Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
New Voices on Anatolia’, Oxford, İngiltere, 19 - 20 Eylül 2023, (Yayınlanmadı)
The sanctuary in the ancient settlement of Larisa (Aeolis) consists of structures built at different periods: an altar, a small oikos-shaped temple, a stoa, and a propylon, all constructed on the highest spot of the acropolis on solid bedrock. The architectural remains of the sanctuary, dated between the 7th and 4th centuries BCE, are mostly preserved at the foundation level. During the 20th century excavations, "a rectangular building with a hearth inside" was found under the temple and dated to the early Bronze Age. Another arrangement made of circular stone features with "baitylos" and large rocks is thought to have been used as part of cultic practices, presumably related to Cybele. The archaic-Greek temple and its dependencies were built on the Bronze-Age core articulation of the acropolis. The prehistoric cup-marks and the small finds are associated with the cult of Cybele to indicate the cult continuity".
In numerous sanctuaries, which became widely known during the archaic period in Western Anatolia, cult activities can be uninterruptedly followed back to the "pre-Greek" periods. Furthermore, most urban sanctuaries were deliberately chosen to be located at the highest rocky point of the settlement and dominate the surrounding areas close and far. Besides the "sacredness" of the cult place, its "visibility" was likely to have been another essential consideration in the choice of location. The primary purpose of this research is to question the significant parameters for choosing the location of the archaic sanctuary in Larisa in a comparative context with other sanctuaries of Western Anatolia.