Mount Lykaion (Greece)

Maya Gupta, Alexis Belis, Arvey Basa and Alex Lessie working in Trench Z at the altar.

The Mt. Lykaion Excavation and Survey Project is an international, multidisciplinary, scientific investigation at the sanctuary of Zeus on Mt. Lykaion, Arcadia. According to ancient authors, this sanctuary was famous in antiquity as the site of Pan-Arcadian and Pan-Hellenic athletic contests in honor of Zeus, and for an impressive open-air altar where human sacrifice reportedly took place.

There were limited excavations at Mt. Lykaion over 100 years ago in which various features were uncovered, including the mound of ashes on the southern peak of the mountain, 1380 m. asl, the temenos, a hippodrome, stadium, bathhouse, fountains, and a stoa. Although Dr. D. G. Romano conducted a computerized architectural and topographical survey at the site in 1996, thereby laying the groundwork for future work, the current project represents the first comprehensive scientific exploration of this site.

The Mt. Lykaion Project is co-directed by Dr. D. G. Romano, University of Pennsylvania Museum, and Dr. M. Voyatzis, University of Arizona (Penn, B.A. Classical Studies '78), and is being conducted under the auspices of the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, in collaboration with the Greek Archaeological Service. During the summers of 2004 and 2005, preliminary work was initiated, including clearing the site, an architectural survey of all above-ground monuments and buildings, and topographical, geological, and geophysical surveys.

The project is utilizing the latest scientific techniques, including remote sensing (magnetometry, resisitivity, ground penetrating radar), digital cartography, and GIS, including low and high level historic photographic analysis, satellite imagery, and topographical map analysis. During the next three seasons, 2006-2008, archaeological excavations will be conducted at targeted areas of the site, with specialty teams from various disciplines assisting with soil, micro-morphological, osteological and palaeobotanical analysis, and historical and epigraphical studies.

Some of the main goals of the project are the following: to learn about the origin of the cult of Zeus at Mt. Lykaion; to elucidate the social position and cult practices of the pilgrims who traveled to the site as well as the athletes who participated in the contests; to study the relationship of this sanctuary to that of Zeus at Olympia, just 17 miles distant; to determine whether the site of the sanctuary of Zeus was chosen because of the geology and/or geography of the region; to explore how the sanctuary was related to the Arcadian towns that supported it; to establish an archaeological park 300 square kilometers in area.