Deities in Ancient Sparta: Artemis, Apollo, Poseidon

 
Artemis Orthia, Apollo, Poseidon
 
Artemis
orthia
 
COMBINATION of 
two deities
ORTHIA: 
earlier Spartan goddess - little is
known. The combining of the two deities
became a particular Spartan religious
observance.
ARTEMIS: 
was Apollo’s twin sister and was
regarded as:
The goddess of 
hunting,  the forest and
the moon “mistress of the wild”
Goddess of 
Chastity
protector of women who were about to be
married or approaching childbirth
Infallible 
archer
 like her brother
ARTEMIS SANCTUARIES: 
there were many
Artemis sanctuaries including:
The Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia near the
Eurotas river (outside centre of Sparta)
Festival of Artemis Orthia – stealing of the
cheese from her altar by young boys –
whipped by older boys (rite of passage) -
PAUSANIAS
“Whereat an 
oracle
 was delivered to
them, that they should 
stain the
altar with human blood. 
He used
to be sacrificed upon whomsoever
the lot fell, but 
Lycurgus
 changed
the custom to a scourging of the
ephebos
, and so in this way the altar
is stained with human blood. By
them stands the priestess, holding
the wooden image. “(
Description of
Greece
 III, 16)
 
Apollo
 
APOLLO: 
was the son of Zeus:
he was recognised as the god of
light, music and truth  (originally
of the sky)
bringer of 
health
also an archer god whose 
arrows
never missed their heart
 , warrior
god
Spartan obsession with youth
(worshipped as a young man)
ORACLE OF DELPHI: 
through his
temple at Delphi, he was believed to
send messages that influenced
decisions  - SPARTAN
CONSITUTION
SANCTUARIES: 
he had many
sanctuaries to Apollo including:
The Sanctuary of Apollo myklaios at
Amaclae  - Amyklaion
Statue of Apollo armed with a spear
and bow
Major festivals – Hyakinthia,
Gymnopaedia
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Poseidon
 
POSEIDON: 
brother of Zeus:
god of 
sea and horses
God of fresh water
held 
responsible for earthquakes
,
so Greeks called him the “Earth
shaker” 
e.g. the Spartans believed
he sent an earthquake in c. 464BC
to punish them
SANCTUARIES: 
he had several
sanctuaries and temples including:
Several sanctuaries of Poseidon in
Laconia
Poseidon and his wife Amphitrite
were featured in bronze reliefs in the
temple of Athena
Also worshipped at the temple near
Cape Taenaron
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 11. 9 :
"Not far from them [the markets
of Sparta] is a sanctuary . . . of
Poseidon surnamed Asphalios
(Securer).”
 
Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 15. 10 :
"Not far from the theater [of
Sparta] is a sanctuary of Poseidon
Genethlios (God of Kin)."
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Deeper insight into the Spartan religious observances and sanctuaries dedicated to the goddesses Artemis Orthia and Apollo, as well as the god Poseidon, highlighting their significance and roles in Spartan culture.

  • Ancient Greece
  • Spartan Religion
  • Deities
  • Artemis
  • Poseidon

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  1. Artemis Orthia, Apollo, Poseidon

  2. COMBINATION of two deities ORTHIA: earlier Spartan goddess - little is known. The combining of the two deities became a particular Spartan religious observance. ARTEMIS: was Apollo s twin sister and was regarded as: The goddess of hunting, the forest and the moon mistress of the wild Goddess of Chastity protector of women who were about to be married or approaching childbirth Infallible archer like her brother ARTEMIS SANCTUARIES: there were many Artemis sanctuaries including: The Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia near the Eurotas river (outside centre of Sparta) Festival of Artemis Orthia stealing of the cheese from her altar by young boys whipped by older boys (rite of passage) - PAUSANIAS Artemis orthia Whereat an oracle was delivered to them, that they should stain the altar with human blood. He used to be sacrificed upon whomsoever the lot fell, but Lycurgus changed the custom to a scourging of the ephebos, and so in this way the altar is stained with human blood. By them stands the priestess, holding the wooden image. (Description of Greece III, 16)

  3. APOLLO: was the son of Zeus: he was recognised as the god of light, music and truth (originally of the sky) bringer of health also an archer god whose arrows never missed their heart , warrior god Spartan obsession with youth (worshipped as a young man) ORACLE OF DELPHI: through his temple at Delphi, he was believed to send messages that influenced decisions - SPARTAN CONSITUTION SANCTUARIES: he had many sanctuaries to Apollo including: The Sanctuary of Apollo myklaios at Amaclae - Amyklaion Statue of Apollo armed with a spear and bow Major festivals Hyakinthia, Gymnopaedia Apollo The three principal festivals all honour Apollo, the model youth R. Parker

  4. POSEIDON: brother of Zeus: god of sea and horses God of fresh water held responsible for earthquakes, so Greeks called him the Earth shaker e.g. the Spartans believed he sent an earthquake in c. 464BC to punish them SANCTUARIES: he had several sanctuaries and temples including: Several sanctuaries of Poseidon in Laconia Poseidon and his wife Amphitrite were featured in bronze reliefs in the temple of Athena Also worshipped at the temple near Cape Taenaron Poseidon Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 11. 9 : "Not far from them [the markets of Sparta] is a sanctuary . . . of Poseidon surnamed Asphalios (Securer). Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 15. 10 : "Not far from the theater [of Sparta] is a sanctuary of Poseidon Genethlios (God of Kin)."

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