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H 245 x W 174 mm

306 pages

3 plans, 4 maps, 8 tables

Published May 2024

Archaeopress Archaeology

ISBN

Paperback: 9781803277714

Digital: 9781803277721

DOI 10.32028/9781803277714

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Keywords
Ancient Greece; Religion; Olympian Gods; Chthonian deities; Sacred Places; Sanctuaries; Topography; Peloponnese; Arcadia; Elis; Messenia; Laconia

Related titles

Exploring the Sacred Landscape of the Ancient Peloponnese

Cults and Sacred Places

By Eleni Marantou

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£48.00
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£16.00

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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.

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Contents

Preface

Introduction


Part One

Chapter 1. Arcadia

Chapter 2. Elis

Chapter 3. Messenia

Chapter 4. Laconia


Part Two

Chapter 5. Special Characteristics

Chapter 6. Deities Worshipped

Chapter 7. Religious, Economic and Social Context

 

Tables

Maps

Bibliography

About the Author

Eleni Marantou holds a PhD from the Ionian University at Corfu and bachelor’s degrees in History and in Archaeology and History of Art from the University of Athens. She has been a member and research assistant of various archaeological institutes and worked as an archaeologist in the Greek Ministry of Culture, taking part in excavations and museum work around Greece. Her main interest is the study of ancient Greek religion, with a particular focus on the therapeutic attributes of the natural elements and their relation to healing deities. She is the author of numerous scientific articles on ancient Greek landscape, religion, mythology and magical practices.

Reviews

'It is clear that much work has been done, even simply by compiling this number of sites with varying types and extents of evidence and scholarship. It is an excellent guidebook to the areas included and should prove a useful and consultable volume for those interested in the religious life of the four study regions.' – Shannon M. Dunn (2025): Bryn Mawr Classical Review


‘L’auteure y parvient en livrant une masse d’informations bien ordonnées, lesquelles servent, ... de synthèse à l’ensemble, visant à mieux saisir le rapport entre hommes et dieux dans l’île de Pélops.’ [translated] ‘The author achieves this by providing a well-organized body of information, … which serves as a synthesis for the whole, aiming to better understand the relationship between men and gods on the island of Pelops.’ Jean-Robert Gisler (2025): Museum Helveticum Volume 82

‘Der vorliegende Band bietet eine schöne Übersicht über Heiligtümer und heilige Orte im Süden und Westen der Peloponnes mit instruktiven Angaben auch zu wenig bekannten bzw. beachteten Stätten. Das ist ein großer Verdienst der Arbeit. Die Forschungsfragen, welche in den Vordergrund gestellt werden, ordnen sich in den wissenschaftlichen Diskurs ein und geben konstruktive Anregungen.’ [translated] ‘The present volume offers a nice overview of sanctuaries and holy places in the south and west of the Peloponnese with instructive information also on little-known or noticed sites. This is a great merit of the work. The research questions that are placed in the foreground are integrated into the scientific discourse and provide constructive suggestions.’Soi Agelidis (2025): sehepunkte Issue 25, no. 11