The Decree Culture of Greek Sanctuaries (Delos, Delphi, the Amphiareion at Oropos and Elsewhere): The Epigraphic Dimension

Abstract

Abstract: In this article, I explore the so-called “decree cultures” of selected Greek sanctuaries by studying the chronological distribution of inscribed public decrees at Delos, Delphi and the Amphiareion at Oropos. The employment of quantitative methods will allow for the careful analysis of the chronological distribution of decrees displayed within the sacred space and to compare them to public documents erected in civic spaces. Interesting questions to consider are whether local decree habits were consistent with or departed from broader practices in Greek sanctuaries, and what kind of forces and intentions lay behind the setting up of decrees in sanctuaries in the first place.