eTheses Repository - University of Birmingham

Another prominent site within the territory of the later Tegea is the site of Mavriki, situated
close to the summit of Psili Korfi (Fig.4.12). Excavated by Romaios (1952), finds of a late
eighth century BCE date were found at the site of the earliest all marble temple in Arkadia
(560-550 BCE), situated close to the Dholiana marble quarries and possibly to be equated
with Artemis Knakeatis mentioned by Pausanias (8.53.11). The finds here show many
similarities to those from Tegea as well as some affinities with Laconia, with the majority of
the bronze votives being made at the workshops at the Temple of Athena Alea mentioned
above.
In southern Arkadia, Kato Asea–Palaiokastro (45) has G evidence suggestive of religious or
sacred activity, but at a point different to that where possible evidence of LH religious or
sacred activity was found. On the akropolis itself (Fig.4.13), bronzes of the LG along with
pots and sherds have been interpreted as evidence of a possible shrine or burials on the
plateau (Forsen 2003, p.199; Morgan 1999, p.400). Unfortunately, despite Holmberg’s
excavations in the 1930’s (Holmberg 1944), the akropolis has not been excavated fully to help
clear up this issue. Also in the Asea Valley, Asea-Ayios Elias (46) has evidence of G activity.
This site will be considered in more detail in case study A below.
In the south west of Arkadia, there are three sites of religious significance. At Kretea (57), on
Mount Lykaion, sherds of Lakonian type found alongside bronzes indicate that a cult,
possibly of Apollo Parrhasios (Pausanias. 8.38.2), began in the LG period at a site where a
later Archaic shrine is situated (Kourouniotes 1903, 1910; Jost 1985, p.185-6; Voyatzis 1990,
p.43-44; 1999, p.138-9; Morgan 1999, p.408). At the temple of Apollo at Bassae (58), a
small amount of bronze votives with Lakonian influence have been dated to the LG by
Voyatzis (1999, p.137; see also Kourouniotes 1910; Cooper 1996, pp.66-73). Finally, there
are the LG votives found at the site of the Temple of Athena at Alipheira (56) (Fig.4.14),
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