Sounion Revisited: The Sanctuaries of Poseidon and Athena at Sounion in Attica

Zetta Theodoropoulou-Polychroniadis

• Publisher: Archaeopress
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN: 9781784911546
• eBook ISBN: 9781784911553
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Archaeology
• Index: Social Sciences

This book is the first to be published from a wider research project, still in progress, about the sanctuaries of Poseidon and Athena on the promontory of Sounion (southeast Attica). The aim of this volume is to present, for the first time, a comprehensive examination and interpretation of a wide selection of unpublished small finds. These last, of different categories and materials, were discovered in the bothroi (pitdeposits) and the landfills; they are set into their contexts. The illustrations of the finds are integrated within the relevant text for easier reference and a detailed catalogue complements the discussion. The limited archaeological records concerning the work in the sanctuaries, conducted by Valerios Stais between 1897–1915, and which still remain the only extensive excavations undertaken, are re-evaluated. The author revisits the two sanctuaries, reviewing the structures within them to cast light on the early phases of their establishment and development, as well as their significance for the socio-economic growth of south east Attica. This is realized by drawing upon the evidence of archaeological data and the ancient literary sources alike. The research thus provides a fresh insight into the early cults, with emphasis on the identity of the deities worshipped at Sounion from the Late Geometric to the dawn of the Classical period.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Copyright page
• Contents
• List of figures
• Prologue
• Notes
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• Chapter 1 Problems Arising from the Excavations of 1897–1915
• Chapter 2 The History of Sounion and the Sanctuaries of Poseidon and Athena: Sources and Early Research
• Chapter 3 The Finds: Analysis and Discussion
• Chapter 4 Cults and Cult-practices at Sounion
• Catalogue of Objects (1–261)
• Appendix A Greek and Latin Testimonia
• Appendix B Pottery from the Bothroi and Artificial Fills
• Appendix C Scarabs, Seals and Beads from the Sanctuaries
• Bibliography of Works Cited and Consulted
• Figure 1. Map of Attica (drawing P. Arvanitakis, 2012).
• Figure 2. The Laureotike and Cape Sounion (drawing P. Arvanitakis, 2012).
• Figures
• Figure 3. Promontory of Sounion: temple of Poseidon, view from the west (photo: author, September 2012).
• Figure 4. Cape Sounion, plan of the two sanctuaries and the two harbours (drawing P. Arvanitakis, 2012).
• Figure 5. View of the temple of Poseidon at Sounion from the north-west. Albumenised salt-print from wet collodion glass plate negative by James Robertson, signed on the right, 1853–1854. 24.8x29.2 cm. Benaki Museum Photographic Archive, Athens (Constan i
• Figure 6. View of the temple of Poseidon at Sounion from the north-east. Albumenised salt-print from wet collodion glass plate negative by James Robertson, unsigned, 1853–1854. 25.0x28.5 cm. Benaki Museum Photographic Archive, Athens (Constantinou and Tsi
• Figure 7. Sanctuary of Poseidon. View of the Classical temple from south-west (photo: author, January 2015).
• Figure 8. Sanctuary of Poseidon, plan of the monumental entrance (N.D. Ioannitis 1898, AE 1900, pl. 7).
• Figure 10. Sanctuary of Poseidon. North fortification walls, tower and outer fortification walls (photo: author, January 2015).
• Figure 9. North fortification wall of the sanctuary of Poseidon (photo: author, September 2012).
• Figure 11. North wall of bastion on the eastern fortification wall at the sanctuary of Poseidon (photo: author, August 2008).
• Figure 12. Stoa and Propylaia of the sanctuary of Poseidon looking west (photo: author, August 2008).
• Figure 13. South-east corner of Classical temple of Poseidon, Archaic remains and find spot of kouroi (photo: author, August 2008).
• Figure 14. The bothros at the south-east corner of the sanctuary of Poseidon (photo: author, January 2009).
• Figure 15. Sanctuary of Poseidon. South colonnade of Classical temple, foundations of Archaic temple and east anta (photo: author, January2015).
• Figure 16. Plan of the Classical temple of Poseidon (drawing P. Arvanitakis, 2012).
• Figure 17. Plan of the sanctuary of Athena (A. Orlandos, AE 1917, 178).
• Figure 18a. Sanctuary of Athena looking north-east (photo: author, August 2008).
• Figure 18b. Sanctuary of Athena looking north-east (photo: author, January 2015).
• Figure 19. Remains of the oval enclosure at the sanctuary of Athena looking north-west (photo: author, January 2014).
• Figure 20. Entranceway to the sanctuary of Athena looking west (photo: author, January 2014).
• Figure 21. Sanctuary of Athena: large temple looking west with base of cult statue in the background (photo: author, January 2014).
• Figure 22. Plan of the large temple at the sanctuary of Athena (A. Orlandos, AE 1917, 182).
