Greek Altars: Origins and Typology

314 Pages·1949·32.617 MB·English

by  Constantine G. Yavis

SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY SlUDIES
MONOGRAPH SERIES: HUMANITIES, No. 1
GREEK ALTARS
ORIGINS AND TYPOLOGY
Including the Minoan-Mycenaean Offertory Apparatus
An Archaeologic-al Study in
The History of Religion
BY
CONSTANTINE G. YAVIS, PH. D.
Assistant Professor of Archaeology and Classics
Saint Louis University
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY PRESS
Saint Louis, Missouri
1949
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY STUDIES
Monograph Series: Humanities, No. 1
J.
General Editor: NORMAN DREYFUS, S.J.
Editorial Board Representative: FRANCIS A. PREUSS, S.J.
Business Manager: PAUL J. McBRYAN
SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY PRESS
Saint Louis, Missouri
Copyright
Saint Louis University Press
July 1949
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STIITES OF /\MERICA
BY THE LORD BALTIMORE PRESS
To
DA VJD MOORE ROBINSON

PREFACE
A survey of the archaeological information available about Greek
altars has long been an urgent need. This study is directed toward filling
that need: it provides a new swnmary and classification of the Helladic
( including Minoan-Mycenaean) apparatus pertaining to non-liquid
offerings; it also provides, for the first time, a comprehensi ve survey and
classification of extant Hellenic altars. The classification into structural
types is established and explained; much needed terminology for altar
types and for parts of altars is invented and de.fined; the evolution of
each type is presented; and so far as possible, the relation of each type
to ritual and cult is explained . The catalog is intended to include all
published remains of altars, and is believed to be complete, if not ex
haustively so as to number, 1 certainly as to types. Representations of
altars in vase paintings and reliefs are noted also, in order to illustrate
the appearance of each type. About 275 articles of pre-Hellenic cult
apparatus are listed ( plus about 5 00 items mentioned in § 1 7) ; about
625 Hellenic altars and similar objects are described more or less fully
and discussed, and as many more are mentioned briefly. Twenty-four
tables summarize the most important types. The indexes are complete
and are designed to be a real supplement to the text.
About 2 5 distinct structural types of altars are noted, some sub
divided further. These types may be grouped according to size, con
struction, origin, or ritual function ( chthonic or Olympian). The type
of altar varies to some extent according to its location, that is, before
temples, at public places, in homes, or in country precincts . The loca
tion, farm, and history of chthonic altars provide material which sup
plements our knowledge of chthonic ritual. Complementary to the main
subject are sections on offering tables, arulae, household altars, sacrificial
pits, sacred refuse pits, sculptures from altars, and w,all benches.
Two general conclusions pertaining to the history of Greek religion
1 Inscribed monolithic altars published in various Corpora Inscriptionum
( and a few other inscribed altars) have not all been listed: their primary
importance is in connection with their inscriptions, and, it is hoped, they will
be so treated later.
V
Vl PREFACE
are reached: (a) Burnt flesh sacrifices were not a normal part of Minoan-
1'.4ycenaean religion, and special structures for sacrificial purposes did
not exist in the Minoan-Mycenaean religious apparatus. (b) The chief
types of Hellenic altars are not derived from any kind of Minoan
Mycenaean ritual apparatus;. the altars of the HeHenes were imported
by the Dorian tribes, which, therefore, must also have been responsible
for introducing the concept and practice of burnt flesh sacrifices ( §§ 21,
29, 31, 43). The non-specialist reader may be warned that these con
clusions are contrary to those now generaUy accepted. 2 Chapter I, which
deals with the pre-Hellenic period, thus performs the anomalous but
necessary function of first surveying the pre-Hellenic offertory apparatus,
and then showing that the pre-Hellenic offertory apparatus has only
incidental connections with Greek altars.
Two previous studies of Greek altars may be mentioned: A. de
Molin, De Ara apud Graecos (Bedin dissertation, 1884), 73 pp., is a
brief outline based on literary sources; Reisch, P.-W., I ( 1894) ,. cols.
1640-1691, article "Altar",. also draws chiefly on literary sources. These
studies were written when most of the now known archaeological
material was yet unavailable, and necessarily they dealt rather in gen
eralities. But a great deal of archaeological material has since come to
light, and the evidence afforded by this material is an indispensable
requisite for a~1 adequate understanding of the religious function of
Greek altars, and of other aspects of Greek reHgion, such as chthonic-
0 lympian theology, sacrificial ritual,3 the general significance of sacri
fices, 4 and household religion. Previous studies of individual altar types
or of particular aspects are cited in the text. 5
2 Demargne, B.c;.H.,L VI, 1932, pp. 60-88, seems to doubt the existence
of Minoan sacrifices .. Blegen, Prosymna,p p. 250-252, and Persson, The Royal
Tombs at Dendra near Mid ea, pp. 68-70, doubt that burial sacrifices were
normal in L. H. religion. I can cite no further support of my views.
3 See S. Eitrem, Opferrittu und Voropfer der Griechen und Romer.
4 For general discussions of sacrifice, see Farnell in Hastings, Encyclop e-
.
pp.
dia of Religion and Ethics, XI, 12-18, article "Sacrifice (Greek)"; Ziehen,
P.-W., XVIII 1, cols. 579-627, article "Opfer". On the role of sacrifices in
Athenian gentile activities, see Ferguson, Hesperia, VII, 1938, pp. 1-74.
5 See Chapter I, notes 1, 2, 3, 7, 24, 27, 28, 33, 34, 45, 54-56, 74a, 77,
81, 99, 100; Chapter II, notes la, 2, 3, 10, 30, 39, 40; Chapter III, notes 6,
9,. 10, 13, 27, 28, 56; Chapter IV, notes 1, 3, 4, 6-8, 15, 19, 20-25, 29, 31,
34-37, 40, 41; also§ 54, Nos. 2-15; § 64, Nos. 1, 4-13.
PREFACE vu
As is natural in a general survey, numerous minor aspects had
to be left with only cursory examination, as, for instance, arulae, altars
