Religious forms at the centre of the Cypriot socio-cultural dimension reflect an cestral and persistent ritual expressions, that appear to be the peculiarities of the main monumental complexes devoted to Aphrodite Paphia and Apollo Hylates. The dense intertwining of religious and cultic traditions that closely linked the two divinities allow a joint investigation of these complexes. This is the premise of a “circular” path in the interpretation of the architectural complexes of the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates at Kourion, of the Sanctuary of Aphrodite Paphia at Palaipaphos and of the one dedicated to the goddess on “Fabrika Hill” at Nea Paphos. Such path unfolds through the detailed analysis of the concrete proofs, already investigated and / or newly identified, about the centrality of the oracular aspects and the theme of fertility and it is based on new interpretations of elements linked to the cult and the monumental contexts of the consecrated spaces. The resulting overall vision represents a substantial contribution to the study of the deeper aspects of forms of religiosity that the God of the Woods and the Lady of the Gardens shared in Cyprus, also in light of significant references to other sites in the Mediterranean, and with particular regard to the Ptolemaic age.
Architectural complexes and rituals in Cyprus: New elements to contribute to the study of the Sanctuaries of Aphrodite Paphia and Apollo Hylates. In (a cura di): S. Ensoli, Cipro, Egitto, Palestina. Per servire alla conoscenza del Mediterraneo Orientale. Studi, attività on-field e nuove acquisizioni scientifiche, Ptolemaica. Studi sul Mediterraneo, II, p. 80-153, Padova
Serenella Ensoli
2023
Abstract
Religious forms at the centre of the Cypriot socio-cultural dimension reflect an cestral and persistent ritual expressions, that appear to be the peculiarities of the main monumental complexes devoted to Aphrodite Paphia and Apollo Hylates. The dense intertwining of religious and cultic traditions that closely linked the two divinities allow a joint investigation of these complexes. This is the premise of a “circular” path in the interpretation of the architectural complexes of the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates at Kourion, of the Sanctuary of Aphrodite Paphia at Palaipaphos and of the one dedicated to the goddess on “Fabrika Hill” at Nea Paphos. Such path unfolds through the detailed analysis of the concrete proofs, already investigated and / or newly identified, about the centrality of the oracular aspects and the theme of fertility and it is based on new interpretations of elements linked to the cult and the monumental contexts of the consecrated spaces. The resulting overall vision represents a substantial contribution to the study of the deeper aspects of forms of religiosity that the God of the Woods and the Lady of the Gardens shared in Cyprus, also in light of significant references to other sites in the Mediterranean, and with particular regard to the Ptolemaic age.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.