Eretria XXII

Samuel Verdan, The Sanctuary of Apollo Daphnephoros in the Geometric period (in French)

The ancient city of Eretria (Euboea, Greece) began to grow during the Early Iron Age, more precisely in the first half of the 8^th c. BC. At the same time, a sanctuary was established in the middle of the settlement. Originally centred on an altar, it expanded successively with the construction of various buildings, among which a monumental edifice that is considered as one of the earliest urban temples of the Greek world. Religious practices carried on within the sacred area diversified progressively: animal sacrifices and banquets are attested since the outset, whereas votive offerings and the use of ritual vases make a later appearance. The local elite occupied a central place during the ceremonies, among which certain where meant to incorporate youngsters into adulthood. Together with other cult places of the Greek world, the sanctuary of Eretria illustrates the prominent role of religion in the formation of the Greek city-states.
As far as the Geometric period is considered, the identity of the god that was worshipped in the sanctuary of Eretria cannot be accounted for with certainty. Nevertheless, a continuity in cult that is manifest in the construction of several successive temples suggests that it was already Apollo Daphnephoros, a god of the foremost importance for the Eretrian city during its later history.
In the absence of written testimonies, archaeology is the only source of information about the development of the Sanctuary of Apollo during the Geometric period. Based on a thorough analysis of the available evidence, the present research aims at presenting a synthesis of the Swiss excavations that were carried out onsite between 1964 and 2003 as well as a critical review of their interpretations to date.
Contributions by specialists give further insight into faunal remains (S. Huber, P. Méniel and T. Theodoropoulou), seed assemblage (E. Margaritis) and gold refining (N. D. Meeks and P. T. Craddock).

The book was awarded the Thorlet Medal by the French Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres in 2014.

2013, 2 vols. in French with summary in German, English and Greek, paperback, 22 x 30 cm, numerous illustrations, b/w. Infolio editions, Gollion.

ISBN 978-2-88474-411-9

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