Lykosoura
Coordinates: 37 ° 23 ′ 23 ″ N , 22 ° 1 ′ 51.7 ″ O Lykosoura ( Greek Λυκόσουρα , Latin Lycosura ), often also Lykosura, is an ancient city in Arcadia , near the border with Messenia , 7 km west of Megalopolis in the Lycaion area . The village of Astala (Αστάλα), about six kilometers to the west, was renamed Lykosoura in 1926.
Although the Perieget Pausanias called it the oldest city , it had no major political significance. Rather, it was politically assigned to Megalopolis, the capital of Arcadia.
However , Lykosura was of great importance in mythology . Here Demeter , v. a. but adores her daughter Despoina . Despoina was the daughter of Demeter and Poseidon .
While Despoina was hardly known in the rest of ancient Greece , she occupied an important position in the world of gods in Arcadia. However, Despoina was not her actual name, just a term for "great goddess". Her actual name remains unknown as it was part of the mystery cult .
The 5th century BC is considered to be the beginning of cult activities . . Chr viewed. The cult was regionally limited and did not spread outside the Lykaion area. Nevertheless, the size of the sanctuary and the mention of Despoina by Pausanias as the greatest Arcadian goddess suggest a great importance. Besides the descriptions of Pausanias there are no written sources. However, there are some structural remains.
Sanctuary of Lykosoura
A detailed description is given in Pausanias 8, 37, 1–12.
The entrance to the sacred precinct of Despoina was the site of a temple for Artemis Hegemone. The Temenos of Despoina was enclosed by a wall, the remains of which can still be found today. If you entered the Temenos from the east, you found a portico. It was a Doric building. The Despoina high altar adjoined to the north. It was extended by two walls that connected it to the Temenos. East of the stoa was a room whose purpose is unknown. A small statue was found there depicting Athena.
In the temple, then several were reliefs of marble . The first represents Moiren and Zeus . On the second Heracles was shown stealing a tripod from Apollo . The third relief depicts nymphs and panes . Polybius could be seen on the fourth relief.
There was also a board with the regulations for the consecration . At the western end of the wall surrounding the sanctuary there were three altars arranged one behind the other . They were dedicated to Demeter, Despoina and the Megale Mater (great mother). Despoina's altar was larger than that of the other goddesses.
Another statue was in the temple dedicated to Despoina, Demeter and Artemis. This depicted Despoina sitting on a throne. In her raised left hand she held a scepter. To the left of her Demeter, who was also sitting on a throne. Demeter put her left hand on Despoina's shoulder. She carried a torch in the other hand . Artemis was on Demeter's right . This wore a deer skin and a quiver. In one hand she held a torch like Demeter, and in the other two snakes. A hunting dog was lying at the feet of the goddess Artemis. Anytos was shown to the right of Despoina . He is said to have raised Despoina and belong to the titans. He was provided with a breastplate and a lance. The statues were created by Damophon von Messene .
The megaron in the form of a monumental altar was located above this temple . The building consisted of a rectangular fence and was bordered by two stairs connected by a wall. A 9.5 m long colonnade rose above it. Its facade was built from half-columns. The megaron was probably created at the same time as the temple of Despoina. Its layout harmonized with the various religious functions. In the megaron the myths were to be received and kept in secret.
Up the slope was the stone-lined holy grove . Pausanias specifically mentioned that there was an olive tree and a holm oak from a root.
Despoina's father - Poseidon - also had altars in Lykosura. These were located near the sacred grove . On the last of the altars at Poseidon was an inscription that this altar was built for all gods.
Artificial benches were erected along the temple every two meters. This is not a staircase that leads to a raised terrace, but ten elevations that are adapted to the slope.
There was also a sanctuary of Pan, an altar of Ares and two cult images of Aphrodite .
Cult activities in Lykosura
There are four testimonies to the cult itself: a holy law, the text of Pausanias, the terracotta figures found in the palace and the depictions of the veil of Despoina.
The holy law
On the southern portico there was an inscription with the following content:
- “High altar of Despoina. It is forbidden to enter the high altar with:
gold jewelry (unless you want to sacrifice it), colorful clothing (especially purple or black), shoes, headgear, braids and flowers ”.
Pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant were also prohibited from entering the temple.
The following were allowed as offerings: olive trees, myrrh , honey rays, pearl barley, statues made of white poppy seeds , lamps, perfume to burn and aromatic herbs .
The sacrifice of pomegranates was forbidden; this can be traced back to the special role played by the pomegranate in the kidnapping of Persephone (Kore).
During the cult in Lykosura there seem to have been two different ceremonies, on the one hand the open public offerings in the high altar by the altars in the east of the temple and on the other hand the secret rites of the megaron.
The sacrifice in front of the temple
The Arcadians brought every kind of fruit that grew on cultivated trees to the high altar as sacrifice. The earth fruits can be added to this.
The sacrifice in the megaron
The Arcadians celebrated the Mysteries in the Megaron . There were no prescribed sacrificial animals. Everyone brought the animal they owned. In contrast to the usual animal sacrifice practice, one did not cut the animal's throat, but tore it.
The secrets, mysteries
The opening ceremony took place in the megaron. Their existence was mentioned several times in the inscriptions of Lykosura and Pausanias. These mysteries were an indispensable source of income for the site. The introduction of the Olympics was a great competition for Lykosura. In 42 the city's mysteries brought no income. The Reich lacked the money, and an outsider had to pay for the entire city.
Not much is known about the content of the Mysteries. Pausanias doesn't say anything about it. Hence, one has to be content with the objects found in the temple. Lamps as an offering indicate a nocturnal ceremony. The Greek archaeologists found some small figures made of baked earth (clay) inside the building between the ashes and calcified remains. They represented standing, about 15 cm high, immobile people. Their heads were in the shape of a ram or cattle and the figures wore a robe. It is difficult to determine when they were built, but they could be from the 1st century BC. Come from BC. There are different interpretations of the characters. They are probably masked people. It should also be noted that on the fabric of the veil of the sculpture by Despoina a good dozen people dressed up with animal heads could be seen. From this it can be concluded that the priests and the initiates sometimes wore masks.
Disguised dances
Another part of the ceremony involved some kind of dance. This was visualized with the clothes of the goddess. On it you can see masked people (with animal heads) standing in a circle, participating in rhythmic movements. These dancing figures indicate an orgy .
literature
- Yves Lafond: Lykosura. In: The New Pauly (DNP). Volume 7, Metzler, Stuttgart 1999, ISBN 3-476-01477-0 , Sp. 576 f.
