoplites and the Gods: The Dedication of Captured Arms and Armour’, in Hanson, V. D. (ed), Hoplites. The Classical Greek Battle Expenence (London, 1991), pp. 228-49CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

45. Greek Anthology 6.280 (girl); Martini, W., Die archaische Plastik der Griechen (Darmstadt, 1990)Google Scholar.

46. For anatomical votives see most recently Forsén, B. and Sironen, E., ZPE 87 (1991), 173-5Google Scholar.

47. Cf. Alroth, Greek gods and figurines; eadem, ‘Visiting gods’, SA 3–4 (1989-90), 301–10.

48. Krumeich, R., ‘Zu den goldenen Dreifüsse der Deinomeniden in Delphi’, JDAI 106 (1991), 37–62 Google Scholar.

49. Cf. Boessneck, J. and von den Driesch, A., Athen. Mitt. 96 (1981), 245-8Google Scholar and 98 (1983), 21–4. Peacocks: Antiphanes, fr. 173; Menedotus FGrH 541 F 2.

50. On inventories see Knoepfler, D. (ed), Comptes et inventaires dans la cité grecque (Neuchâtel and Geneva, 1988)Google Scholar; Linders, T., ‘Inscriptions and Orality’, Symb. Osl. 67 (1992), 27–40 CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

51. Aleshire, S. B., The Athenian Asklepieion (Amsterdam, 1989), pp. 177–248 Google Scholar (inventory) and Asklepios at Athens (Amsterdam, 1991), pp. 41–6 (quote, p. 46).

52. On the changes see Snodgrass, A., ‘The Economics of Dedication at Greek Sanctuaries’, SA 3-4 (1989-90), 287-94Google Scholar.