Ritual Usage of Water in Greek Sanctuaries

Abstract

Summary Scholars have long highlighted the importance of water for rituals in Greek sanctuaries, but little is known about when and how it was used in practice. Considering the importance attributed to water in rituals at Greek sanctuaries, this article aims to explore water as a purificatory agent for humans and things and as an offering, pure or water mixed with wine, to the gods in the form of libations. Throughout the paper we argue that these activities were located on a spectrum from mundane to religious and can be viewed within a “spatio-temporal” framework where they functioned as visual cues in order to structure activities. To achieve this, we closely and critically examine the empirical material, epigraphic and literary, supported by archaeological and iconographic evidence.