From rulers' dwellings to temples: Architecture, religion and society in early Iron Age Greece (1100-700 B.C.) (Studies in Mediterranean archaeology)

626 Pages·1997·91.84 MB·English

by  Alexander Mazarakis Ainian

STUDIES IN MEDITERRANEAN ARCHAEOLOGY
VOL. CXXl
RULERS' DWELLINGS TO TEMPLES
~ ~~OM
ARCHITECTURE, RELIGION AND SOCIETY
IN EARLY ffiON AGE GREECE
(1100-700 B.C.)
by
ALEXANDER MAZARAKIS AINIAN
JONSERED 1997
PAULAsTR6~F6RLAG
Matarakis Ainian. Alexander. From Rulers' Dwelling> to Temples: Architecture, ReliJ!icm and Socictv in Early
/roD Age Greece (c. 1100-700 B.C.), Srudies in Mediterranean Archaeology Vol. CXXJ. Jonsered 1997. 412
pp., 6 Maps. XI Tables, 513 Figs. ISBN 91 7081 152 0.
ABSTRACT
This srudy constitutes a thorough treaunent from the archaeological poinl of view of lhe ntlcrs' dwellings and
lhe cult buildings of the Prowgeometric and Geometric periods in Greece (roughly 1hc 11th-8th centuries B.C.).
The emphasis lies in llle possible imeraclions between the 1wo ca1cgorics of buildmgs, with the hope of
de1em1ining some of llle reasons of the resurgence of the temple of the Greek polis.
The evidence from eacb site is assembled in Chapter I. The extant ElA rulers' dwellings and cull
buildings are grouped together and are classified by 1wo criteria combined together: typology. and geographical
distribution. This part of the study is not always a mere transcription of existing viewpoints. but whenever
required a critical discussion of these, often resulting in lhe adoption of a view opposed to lhe commonly
accep1ed one. Tnto the discussion have also been broughl dwellings of ordinary people and buildings which
served other domestic funclions, such as workshops. granaries. storerooms. e1c. (Parts 4. 5 and 9). Another aim
of this chapter (Part IO) is 10 e>tamine in more detail the shapes of the facades of EIA apsidal and rec1angular
buildings (especially of cull buildings and rulers' dwellings). in conjunction wilh the arrangement of the interior
space. The typology of oval and circular buildings is a much more simple 1ask and is discussed in lhe end of the
relevant sections (PariS 4 and 5, respectively).
n-
The second pari of this s1udy (Chaplers VI) eumines the archaeological evidence of the possible
links between rulers' dwellings. and cult practices. One of the main problems encountered by the scholar
researching the subject of the genesis of Greek religious architecture has always been in dislinguishing between
sacred and profane buildings. The aim of Chapter Tl is to present briefly the criteria and the method which may
contribute in distinguishing a cult building or a ruler's dwcJJing frorn an cdiilce which would have served some
other profane function.
Chapter III investigales the con.nections be1ween cull prac1ice and rulers' dwellings: in Part I the entire
body of evidence is analysed. Part 2 is a brief reference 10 the Mycenaean period and the function of the palatial
megara. In Pari 3 one may find a ca1alogue of BIA sanctuaries; the status of the earliest sancluaries (llth-early
8th c. B.C.), especially those in which cult buildings have been discovered. is discussed in more detail in order
to unders1and lheir relationship with the contemporary rulers' dwelliogs. Consequently, Pari 4 constilules an
a11emp1 to classify the rulers' dwellings in relation to cult practices, sanc1uaries and cult buildings. Part 5 deals
with the buildings associated with the cult of anceslors or heroes rutd invcstigales the possible connections
between rulers' dwellings and hero culL
Chapter TV is an allempl to compare the archaeological dala with the conlemporary or later wrillen
sources. Pari I investigates the nature of Homeric kingship (A) and focuses on one aspec1 of the Homeric
nobleman, his competence in religious mallers (0). In the same section the controversial 1opic of the identily of
lhe Homeric house (B) and temple (C) is brieOy treated. The post-Homeric literary references for 1hc religious
role of ElA rulers are discussed in Part 2.
