eTheses Repository - University of Birmingham

the BA evidence at the site of Ptolis-Gortsouli, despite the fact that this is the site of an
Archaic and Classical sanctuary. This identification is aided by remains of a fortification wall
as well as the definite break in the material record between the LBA and G material, except
for one possible PG sherd (Howell 1970, n.11), preventing the inference of continuity of
function. At Orchomenos-Palaiopyrgos the ‘ancient sanctuary’ is situated over a BA
habitation site and although the reports state that the Archaic shrine site has evidence of a
religious nature dating from the LHIIIB (Spyropoulos 1982, pp.113-5; AR 1991-2, p.26) this
may well be following a similar pattern to that at Ptolis-Gortsouli outlined above rather than
indicative of continuity of religious practice. On the other hand, the evidence from this
particular site may better fit the picture outlined by Mazarakis Ainian, where the division
between domestic and sacred space within settlements is not sharply defined before the first
half of the eighth century BCE (Mazarakis Ainian, 1997).
An often-important indication of a site of religious significance is the presence of a structure
identified as a ‘temple’, such as the apsidal buildings at Tegea (see no.2 in Renfrew’s list of
correlates, 1985, p.19). Traditionally the view has been that temples were not built until the G
period (Morris, 1987; Whitley, 1993; Coldstream 2003, p.317), or at least until this time,
sacred space was not strictly delineated. This has led to many early structures not being
identified as having sacred significance when they may well have had (Mazarakis Ainian
1997, p.393). Sourvinou-Inwood (1993, p.2) has challenged the traditional claim regarding
the definition of religious space and believes that many Dark Age sacred places have been
thus misinterpreted. The criteria Mazarakis Ainian (1997, ch. 2) gives for designating a
building that of a chieftain very much coincides with what might be expected from a sacred
building, such as great size or position, including proximity to open air sanctuaries. Even
bronze artefacts such as tripods can be seen as either votive offerings thus indicating a temple,
or prizes belonging to the owner of the house and therefore signifying a chieftains dwelling
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