LUCE E ASTRI NEI SANTUARI DEL PELOPONNESO: IL CONTRIBUTO DELL’ARCHEOASTRONOMIA

Abstract

Although several records from Greco-Roman civilizations contain information about celestial phenomena,
their relationship to cultural practices is under-researched, particularly in architecture, iconography, and
literature that does not explicitly focus on sky observations. Here, we review passage from ancient literature
like the Homeric epics with astronomical references, indicating the potential for archaeoastronomical studies
in the Archaic and Classical periods of ancient Greece. This also suggests that even before the Homeric
era, stellar navigation was used for Mediterranean voyages. Additionally, we explore the correlation between
astronomical knowledge and rituals by comparing social behaviour and religious practices in the sanctuaries
of Artemis Orthia in Sparta and of Despoina in Lykosoura, ancient Arcadia.