The lasl section, Chapter V brings IOgeth(;r 1he evidence analysed in the previous chaplers. Part,! is a
reao;sessmenl of the previous discussion, that is 10 say the role possibly played by the rulers of the E[A .in the
religious affairs of the communities. The second and last section (Pari 2) deals with questions relaled to the rise
of the temple of the Greek polis (from the archi!ectural and lhe functional points of view) and tries to tackle the
reasons which diclated its creation.
In order to facilitale comparisons, aJJlhe buildings included in this study have been drawn al a uniform
scale. Tables !-[)( may serve as a visual guide of a large number of well preserved buildings (mostly
free-standing units) of the PG and Geometric periods. The illustrations are arranged to a geographical order, site
by sile. The figures of building models are assembled separately.
Cover. The so-called "Herol!n" al Toumba, Lefkandi. Adapled from J.J. Coulton, Lclkandi II, Part 2, London
1993. pl. 28 (by permission).
@Alexander Mazarak:is Ainian 199'7 •
ISBN9I708I 1520.
Printed in Sweden by Svenskl Tryck Surte
Published by Paul Astr<!ms f<!rlag
William Gibsons vlig II, S-433 76 Jonsered
2
CONTENTS
13
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
IS
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS (Maps, Tables. Figures)
33
ABBREVIATIONS
36
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER I
TYPOLOGICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL SURVEY OF CULT BUILDrNGS AND
RULERS' DWELLlNGS, rNCLUOING A COMPARISON WITH DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE
42
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
43
I APSIDAL BUILDINGS
NORTHERN GREECE
43
Assiros (Northern and Southern Buildings)
43
Poseidi (Building l:T)
NWGREECE
44
Aetos. Ithaca (building model)
• Thermon (Megaton A) 44
CENTRAL GREECE
45
Delplu. Sanctuary of Apollo (curved wall)
46
Paralimru (cult buildmg)
41
Oropos (Wall34)
48
Lathouri1.a (Room U)
EUBOEA
Lefkandi. Toumba (so-called Her<>On) 48
51
Besik-Tepe
Tarsus (Bu1lding U2) 51
, Eretria. Sanctuary of Apollo (Building A or "Oapbnephoreion") 58
62
• Eretria. Sanctuary of Apollo (Helcatompedon D)
THEPELOPONNESE
. Perachora (temple of Hera Akraia) 63
64
• Perachora (apsidal building models)
65
· Solygeia (so-called temple of Hera)
61
• Mycenae. Area of House of the Oil Merchant (chthonian chapel1)
Asine. Karmaniola plot (Building C) 68
10
Asine. Barbouna lull Sanctuary of Apollo (Building B)
Asme. Kapsorachis plot (Building S) 11
Asme. North of Gogonas plot (chapel?) 12
Ano Mazaralo. Rakita (temple of Artemis) 72
13
Olympia (House 4)
14
Nichoria (Buildmg IV-I, phases a & b)
19
Nichoria (Building IV-5)
80
Tcgea (Temples I and U)
THE CYCLADES
82
Koukounaries Paros (Building A)
Oikonomos lsi. Paros (Building I) 83
THE EAST GREEK ISLANDS
84
Pyrrha?
84
Mytilene?
