Dissertation committee:
Χρύσανθος Κανελλόπουλος, αναπληρωτής καθηγητής (ΕΚΠΑ)
Λυδία Παλαιοκρασσά-Κόπιτσα, ομότιμη καθηγήτρια (ΕΚΠΑ)
Ευρυδίκη Κεφαλίδου, αναπληρώτρια καθηγήτρια (ΕΚΠΑ)
Δημήτριος Πλάντζος, καθηγητής (ΕΚΠΑ)
Στυλιανός Κατάκης, αναπληρωτής καθηγητής (ΕΚΠΑ)
Βικτωρία Σαμπετάι, ερευνήτρια α΄ βαθμίδος Κέντρου Ερεύνης Αρχαιότητας,
Ακαδημία Αθηνών
Δημήτριος Μποσνάκης, αναπληρωτής καθηγητής Τμήματος Ιστορίας
και Αρχαιολογίας, Πανεπιστήμιο Κρήτης
Summary:
SUMMARY
This particular study concerns, the new data from the excavation carried out by the Ephorate of Antiquities of the city of Athens (former 3rd Ephorate) on the site/plot, defined by the streets of Ardittos, Thomopoulou, Koutoula, Kefalou, on the east bank of Ilissos, at Agrai.
The study focus on the worship of Zeus Meilichios in Attica and especially at Ilissos, a place of the ancient city of Athens, which has been described as idyllic to Faidros of Plato. It also identify the relationship of the discovered temple with the religious events of the feast of Diasia, the possible relationship with the Lesser Mysteries at Agrai and the chthonic-fertile worship of the Eleusinian deities Demeter and Kore. In addition, the relation of the temple with other cults of gods - goddess on the hill of Ardittos is explored.
To Zeus Meilichios, at Athens, the greatest feast of Zeus, Diasia, was dedicated, which attracted believers from many parts of Attica and was celebrated ten days after the Anthestiria in the sanctuary of Zeus at the banks of the river Ilissos outside of the city walls, as testified by Thucydides, Aristophanes and the sacrificial calendar of the municipality of Erchia.
Through the new data and the review of the old ones, the co-examination of the literary texts and epigraphic testimonies, the worship of God at Athens is explored, from the classical to the later imperial years, in order to show his importance for all the fields of the life of the city's inhabitants.
Keywords:
Zeus Meilichios , Agrai, Worship, Diasia, Lesser Mysteries, Ilissos
