Η εξερεύνηση του Ιερού Τοπίου
της Αρχαίας Πελοποννήσου εντοπίζει τις απαρχές του θρησκευτικού συστήματος της
Πελοποννήσου για να εντοπίσει τους παράγοντες πίσω από την μετέπειτα ανάπτυξή
του από την Γεωμετρική έως την Κλασσική περίοδο.
- Ποιες θεότητες βρήκαν εύνοια
στην Πελοπόννησο;
- Ποιοι παράγοντες κρύβονται
πίσω από τις τοπικές θρησκευτικές εκδηλώσεις;
- Ποια ήταν τα ιδιαίτερα
χαρακτηριστικά τους;
- Πώς προσαρμόστηκαν οι
Ολύμπιοι θεοί στο πλαίσιο των προηγούμενων θρησκευτικών συστημάτων και
θεοτήτων;
Μέσα από μια παρουσίαση
λατρευτικών τόπων, των θεοτήτων που λατρεύονταν και των χρησιμοποιούμενων
επιθέτων, το βιβλίο διερευνά τις προτιμήσεις για συγκεκριμένες θεότητες και
τους λόγους για αυτό. Οι χθόνιες ιδιότητες των θεοτήτων είναι ένας σημαντικός
παράγοντας και τέτοιες ιδιότητες διευκρινίζονται περαιτέρω από τους μύθους που
τις συνοδεύουν.
Η ανασύνθεση του αρχαίου
θρησκευτικού τοπίου και του πολιτικού, οικονομικού και κοινωνικού πλαισίου
ρίχνει φως στο πώς έπαιξαν το ρόλο τους οι λατρευτικοί τόποι και καταδεικνύει
πώς ο πρωτόγονος χθόνιος χαρακτήρας ορισμένων θεοτήτων επιβίωσε με τα χρόνια.
Οι θρησκευτικές και πολιτικές ανάγκες συνδυάστηκαν και το αποτέλεσμα ήταν ένα
δίκτυο ιερών τόπων με σημαντικό κύρος, εξουσία και δύναμη.
Ανάμεσα στα περιεχόμενα,
διαβάζουμε:
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
Pheneos, Thelpusa, Orchomenos, Mantineia, Tegea, Asea, Perivolia,
Ancient Trapezus,
Phigaleia, Chrysovitsi, Area south of Megalopolis
c. Sacred dateable places known only from written sources
Pheneos, Area north of Megalopolis, Megalopolis
ii. Arcadian sanctuaries of questionable dating
a. Sanctuaries found or excavated
Thelpusa, Lasta
b. Movable surface finds related to sanctuaries
Pheneos, Kleitor, Stymphalia, Nestani, Tripoli, Tegea, Aspela,
Mantineia, Kaphyai,
Arvanitokerasia, Ancient Trapezus
c. Sacred places known only from written sources
Kleitor, Kynaitha, Pheneos, Psophis, Thelpusa, Alea, Dimitsana, Tegea,
Mantineia,
Kaphyai, Lykosoura, Phigaleia, Alipheira, Heraia, Megalopolis, Road from
Megalopolis
to Messene
iii. The survival of ancient sanctuaries – Christian Era
Chapter 2. Elis
Mythological – Historical background
Catalogue of Elis
i. Elian sanctuaries that can be dated
a. Sanctuaries found or excavated
Olympia, Kombothekra, Hill of Prophet Elias, Makrysia, North bank of the
Alpheios,
Epitalion, Letrinoi, Aspra Litharia, Lepreon, Prasidaki
b. Movable surface finds related to sanctuaries
Olympia, Skillountia, Makrysia, Elis, Platiana
c. Sacred dateable places known only from written sources
Olympia
Phrixa
ii. Elian sanctuaries of questionable date
a. Sanctuaries found or excavated
Makrysia
b. Movable surface finds related to sanctuaries
Elis
c. Sacred places known only from written sources
Olympia, Phrixa, Irakleia, Elis, Kyllene, Samiko, Lepreon, Makistos,
Minthe
Boundaries of Arcadia-Elis
iii. The survival of ancient sanctuaries – Christian Era
Chapter 3. Messenia
Mythological – Historical background
Catalogue of Messenia
i. Messenian sanctuaries that can be dated
a. Sanctuaries found or excavated
Mount Ithome, Ithome/Messene, Mila, Ano Melpeia, Aghios Floros, Thouria/
Hellenika, Kalamata Area, Aghios Andreas
b. Movable surface finds related to sanctuaries
Ithome/Messene, Andania, Kalamata Area, Dimiova, Pylos Area
ii. Messenian sanctuaries of questionable dating
a. Sanctuaries found or excavated
Koroni
b. Movable surface finds related to sanctuaries
Koroni, Aulon
c. Sacred places known only from written sources
Gerenia, Kalamata area, Petalidi, Koroni, Methone, Pylos, Kyparissia
iii. The survival of ancient sanctuaries – Christian Era
Chapter 4. Laconia
Mythological – Historical background
Catalogue of Laconia
i. Laconian Sanctuaries that can be dated
a. Sanctuaries found or excavated
Sparta, Amyklai, Therapne, Aphyssou, Mount Taygetos, Kastraki, Apidia,
Kournou,
Tainaron, Phoiniki
b. Movable surface finds related to sanctuaries
Sparta, Amyklai, Mount Taygetos, Kosmas, Gytheion Area, Asopos, Kotronas
– Ancient
Teuthrone, Dichova, Ano Poula, Thalamai, Kardamyle
c. Sacred dateable places known only from written sources
Sparta, Asopos, Maleas
ii. Laconian sanctuaries of questionable dating
a. Movable surface finds related to sanctuaries
Glyppia, Kyphanta, Epidaurus Limera, Gytheion Area, Asopos, Oitylon
b. Sacred places known only from written sources
Sparta, Pellana, Therapne, Mount Taygetos, Hermai, Brasiai, Geronthrai,
Zarakas,
Epidaurus Limera, Boiai, Itis, Gytheion, Asopos, Las, Mount Ilion ,
Knakadion, Hypsoi,
River Skyras, Pyrrichos, Kainepolis, Leuktra, Kardamyle, Mount
Kalathion, Alagonia
iii. The survival of ancient sanctuaries – Christian Era
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
vii. 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
Elis.
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
Conclusions
General observations
A comparative presentation of the main cult places of the Peloponnese
Epilogue, Tables, Maps, Bibliography.
ΠΗΓΗ: El. Marantou «Exploring the
Sacred Landscape of the Ancient Peloponnese - Cults and Sacred Places», 306 σελ., DOI 10.32028/9781803277714, εκδ. Archaeopress Archaeology, Μάιος, 2024. ΑΡΧΕΙΟΝ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΜΟΥ, 1.6.2024.
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