3
CONTENTS
Antissa. Lesbos (Building DJ, phases 1 &. 2) 84
Antassa. Lesbos (Building IV-2) 85
Empono. quos (Lower Megaron) 85
• Hcrwon Sarnos (apsidal building model) 86
ASIA~INOR
Old Smyrna (temple of Athena) 86
2. OVAl. BUfl.DINGS 86
CENTRAL GREECE
Gonnoi (temple of Athena) 86
ATTICA
• Areopagus. Athens (chthonian chapel?) 86
Tourkovounia. Athens ("Sacred House") 87
CYCLADES
Grona. Naxos (enclosures?) 89
EAST GREEK ISLANDS
Myulene. Lesbos (cult building?) 89
•Heraion. Sarnos (oval building models) 90
Anussa (Bualdiog IV- I) 91
Pyrrha Lcsbos (temple?) 92
3. CURV!J.JNEAR BUTLDTNGS OF UNCERTAIN PLAN OR DATE 93
NWGREECE
Vitsa Zagoriou (Wall43 and House Z) 93
Aetos. Ithaca (curved wall in area of "cairns") 94
Kalydon (curved wall) 95
CENTRAL GREECE
Aulis (curved wall) 95
EIJBOEA
Ere111a (temple of Aphrodite/Astarte?) 95
ATTICA
Eleusis (curved wall in th.e area of the temple of Artemis and Poseidon) 96
THE PELOPONNESE
Isthmia. Sanctuary of Poseidon (tent?) 97
THE EAST GREEK ISLANDS
Mytilene. Lcsbos (house or cult building?) 97
4. OTHER DOMESTIC APSIDAL AND OVAL BUILDTNGS AND GENERAL CONCLUSIONS 97
A. THE PROTOGEOMETRlC PERIOD (c. 1100..900 B.C.) 98
Assaros (House 5) 98
Lefkand1
Ttryns (house ID Square L vrn 41) 98
Asinc. Karmaniola (Building B) 98
Nicboria (Buildings DJ-1. H-1-D, Walls Hand 0) 98
Koukounarics. Paros 99
Gro1111. Niuos 99
Mytilene 99
Old Smyrna (oval house, and Houses LV-L VJ and LIII-LIV) 99
B: THE GEOMETRIC PERIOD (c. 900-700 B.C.) tOO
Koukos (Walls I and 3) 100
Vitsa Zagoriou (House I. Walls 32-33) tOO
Pleuron (apsadal house) 100
Delph& (two apsidal buildings) 100
Oropos (Buildmgs A, 0, B-r, t., E, I. lA) 100
4
CONTENTS
cretna. Sanctu.uy of Apollo (Buildings B. C. 1:.) 102
EreLna. Town (various apsidal and oval butldmgs) 104
Xcropohs/Lelltandi (oval house?) 105
Chalet~ (curved wall in area 82) 105
~= 1m
Pithckoussai (Buildings I. IV) 105
Punta Chiarito. Pilhckoussal I 06
Lathourit.a (Unils X. IX. XX) 106
Argo> (EG and LG houses) 106
Asine Karm;Hiiola (House 0), Lcvcndis (apsidal or oval house) & Sumaras (House U) plots 107
Kantia (aps1dal or oval building) 107
Atgion (Wall T3) 107
Nichoria (four curvii.Utear houses) 107
Koukounanes. Paras (curved MG wall?, Room L) 107
Kargadoura. Paras (apsidal buildmg?) 108
Valhy Ltmenari. Donousa (House X6) 108
Mmoa. Amorgos (House A) 108
Anll"-'la· Lesbos (curved wall) 108
Old Smyrna. Trench H (Space XXXVIII. house Cl-2, Walls d. g. i).
Sanctuary of Alhcna (Priestess's House), Trench B (two oval buildtngs?) 108
Ephcsos. Agora (curved wall) 109
Miletos. Kalabaktepe (curved walls) and area of Hellenistic fortifications (Buildings A. Band C) 109
APSIDAL AND OVAL BUILDINGS: CONCLUSIONS II I
5. CIRCULAR BUILDINGS AND RELATED STRUCTURES I 14
A ROLND BUILDINGS 114
NWGREECE 114
Aetos llhaca (enclosure?)
Ct::.:-ITRAL GREECE 114
Lansa (round buildEinng ?) 115
Oropos (Building 115
Oropos (Building H)
EUBObA 116
Erctria (round building?)
