Interesting, this find on Mount Lykaion! Very colorful mythology from there: Zeus, ritual cannibalism, werewolves ... who knows, vampires?
[Forward from CLASSICS-L]
""" http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1632508/new_evidence_from_excavartions_in_arcadia_greece/
In the third century BCE, the Greek poet Callimachus wrote a 'Hymn to Zeus'
asking the ancient, and most powerful, Greek god whether he was born in
Arcadia on Mt. Lykaion or in Crete on Mt. Ida.
""" A Greek and American team of archaeologists working on the Mt. Lykaion
Excavation and Survey Project believe they have at least a partial answer to
the poet's query. New excavation evidence indicates that Zeus' worship was
established on Mt. Lykaion as early as the Late Helladic period, if not
before, more than 3,200 years ago. According to Dr. David Gilman Romano,
Senior Research Scientist, Mediterranean Section, University of Pennsylvania
Museum, and one of the project's co-directors, it is likely that a memory of
the cult's great antiquity survived there, leading to the claim that Zeus
was born in Arcadia....
""" New evidence to support the ancient myth that Zeus was born on Mt. Lykaion
in Arcadia has come from a small trench from the southern peak of the
mountain, known from the historical period as the ash altar of Zeus Lykaios.
Over fifty Mycenaean drinking vessels, or kylikes, were found on the bedrock
at the bottom of the trench along with fragments
of human and animal figurines and a miniature double headed axe. Also found
were burned animal bones, mostly of goats and sheep, another indication
consistent with Mycenaean cult activity.
""" "This new evidence strongly suggests that there were drinking (and perhaps
feasting) parties taking place on the top of the mountain in the Late
Helladic period, around 3,300 or 3,400 years ago," said Dr. Romano.
""" In mainland Greece there are very few if any Mycenaean mountain-top altars
or shrines. This time period — 14th-13th centuries BC — is approximately the
same time that documents inscribed with a syllabic script called Linear B
(an archaic form of the Greek language) first mention Zeus as a deity
receiving votive offerings. Linear B also provides a word for an 'open fire
altar' that might describe this altar on Mt. Lykaion as well as a word for a
sacred area, temenos, a term known from later historical sources. The shrine
on Mt. Lykaion is characterized by simple arrangements: an open air altar
and a nearby sacred area, or temenos, which appears to have had no temple or
other architectural feature at any time at this site.
""" Evidence from subsequent periods in the same trench indicate that cult
activity at the altar seems to have continued uninterrupted from the
Mycenaean period down through the Hellenistic period (4th – 2nd centuries
BCE), something that has been documented at very few sites in the Greek
world. Miniature bronze tripods, silver coins, and other dedications to Zeus
including a bronze hand of Zeus holding a silver lightning bolt, have been
found in later levels in the same trench. Zeus as the god of thunder and
lightning is often depicted with a lightning bolt in his hand.
""" Also found in the altar trench was a sample of fulgurite or petrified
lightning. This is a glass-like substance formed when lightning strikes
sandy soil. It is not clear if the fulgurite was formed on the mountain-top
or if it was brought to the site as a dedication to Zeus. Evidence for
earlier activity at the site of the altar, from the Final Neolithic and the
Early and Middle Helladic periods, continues to be found.
""" The Mt. Lykaion Excavation and Survey Project is a collaboration between the
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in
pPhiladelphia, the University of Arizona, and the Greek Archaeological
Service in Tripolis, Greece. Project directors are Dr. Romano, Dr. Mary
Voyatzis of the University of Arizona, and Dr. Michalis Petropoulos, Ephor
of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquties of the Greek Archaeological Service
in Tripolis. The project is under the auspices of the American School of
Classical Studies in Athens. Investigations at the Sanctuary of Zeus also
include excavations and survey of a number of buildings and monuments from
the lower sanctuary where athletic contests were held as a part of the
festival for Zeus in the Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic periods. These
include a hippodrome, stadium, stoa, bath, xenon (hotel building) and
fountain house. The Project, which began in 2004, will continue in the
summer 2009. Further information about the research project can be found at
the project website: http://corinth.sas.upenn.edu/lykaion/lykaion.html ""
Vide etiam: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lykaia
Previous related posts:
http://nekkidass.blogspot.com/2008/04/werewolves-of-arcadia-prototype.html
http://nekkidass.blogspot.com/2008/02/artemis-orthia-in-her-aspect-of-potnia.html
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