The "temenos" of Apollo and Aristeas at Metapontion. An Approach to Delphi’s Influence on Magna Graecia

Abstract

During the period of transition from 6th century BC to 5th century BC, Magna Graecia experienced great social and political transformations. The rise of tyranny and the early democratic progress produced an erosion of the aristocracy’s power and the consecration of the Sanctuary of Delphi as the foremost source of legitimacy for this new political centrality. The case of Metapontion provides a special opportunity to observe this process, because we have several sources, including a Herodotus story, that allow us to analyze the form of Delphic cult crystallized among the metapontians. The highest expression of this cult was the temenos of Apollo and Aristeas, that I provide an interpretation in this paper, supplemented by a possible identification of a base that had formed part of the monumental complex and would be represented in the numismatic record. This base is currently in the facilities of the Parco Archeologico dell’area urbana di Metaponto.