116
Xcropolis!Lefkandi (round hUl)
ATfiCA 116
LathouriLa (Rooms lll-IV)
116
• Lathounza (Thol os VIII) 119
• Mt. Hymeuos (Building C)
ASIA Mr.-IOR 119
Old Smyrna (Tholoi in Trenches B and H)
120
B CIRCULAR BUILDING MODELS
120
A Ute (gro.nary models) 120
Allo Mat.arnkl (granary models)
120
Cretan models
122
C. CIRCULAR PAVINGS
122
Xeropolis/LcfkandJ (granaries'/)
122
Mende 122
Halai 122
:-lichona (pavings in Unit IV-5)
122
Old Smyrna (pavings in Trenches B and H)
5
CONTENTS
As10e
Argos Dc1ras 122
122
Mycenae
122
N1chona (pa'·1ng m UnniV-1)
122
Mnropohs Sq. Nuos
122
M1leto~
Troy 122
123
·K<~Inpodi
Heraion. Samo; 123
Eretnn 123
123
Lellcnndi Toumbu (pavings in East Room of the ''Hcro6n")
Thermon 123
Academy. Athens • 123
Grona. Nuos 123
123
CONCLUSIONS
123
6 RECTANGULAR BUILDINGS {FREE-STANDING AND AGGLUTlNA TlVE)
124
NORTHERN GREECE
Kastanas (houses in Layers I 2-8)
124
NWGREECE
Thermoo (Mcgaron B)
125
Knllipolis (Buildings A and B)
135
CENTRAL GREECE
Ncochoralu (temple of Athena !tonia?)
136
•Kalapodj (remains beneath Temples A and B)
137
• Kalapod1 (Temples A and B)
138
·Paralinuu (temple of chho01an divinity?)
ATTICA 140
Academy. Athens (Sacred House and Buildmg V)
140
• Mt Hymenos. Sanctuary of Zeus Ombc-ios (Buildings A and B)
143
L:lthooriu (Suburban chapel)
144
Lalhounlll (Room I and Building XVIII)
144
AnavybsOS (chthonian chapel)
14.5
Thorikos (Buildings ITVXXVI and XXX)
146
·Elcusis. Tclesterion (Megaron BIB 1-3)
147
• Elcus1s (Sacred House and "Megaron")
150
Eleusis. West cemetety ("Hero6n of Seven agaiust Thebes")
1.53
Elcusis. So-called "Old Kallichoron" (Second "Sacred House")
153
THE PELOPONNESE
•Perachora ("temple" of Hera Umenia)
154
Corinth. Temple Hill (temple of Apollo)
- 1.56
lsthnua (temple of Poseidon)
·Argos. P1lios plot (chthooian chapel?) ~ 1.56
156
•Argos Herwon (Old Temple Terrace and Secondary Shrine)
1.56
Argo. Hcrwon (rectangular building model)
1.57
T1ryns. Oberburg (Building T)
1.59
As1oe. Sanctuary of Apollo (Temple A)
162
Halieis (temple of Apollo)
162
Aigcira (Building A)
164
• Sparta (temple of Artemis Orthia)
166
• Srana. Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia (building model)
166
Gortsouh (Temple A)
167
PJIJanuon (femple A)
169
THE CYCLADES
Ay lnm Kea (B01Idmg BB and Room l)
170
Ay Andreas Siphnos (BUIIdmg 9)
171
6
CONTENTS
171
lagora Andros (Bwlding H 19 and dependenctes and remains 10 sanctuary of Athena) 176
Hypstle. Andro~ (Temple A) 177
Xobourgo Tenons (Buildmg 1-VI) 179
Delos (Temple 180
Delos (Pre-otkos of the Nuians) 181
Delos (Artemtsioo E) 182
Delos (Heraion I) 183
Koukounaries. Paros (Buildings B and C) 185
Koukounarics. Paros (temple of Athena and "House of the Seals") 188
Oroua and Mitropolis Sq. Naxos (enclosures) 189
·I ria. Naxos (Temples l, ll,lll) 191
Tsiknlario. Naxos (Buildings A-B) 194
Vathy Limenari. Donousa (Houses X6-X7) 195
Mtnoa. Amorgos (Bualding K)
THE EAST GREEK ISLM\DS 197
• Hephat~ua. Lemnos (sanctuary) 197
• Kabetnon. Lemnos (rtrSt Telestenon) 197
Emporio Chios (Megaron Hall) 198
Emporia Chtos. Harbour sanctuM)' (Wall~ a-Ill