in houses, sacrificial pits, and sacred refuse pits. Certain ma jar aspects
also were excluded from full consideration, notably inscriptions and
literary evidence, except as they pertain to the typology of altars. Oriental
parallels and inedited altars also merit special attention. On the basis
of the material presented here, all these subjects can now be more
thoroughly investigated, so as to provide a complete picture of the
general rel(~ious purpose and use of Greek altars. I hope that such
particular 2.nd general studies will soon be undertaken by others and
by mysdf. In the meanwhile, no apology should be necessary for my
having remained within the confines indicated by the title. Indeed, this
restricted approach has certain positive advantages: in a field already
encumbered by too much easy generalization and loose overinterpreta
tion of evidence, it is useful to differentiate clearly the archaeological
evidence from the literary evidence, and this factual evidence f ram the
conclusions drawn therefrom.
The following mechanical details may be noted: ancient Greek is
transliterated without Latin as an intermediate, except for established
spellings. With the same exceptions, modern Greek is transliterated
phonetically, but absolute consistency has not been sought. 6 The great
advantage of a phonetic transliteration is that it provides the correct
pronunciation, instead of obscuring it.. Bracketed catalog numbers desig
nate items which do not properly belong in the section where they occur,
but are included merely for rejection or comparison. For the sake of
topographical unity, altars of different types occurring at the same place
may be described at the same time; but catalog numbers are not assigned
at that point to altars which properly belong in another section. The
references to descriptive material have generally been kept in the text
of the catalog, if the object being described occupies a single paragraph.
The number of references has been kept as low as possible, but an effort
has been made to include reference to the latest relevant publication,
to the best illustration, and, if the most important publication is apt to
be generally unobtainable, to less important publication. When a page
6 For a system of phonetic transliteration, see Dawkins, B.5.A., XV,
1908-9, pp. 214-222. I would have preferred, for instance, the spellings ayios,
ayia, but the compromise agios, agia has been used.
...
VHl PREFACE
munber follows the illustration number, reference is made to the iUus
tration only, for example, fig. 8 p. 38. In Chapters II and III, where the
chronological sequence is important, the order of the sections is chrono
logical, as is the order of the items within each section. In Chapter IV
the sections are ordered logically, and the items within each section are
in alphabetical order, according to geographical location. For the con
venience of the non-specialist some technical terms are simplified, and
a chronological note ( § 90) has been added. Dates in the text are B.C.,
unless otherwise noted. Illustrations here do not always reproduce the
original illustrations fully, and in some cases have added lettering.
Small type is descriptive material, and large type is discussion.
It is heart-warming to call to mind how many persons have will
ingly and generously helped me during the preparation of this study.
It is,. therefore, a real pleasure to mention here a few of their names in
appreciation. My first thanks must go to Professor David M. Robinson,.
founder and editor of the Johns Hopkins Studies in Archaeology, who
suggested the subject and directed its progress, who has always given of
himself unstintingly to me and to all his students, who has encouraged
and guided me over many difficulties during the long years of the
preparation of this study, and who has made many helpful criticisms
and corrections and given me much new material. Despite the muHi
pUdty of his own strenuous pursuits, Dr. Robinson has always found
time to be int~rested and helpful toward those who seek his aid; he
has also contributed substantially toward the cost of printing this book.
I have also profited materially from comments by Professors William
Foxwell Albright and Richard Howland of Johns Hopkins University,
Homer A. Thompson of the Institute for Advanced Study, and George
E. Mylonas of Washington University in Saint Louis, who have read
the text before publication. Rev. Edward P. Arbez, S.S., of the Catholic
University of America, Dr. John A. Thompson now of Biblical Semi
nary in New York, and Mr. Frank M. Cross, Jr.,. of the Oriental Semi
nary, Johns Hopkins University, have given me much help in dealing
with Oriental material. Professor A. D. Nock of Harvard University
discussed with me his views on the general significance of sacrifices
and altars. My wife, Mrs. Muriel Ross Ya vis, my sister, Miss Elaine
Yavis, Dr. Annarie Peters Cazel, Miss Sylvia Shipley, Mr. Maurice
Leach,. Mrs.. Helen Truitt Lawson, have given me valuable help .in
PREFACE 1X
a multiplicity of time-consuming tasks. Dr. Marie Van der Kolf of
the University of Leyden and Dr. Matthew Wieneke of Yale University
have very kindly supplied me reading notes of material not available to
me. Professor Robert S. Kinsey of Thiel College has-also placed me
under obligation. Mr. Julian Sacks contributed the pen drawing of the
ashen altar of Zeus at Olympia. The librarians at Johns Hopkins Uni
versity and at the Catholic University of America have shown me every
courtesy. My obligation is evident to the publishers and other holders of
copyright, who have generously permitted use of illustrations. They are
mentioned individually i~ the List of Illustrations. My gratitude is due
to Saint Louis University for a generous grant toward the publication
of this volume, and no less for the friendly interest of the Very Rev.
Paul C. Reinert, S.J., President of the University, and the Rev. Norman
J.
Dreyfus, S.J., Gener.al Editor of the Saint Louis University Press.
Finally, I wish to acknowledge my special gratitude to my family, whose
constant encouragement has sustained me on many occasions, and p,ar
ticularly to my wife, whose patience and devotion have been my sup
port throughout this arduous task.