Based on ancient written sources, the famous monument of Telemachos, and excavation data, the article proposes a new reconstruction of the arrival of Asklepios’ cult in Athens. Two simultaneous foundations of cults of the Epidaurian Asklepios in Athens are reconstructed, which in all probability go back to the same initiative in the last quarter of the fifth century BCE. A completely new sanctuary for the god from Epidauros was created on the South Slope of the Acropolis (Telemachos), while an old (...) Athenian sanctuary, that of Amynos, opened its doors to welcome Asklepios (Sophokles). With respect to the three festivals of Asklepios in Athens, the article proposes that the oldest, the Epidauria, should be connected with the worship of Asklepios in the sanctuary of Amynos. The Asklepieia appear in the epigraphic sources much later and were perhaps part of the program of Lykourgos; they should be connected to the City Asklepieion. The third festival, the Heroa, was the last to be created in the second half of the second century BCE. The article proposes two alternative hypotheses, the traditional one that sees in the Heroa a celebration in honor of the hero Asklepios and a new one that treats the Heroa as a festival in honor of the heroized Sophokles (probably together with Asklepios). (shrink)

The present volume originates in an international conference in honor of Peter Funke held in April 15–18, 2015 in the Villa Vigoni (Loveno di Menaggio, Italy). It consists of fifteen contributions—each one with its own bibliography—and concluding remarks that serve also as a kind of summary of the entire volume. There is no introduction setting up the aims and methodologies of the volume, only a two-page foreword (p. vii–viii) by the two editors. Although it is not stated explicitly, the volu...

The present volume is the slightly updated version of the A.’s habilitation at the University of Mainz, submitted in 2017. The main body of the publication consists of three catalogue-like chapters that deal with sanctuaries and cults in Koile Elis, Pisatis, and Triphylia. They are framed by a rather brief introductory chapter and even less elaborate conclusions. In his introductory Chapter One (“Einleitung”, p. 1–25), the A. is right to emphasize that the understandably strong scholarly inte...

The richly illustrated volume represents the probably first serious attempt to bring astronomy, the perception of real and cosmic time, and the nocturnal experience of cults and cult places into the discussion about religion and sacred space. It consists of seven chapters—two of which are the introduction and the conclusions—an appendix, a glossary, notes, bibliography, and an index. Between p. 144 and p. 145 the volume contains a series of color plates that duplicate some of the black-and-wh...