Lycosura

37.38972222222222.031019444444Koordinaten: 37 ° 23 ' 23 " N, 22 ° 1' 52" E Lykosoura (Greek Λυκόσουρα, latin Lycosura ), often also Lycosura, is an ancient city in Arcadia, near the border with Messenia, 7 km west of Megalopolis in Lykaiongebiet. The approximately six kilometers west village lying Astala ( Αστάλα ) was renamed in 1926 in Lykosoura.

Although the Perieget she described as the oldest city, they had no greater political significance. Rather, it was politically associated Megalopolis, the capital of Arcadia.

In mythology, but Lycosura had a high importance. Here Demeter was V.A. but her daughter Despoina worshiped. Despoina was the daughter of Demeter and Poseidon.

While Despoina was barely known in the rest of ancient Greece, they took in Arcadia an important position in the world of the gods. However, Despoina was not her real name, but only the name for " Great Goddess ". Your real name remains unknown, as this was a part of the mystery cult.

As the beginning of the ritual acts the 5th century BC is considered. The cult was restricted by region and found no spread outside the Lykaiongebietes. Nevertheless suggest as largest Arcadian goddess on a high importance the size of the sanctuary, and the mention of Despoina at Pausanias. In addition to the descriptions of Pausanias there are no written sources. However, there are some vestiges of buildings.

Sanctuary of Lykosoura

A detailed description of Pausanias are 8, 37, 1-12.

The entrance to the sacred precinct of Despoina was the site of a temple of Artemis Hegemone. The Temenos of Despoina was enclosed by a wall, the remains of which can be found today. Who is the Temenos entered from the east, they found a portico. These were to a Doric building. The high altar place of Despoina joined to the north to go. It has been extended by two walls, which connected him with the Temenos. East of the Stoa was a room whose purpose is unknown. There they found a small statue Athena represented.

In the temple then were several reliefs in marble. The first provides Moirai and Zeus dar. At the Second Herakles was shown how he robbed Apollon a tripod. On the third relief nymphs and Pane were mapped. Polybius was seen on the fourth relief.

Furthermore, there was a plaque with the provisions of the consecration festival. At the western end of the enclosing wall of the sanctuary were three consecutively arranged altars. They were Demeter, Despoina and dedicated to the Megale Mater ( Great Mother ). The Altar of Despoina was greater than that of the other goddesses.

In Despoina, Demeter and Artemis temple dedicated there was another statue. This turned Despoina sitting on a throne dar. In the left, raised her hand she held a scepter. Links beside her Demeter, who also sat on a throne. Demeter put her left hand on the shoulder of Despoina. In the other hand she carried a torch. Law of Demeter was Artemis. This wore a deerskin and a quiver. In one hand she held a torch as Demeter, in the other two snakes. At the feet of the goddess Artemis was a hunting dog. To the right of Despoina was shown Anytos. He should have brought Despoina and belong to the Titans. He was provided with breastplate and lance. The statues were created by Damophon of Messene.

About this temple there was the Megaron in the form of a monumental altar. The building consisted of a rectangular fence and was surrounded by a wall with two connected stairs. It rose a 9.5 m long colonnade. Its façade was built of half-columns. The Megaron was probably to coincide with the Temple of Despoina. His plan in harmony with the various religious functions. In Megaron the myths should be received and held in secret.

The slope upwards was the bordered with stones overgrown with trees sacred grove. Pausanias specifically mentioned that there was an olive tree and an oak tree from a root there.

Also Despoinas father - Poseidon - had altars in Lycosura. These were located near the sacred grove. On the last of the altars of Poseidon was an inscription that this altar was built for all the gods.

Along the temple every two meters artificial benches were built. This is not a staircase that leads to an elevated terrace, but about ten increments, which is adapting the slope.

Next there was a sanctuary of Pan, as well as an altar of Ares and two cult images of Aphrodite.

Cult acts in Lycosura

About the cult itself, there are four products: a holy law, the text of Pausanias, the terracotta figures were found in the palace and the representations of the veil of Despoina.

The holy law

At the southern portico was an inscription with the following content:

Sacrifices were approved: Olive trees, myrrh, honey rays, pearl barley, statues made ​​of white poppy, lamps, perfume for burning and aromatic herbs.

Prohibitions was the sacrifice of garnet fruits, this can be on the special role of garnet cores in the abduction of Persephone ( Kore ) traced.

When cult in Lycosura it seems to have given two different ceremonies, on the one hand the open public offerings during the high altar place at the altars in the east of the temple and on the other hand, the secret rites of the Megaron.

The sacrifice before the temple

The Arcadians brought into the high altar place any kind of fruit that grew on trees cultivated dar. as a sacrifice to the you can add the fruits of the earth.

The sacrifice in the Megaron

In Megaron the Arcadians celebrated the mysteries. There was no prescribed sacrificial animals. Everyone brought the animal, which he owned. In contrast to the usual animal sacrifice practice, not cut the throat of the animal, but tore the animal.

The secrets, mysteries

The commencement ceremony took place in the Megaron. Their existence was mentioned several times in the inscriptions of Lycosura and from Perigeten. These Mysteries were an indispensible source of revenue for the site. The introduction of the Olympic Games was a great competition for Lycosura. In the year 42 the mysteries of the city have brought no revenue. The money was missing the kingdom, an outside person had to pay for the entire city.

Not much is known about the content of the Mysteries. Pausanias says nothing about it. Hence, one must be content with the objects found in the Temple. Lamps as offerings suggest a night ceremony. The Greek archaeologists found inside the building between ash and calcified remains of some small figures made of baked earth (clay ). They placed standing, about 15 cm high, immobile people constitutes their heads were in the form of a ram or ox and the characters wore a robe. It is their time of origin is difficult to determine, but they could come from the 1st century BC. There are different interpretations of the characters. Probably it is masked persons. Is to be considered further that on the fabric of the veil of Despoina sculpture of a dozen of disguised people were seen with animal heads. We can thus conclude that the priests and the initiated sometimes wore masks.

Disguised dances

Another part of the ceremony included a kind of dance. This was visualized with the clothes of the goddess. This also shows you masked man ( with animal heads ) seen standing in a circle, who participated in rhythmic movements. These dancing figures point to an orgy.