199
• Samt\S (lieraton I) 202
Samos (rectangular buildlllg models) 202
• Vroulia. Rhodes {suburban chapel)
ASIA MINOR 203
Old Smyrna (temple or Athena) 205
Ephcsos (Artemjsion B)
CRETE 207
Praisos (so-called 'Farmstead") 208
Vronda (Butlding A-B. House D. Shnne G) 210
Kastro (Bwldmg 9-13 and Buildmgs A· B) and Plru tou Kastrou (traces of walls), Kllvoust
212
Pachlttsam Agriada (chapel of Eilcathyta) 213
Vro~a.'tro (House U\6-17) 214
Vrokastro. Karakovii.Ja (chthoruan chapel) 215
Thylakas (chapel) 215
Olou~ {Old Aphrodi,ion) 216
• Dreros (temple or Apollo) 218
Karphi ("Temple", "Great House" and Umt 135-144)
220
Smari (Unit A· B) 222
• K:1to Symc. Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite (Buildings Q, land J)
223
Knossos (Spring Chamber) 223
Knossos (shrine of Glaukos) 223
Chamale Teke (rectangular buildmg model) 224
Afratt (complex of square rooms) 224
• Prtmas (so called "Temple B") 226
• Gonyna (temple of Athena/Astarte) 227
Vourvouhus (temple?) • 228
PhalblOS (Building AA etc.) 229
Phaistos ("Greek Temple") 229
Phatstos. Ay. Georgios (cult building?) 230
• Kommos (Temple A)
231
'Kommos (Temple B 1-3)
234
7 HYBRID PLANS
234
Thessalonike Toumba (phases 4 and 3)
235
Lathouriza (UnitT-IV) 239
Oakonomos asl. Paros (Butldtng I II)
239
Koukounanes. Paros (Room l)
7
CONTENTS
8. BUILDINGS OF UNCERTAIN OR UNKNOWN PLAN AND MISCELLANEOUS
ARCHITECTURAL REMAJNS 239
NORTHERN GREECE
Kouko. (Buildtng 8 and predecessor B I) 239
NWGREECE
Aeros hhaca. Sanctuary of Apollo (Wall 27) 241
Ka11Jpohs (Bmldmg A) 242
CENTRAL GREECE
• Kalapodt (predeces.wN orTemples A-B) 242
Delphi. Mannaria (!races of walls) 242
Ay. Varvara (peribolos wall) 242
Thebes (lemplc of Apollo lsmcmos) 242
Halianos (mas~ive wall) 242
EUBOEA
Erclria. Area NE of sancruary of Apollo (Wall G) 243
Plakoori (building and peribolos wall) 243
Ptlhekou~sai. Acropoli~ (building model) 243
ATTICA
Alhens Acropolis (column bases) 244
Olympieoon. Alhens (architccrural remains by lhe reonplc of Apollo Delphinios) 245
Atgina. SancLUary of Apollo (bwlding wilh several rooms) 245
THE PELOPONNESE
Mycenae. Acropolis (complex wilh rectangular rooms and temple terrace) 245
Troiz.en (posstble remple) 246
Spana. SanclUary of Athena (Wall C-D) 246
Sparta. Sancruary of Athena (butldmg modcl(s)) 246
Gol'l)'> (crude wall) 246
THE CYCLADES
Kanhaia Kea Sancruary of Apollo (walls) 247
Dclion. Paros (walls) 247
Gyroulas Naxos. Sanctuary of Demeter and Apollo (post holes) 247
Minoa. Amorgos. Lower Town (rectangular building and rcraining/peribolos wall) 247
TilE EAST GREEK ISLANDS
Ph3ll3l. Choos. Sancluary of Apollo (terrace/pcribolos wall) 248
ASIAMlNOR
Didyma. Sanctuary of Apollo (Sekos I) 248
Erythrai (lcmple of Athena?) 248
CRETE
Oreino Kastn (building) 248
Aplera (walls ncar the sancruary of Arlcmis) 249
Sybrila (rectangular complex) 249
9 OTHER DOMESTIC RECTANGULAR BUIWINGS AND MISCELLANEOUS WALLS
AND CONCLUSIONS CONCERNING RECTANGULAR BUILDINGS 249
A. THE PROTOGEOMETR1C PERIOD (c. 1100-900 B.C.) 249
Thermon 249
Kastanas 249
Assiros 249
Thcssalonike Toumba 249
