The archaeology of Aphrodite in the Greek West: ca. 650-480 BC.

Abstract

This thesis examines Aphrodite's cult in the Greek West from the late seventh century to ca. 480 BC, in order to examine her relationship to certain developing colonial poleis. Our understanding of Aphrodite's cult has been developed both through her portrayal in Greek literature, and from descriptions of her sanctuaries and epithets in Pausanias. Although many of her cult sites are known through literature, few have been explored archaeologically in Greece. In the Greek West, however, there is extensive archaeological evidence for her cult. Eleven different cities, with a total of fifteen cult sites, provide the opportunity to study Aphrodite's sanctuaries from the time they were first founded, and to explain how and why certain cities chose to promote her cult. Many of Aphrodite's cult sites in South Italy and Sicily are found near the sea, often between the coast and the city itself. Architecturally, they tend to be characterized by a small oikos shrine rather than a monumentalized temple. In some cases, additional buildings were used for subsidiary cult activity, such as ritual dining. These architectural arrangements show parallels with cult sites of Aphrodite in the eastern Mediterranean (e.g., on Crete and Cyprus). From votive materials found in the West, it is clear that Aphrodite was worshipped in a variety of forms by different groups. Dedications include terracotta statuettes of female figures, weapons, and vessels. Some also show affinities with the Near East. In sum, the architectural and votive data allow the identification of different aspects of Aphrodite's cult, often within the same city and sometimes within the same sanctuary. She was a patroness of the mundus muliebris, defender of the polis, and a maritime deity whose cult catered to the needs of merchants and sailors. Previously, Aphrodite has not been considered among the more significant deities for the development of the Greek polis. However, her multi-faceted character made her a suitable patron deity for newly founded colonies, since she protected the fertility of the state (human, animal, and vegetal), promoted concord and harmony in civic affairs, served as a military protectress, and facilitated commerce.