• Figure 23. Sanctuary of Athena. South peristyle and cella wall of the large temple looking east (photo: author, January 2015).
• Figure 24. Reconstruction of the east elevation of the large temple of Athena (A.Orlandos, Stais 1920, pl.Δ).
• Figure 25. Plan of the small temple in the sanctuary of Athena (A. Orlandos, AE 1917, 180).
• Figure 26. View of the small temple, the large temple of Athena and the temple of Poseidon in the background (photo: author, January 2015).
• Figure 27. Stone base of the cult statue in the small temple at the sanctuary of Athena (photo: author, August 2008).
• Figure 28. Conjectural reconstruction of the east elevation façade of the small temple in the sanctuary of Athena (drawing P. Arvanitakis, 2012).
• Figure 29. Sanctuary of Athena. Small temple and oval enclosure looking north west. (photo: author, January 2014).
• Figure 30. (left) Base of the south Doric column of the small temple at the sanctuary of Athena (photo: author, August 2008).
• Figure 31. (right) Base of the north Doric column of the small temple at the sanctuary of Athena (photo: author, August 2008).
• Figure 32. (left) Doric capital from column of the small temple at the sanctuary of Athena (photo: author, August 2008).
• Figure 33. The bothros, the eastern peribolos wall and the artificial fill looking north at the sanctuary of Athena (photo: author, January 2014).
• Figure 34. The bothros with the rock hewn steps at the sanctuary of Athena (photo: author, August 2008).
• Figure 35. Traces of the oval enclosure looking north-west (photo: author, January 2014).
• Figure 36. Sanctuary of Athena. Small temple, large temple and oval enclosure in the background, looking south-west (photo: author, August 2008).
• Figure 37. Sanctuary of Athena. Detail of the foundations at the south-east corner of the small temple (photo: author, January 2014).
• Figure 38. Sanctuary of Athena. Detail of the marble threshold of the small temple (photo: author, August 2008).
• Figure 39. Sanctuary of Athena. Foundations of altar in front of the small temple looking west (photo: author, January 2009).
• Figure 40. Carbonised piece of wood, carbonized figs and three sherds including one Late Geometric, from Sounion. NMA 22552 (photo: author, November 2008).
• Figure 41. Sanctuary of Athena. Bothros, east peribolos wall and propylon with east harbour in the background (photo: author, January 2015).
• Figure 42. Sanctuary of Athena. Traces of a rectangular structure within the oval enclosure, looking east (photo: author, August 2008).
• Figure 43. Sanctuary of Athena. East peristyle of large temple in foreground; possible altar and ‘hestiatorion’ in near background; temple of Poseidon in distance, looking south (photo: author, January 2009).
• Figure 44. Sanctuary of Athena. Possible altar near large temple; looking east (photo: author, January 2009).
• Figure 47. (left) Sanctuary of Athena. Two bases in situ, possibly supporting an offering table; seen from the east (photo: author, January 2009).
• Figure 48. (right) Sanctuary of Athena. Fragment of a base, possibly for an offering table (photo: author, January 2009).
• Figure 49. (left) Sanctuary of Athena. Two bases, possibly supporting an offering table, and fragment of a third base; remnan s of a wall from a structure; seen from the north-west (photo: author, September 2012).
• Figure 50. Sanctuary of Poseidon. Classical temple and terrace wall of sanctuary, seen from the north-west (photo: author, January 2015).
• Figure 51. Sanctuary of Poseidon. LM I lentoid seal (NMA 10297), found in the bothros (drawing P. Arvanitakis, 2012).
• Figure 52. The fortified settlement on the promontory. Main east-west road and dwellings, looking west (photo: author, January 2015).
• Figure 53. Sanctuary of Athena. Classical temple, hestiatorion and western harbour, looking north (photo: author, January 2014).
• Figure 54. Sanctuary of Athena. Conjectural reconstruction. Phase 1: oval enclosure (isometric drawing P. Arvanitakis, 2012).
• Figure 55. Sanctuary of Athena. Conjectural reconstruction. Phase 2: early shrine (isometric drawing P. Arvanitakis, 2012).
• Figure 56. Sanctuary of Athena. Conjectural reconstruction. Phase 3: Archaic Doric temple and kouroi (isometric drawing P. Arvanitakis, 2012).
• Figure 57. Sanctuary of Athena. Conjectural reconstruction. Phase 4a: Archaic and Classical temples coexisting (isometric drawing P. Arvanitakis, 2012).
• Figure 58. Sanctuary of Athena. Conjectural reconstruction. Phase 4b: Classical temple (isometric drawing P. Arvanitakis, 2012).
• Figure 59. Plan of the sanctuary of Poseidon (N.D. Ioannitis 1898, AE 1900, pl. 6).`
• Figure 60. Sanctuary of Athena. Ridge cover tile LM 658 and fragment of a Doric capital echinus LM 1124, from the small temple (drawing P. Arvanitakis, 2012).
• Figure 61. Sanctuary of Athena. Architectural details from the Classical temple (N.D. Ioannitis 1898, AE 1900, pl. 9).
• Figure 62. Sanctuary of Athena. Western peribolos wall of oval enclosure. (photo: author, January 2014).