Volos (lolkos?) 250
Ay. Andreas. Siphnos 251
Zagora. Andros 251
Koukounaries. Paros 251
Grotta. Naxos 251
Ltndos. Rhodes 251
8
COl\' TENTS
251
Old Smyrna 251
Crete 251
B THE GEOMETRIC PERIOD (c. 900-700 B C.) 252
Ka.stana.s (La)ec 8) 252
Acto.\ 252
Yolo' (loll<os?) 252
Ay Athanasios. Galaxidi
252
Delplu 252
Erctria 253
Xeropohs/Lefkand1
253
Chalc•s 253
Pithekou~sai 253
K1rlntho> 253
Archampolis
254
A then;
254
Plas• 254
LathouriLa 254
Thorikos 254
Oropos 254
Mcgara
255
Argo;,
255
Corinth 255
Nafplion
255
As ine
255
Zagora. Andros
255
Ay Andreas. Siphnos
255
Kastro. Stphnos
255
Koukounarics. Paros
256
Grona. Naxos
256
Vall1y Llmenan. Donousa
256
Minoa. Amorgo>
256
Empono. Chio'
256
HcphmMia. Lcmnos
256
Old Smyrna
257
Mile to> 257
Gonyna
257
Pnn1as
257
Kastell• Chanion
257
Eleuthcrna
257
RECTA:-IGULAR BUILDfi\GS: CONCLUSIONS
10. THE TYPOLOGY OF FREE-STANDING ANTA AND OIKOS BUILDINGS
259
AND A COMPARISON WITH MYC8NAEAN CULT BUILDINGS
259
One-room building• with open front (n and U-shaped) (Table I)
260
Anta bulldmgs wuh porch and mam room (Table II)
261
Anta bu•ldtngs with porch and two or more rooms (Table III)
262
Anta bmldmgs w1th main from room and •maller rear chamber (cf Table Vfll)
262
One-room oikoi (Table IV)
263
01kni with porch and mam room (Table V)
264
01k01 COOSISLing Of lW(l roughly cqu.tl room;,
265
01k01 w1th porch and two or more room, (Table VI)
266
Oblong oiko• with entrance in the longer Mde (Table VII)
Oikos buildings with main front room and smaller rear chamber(;,) (Table VlO) 266
267
Anta and oikos build111gs with prostylc porch
268
CO:-ICLUSIONS
9
CONTENTS
CHAPTER II
CRJTERlA FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF CULT BUrLDINGS AND RULERS' DWELLINGS
I RUL.ERS' DWELLINGS 210
A. Architectural features 271
B. Location 272
C. lntcnor tum•shangs 273
D. The content~ of the buildmgs 274
2. CULT BUILDINGS 216
A. Architectural features 277
I. Ground plan 277
2. D1mens•ons and investmem of wealth 277
3. The peristyle 278
• B Facil1tie~ 279
I. Ahnrs and related struciUres 279
2. Hearths 280
3. Benches 280
4 Free-standmg cuh bases 281
5. Bothro•. libation channels, basms and p1ts 281
C. Locauon 281
I. Bu1ldings detached from a settlement ("suburban" and "extraurban") 281
2 Prominent location 282
· 3. Buildings located UJside a necropolis, or in the vicinity of one or more tombs 282
4 Buildings located mside sanctuaries 282
D. Orientauon 283
E. Written '>Ources 283
F. The cv1dencc for rituals and cult pracuce 283
I Animal sacriJice 283
2. t:ood offerings 284
• 3. Liquid offerings 284
4. Ritual dining 284
5. Foundauon sacrifices 284
6. Manufactured ObJects 285
a Cult images 285
b. Cult utensil, 285
c. Votive offerings 285
CONCLUSIONS 286
CHAPTERJU
INTERACflON BETWEEN SACRED AND PRm'ANE
1. RULERS' DWELLINGS AND CULT PRACTICE: THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL E.VlDENCE 281
• A. ArchlleciUral features 287
I. Altars 287
2. Hearths 290
3. Benches 292
B. The finds 293
I. Animal bones 293
2. Manufactured objects 298
2. THE RELIGIOUS ROLE OF THE WANAX 305
10