Abstract
This study presents the initial examination of a recently discovered sanctuary at Alonia, situated in Northwest Cyprus. Unearthed during a rescue excavation in 2014, the site reveals diverse artifacts, including votive figurines, statues, and various architectural elements, primarily from the Cypro-Archaic to early Roman periods. The sanctuary’s architecture and its strategic location on fertile land align with characteristics of extra-urban Cypriot sanctuaries, therefore offering insights into the socio-religious landscape of ancient Cyprus. Analysis of the artifact corpus highlights the shifts in the sanctuary’s votive practices, suggesting transitions from elite ideological displays to more localized ritual activities that were eventually repurposed in the Roman era for secular functions. This paper underscores Alonia’s role in regional religious practices and hints at broader political and social dynamics across Cypriot sanctuaries, thus paving the way for future investigations into its architectural and ritualistic evolution.
Keywords
Cypriot sanctuaries terracotta votives limestone statuettes Great God of Cyprus Ptolemaic ruler cult *
References
- Alcock, S.E. 1994. “Minding the Gap in Hellenistic and Roman Greece.” In Placing the Gods: Sanctuaries and Sacred Space in Ancient Greece, edited by S.E. Alcock and R. Osborne, 247-61. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
- Anastassiades, A. 2019. “Orientations: Salamis in the Ptolemaic Royal Cult.” In Salamis of Cyprus History and Archaeology from the Earliest Times to Late Antiquity, edited by S. Rogge, C. Ioannou, and T. Mavrojannis, 490-500. Munster: Waxmann Verlag GmbH.
- Beer, C. 2009. “Ayia Irini in the Iron Age: Realm of Baal and/or Astarte?” Focus Mediterranean 5:36-49.
- Broneer, O. 1930. Terracotta Lamps - Corinth. Vol. 4.2. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Abstract
References
- Alcock, S.E. 1994. “Minding the Gap in Hellenistic and Roman Greece.” In Placing the Gods: Sanctuaries and Sacred Space in Ancient Greece, edited by S.E. Alcock and R. Osborne, 247-61. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
- Anastassiades, A. 2019. “Orientations: Salamis in the Ptolemaic Royal Cult.” In Salamis of Cyprus History and Archaeology from the Earliest Times to Late Antiquity, edited by S. Rogge, C. Ioannou, and T. Mavrojannis, 490-500. Munster: Waxmann Verlag GmbH.
- Beer, C. 2009. “Ayia Irini in the Iron Age: Realm of Baal and/or Astarte?” Focus Mediterranean 5:36-49.
- Broneer, O. 1930. Terracotta Lamps - Corinth. Vol. 4.2. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Abstract
References
- Alcock, S.E. 1994. “Minding the Gap in Hellenistic and Roman Greece.” In Placing the Gods: Sanctuaries and Sacred Space in Ancient Greece, edited by S.E. Alcock and R. Osborne, 247-61. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
- Anastassiades, A. 2019. “Orientations: Salamis in the Ptolemaic Royal Cult.” In Salamis of Cyprus History and Archaeology from the Earliest Times to Late Antiquity, edited by S. Rogge, C. Ioannou, and T. Mavrojannis, 490-500. Munster: Waxmann Verlag GmbH.
- Beer, C. 2009. “Ayia Irini in the Iron Age: Realm of Baal and/or Astarte?” Focus Mediterranean 5:36-49.
- Broneer, O. 1930. Terracotta Lamps - Corinth. Vol. 4.2. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Abstract
References
- Alcock, S.E. 1994. “Minding the Gap in Hellenistic and Roman Greece.” In Placing the Gods: Sanctuaries and Sacred Space in Ancient Greece, edited by S.E. Alcock and R. Osborne, 247-61. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
- Anastassiades, A. 2019. “Orientations: Salamis in the Ptolemaic Royal Cult.” In Salamis of Cyprus History and Archaeology from the Earliest Times to Late Antiquity, edited by S. Rogge, C. Ioannou, and T. Mavrojannis, 490-500. Munster: Waxmann Verlag GmbH.
- Beer, C. 2009. “Ayia Irini in the Iron Age: Realm of Baal and/or Astarte?” Focus Mediterranean 5:36-49.
- Broneer, O. 1930. Terracotta Lamps - Corinth. Vol. 4.2. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Archaeology of Europe, The Mediterranean and The Levant |
| Journal Section | Research Article |
| Authors | |
| Submission Date | November 19, 2024 |
| Acceptance Date | April 16, 2025 |
| Publication Date | December 26, 2025 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2025 Issue: 28 |
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