Sanctuary of Apollo Karneios and other Gods

Author of the notice : A. Mazarakis Ainian

Location

Place : Mesa Vouno Mt.
: Thera
: Santorini isl.

Description

GENERAL

Cult of Zeus, Athena, Artemis, Apollo Karneios, Hermes, Boreas, Chiron, Kοuretes, Lokaia Damia

The ancient town of Thera lies on Mesa Vouno, at an altitude of 396 m., at the E coast of the island. At the SE edge of the ancient city many votive inscriptions that were engraved on the rocks ranging in date from the late 8th c. BC to the R period have been found, mentioning the names of Zeus, Athena, Artemis, Apollo Karneios, Hermes, Boreas, Chiron, the Kοuretes and Lokaia Damia.

MONUMENTS

At the N part of the SE terrace lies a temple dedicated to Apollo Carneios. The temple is divided into a cella and pronaos, measuring 20x9 m. Two doors at the S wall of the cella lead to two structures, which were accessed by treps. They may have served as treasures. At the SE lies a rectangular court (8x9 m), with an underground cistern for collecting rainwater; the roof was supported by six large monolithic beams. Further to the SE there was a building, possibly serving for the accommodation of the priests.

No other monument has been noted in association with the cult of the rest of the gods.

CHRONOLOGY

The cult of Zeus and Apollo Karneios is attested during the LG and EA periods.

The temple of Apollo Karneios dates to the 6th c. BC.

IDENTIFICATION

The cult of the aforementioned gods is attested by inscriptions found at the site of the ancient city of Thera.

RECORDS

Excavation Date: 1896-1904

Institution/Excavator: H. Von Gaertringen

Excavation Type: Systematic

REFERENCES

Primary Publication:

● Von Gaertringen, H. - Wilski, P. 1904. Thera III. Untersuchungen, Vermessungen und Ausgrabungen in den Jahren 1859-1902. Stadtgeschichte von Thera, Berlin, 62-70

Secondary Publications:

● Gounaris, A. 2005. Cult places in the Cyclades during the Protogeometric and Geometric periods : their contribution in interpreting the rise of the Cycladic poleis, M. Yeroulanou - M. Stamatopoulou (eds), Architecture and Archaeology in the Cyclades. Papers in honour of J. J. Coulton, Oxford, 60

● Jeffery, L. H. 1990. The Local Scripts of Archaic Greece, Oxford, 316-320

● Mermoz, J. 2010. La vie religieuse des Cyclades de l’HR IIIC à la fin de la période archaïque, Lyon, PhD Thesis, 385-387

Investigation :
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Monuments dedicace cultual law decreet insc. honorific other Ref
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Finds dedicace cultual law decreet insc. honorific other Ref
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