Western Greek Cities and Sanctuaries Abroad

Project Leader: Judith M. Barringer

Colonization in ancient Greece in the 8^th-7th centuries BC constitutes one of the most significant population movements in the ancient world and resulted in the transplantation and transformation of Greek culture in a new western context. While Greek settlers mixed with pre-existing populations in south Italy and Sicily, they initially retained religious practices and customs from the home city. Colonial customs in Magna Graecia diverged from those of the mother city over time, yet western Greeks continued to make dedications, sometimes enormously lavish dedications, at sanctuaries on the Greek mainland and islands. What was the purpose of these continued contacts with such sanctuaries, particularly centuries after the colonists had settled into their new apoikiai (colonies), where they had established their own religious sites? Why were some homeland sanctuaries favored while others, even major sanctuaries, were not? And more generally, why did ‘pilgrims’ travel such distances when the gods were worshipped much closer to home? These questions lie at the heart of this new book project that focuses on colonies in Magna Graecia and their relationship to mainland and island Greek sanctuaries.