Delphi and Olympia: The Spatial Politics of Panhellenism in the Archaic and Classical Periods

Description

Most people think about the sanctuary of Delphi as the seat of the famous oracle and of Olympia as the site of the Olympic games. The oracle and the games, however, were but two of the many activities ongoing at both sites. This book investigates the physical remains of both sanctuaries to show how different visitors interacted with the sacred spaces of Delphi and Olympia in an important variety of ways during the archaic and classical periods. It highlights how this fluid usage impacted upon, and was itself affected by, the development of the sanctuary space and how such usage influenced the place and relationship of these two sites in the wider landscape. As a result, it argues for the re-evaluation of the roles of Delphi and Olympia in the Greek world and for a re-thinking of the usefulness of the term 'panhellenism' in Greek politics, religion and culture.

Michael Scott is Moses and Mary Finley Fellow in Ancient History at Darwin College, Cambridge. He has recently published From Democrats to Kings: The Brutal Dawn on a New World from the Downfall of Athens to the Rise of Alexander the Great (2009).

'... this new book on monumental dedications and spatial politics fully deserves a place among the basic publications on Delphi and Olympia, and should not be missed by scholars interested in pan-hellenic identity and sanctuary spaces.' Histara: Les Comptes Rendus 'This handsome and readable volume belies its origin in the PhD research of Michael Scott, a rising star of Ancient History in Cambridge.' Anglo-Hellenic Review 'It is the particular merit of [the book that it] has turned to the archaeology, monuments, dedications and buildings of these sanctuary sites to test the nature of panhellenism as it changed over the archaic and classical periods.' The Times Literary Supplement