Publication Date

2015

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Kolb, Michael J.

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Anthropology

LCSH

Archaeology; Classical studies; Temples; Greek--Research--Italy--Sicily; Archaeology

Abstract

The focus of this study is to better understand cultural ethnicity and colonization in Sicily. The objective is fourfold: (1) identify and note all Greek temples in Sicily, (2) identify and better understand the landscape relationships of Greek temples, (3) understand what literary sources and archaeological data say about Greek colonization in Sicily, and (4) using that information, determine how "Greek" Greek temple sites are in Sicily. The project seeks to determine whether Greek sacred architecture can be used to determine the cultural heritage of a site, and if so, apply the hypothesis to all Greek temple sites in Sicily. This study asks questions specific to Sicily, as well as general questions about colonization and cultural expansion. The significance of economic influences will be central to this study. Employed in this research is a comparative approach by applying Vincent Scully's model for Athens Greece to nineteen sites in Sicily (Agrigento, Akrai, Camarina, Cefalu, Erice, Helorus, Heraclea Minoa, Himera, Megara Hyblea, Monte Adranone, Monte Jato, Monte Polizzo, Morgantina, Naxos, Palike, Segesta, Selinus, Solunto, and Syracuse). This research is vital to colonization studies in the Mediterranean because it addresses major questions regarding the colonization of Sicily, Greek economy and trade, issues of insularity, and topics of the Mediterranean as a whole. This research was conducted in a twofold process: (1) identification of temples and relevant sites using library research and computer models, and (2) visiting the sites directly and taking relevant measurements to test the proposed model. In this study, sites with close economic relations with Greece have temples that generally have an eastern orientation. Sites that do not have close economic ties with Greece have other orientations. The data in this study is analyzed statistically and is found to be significant. This project seeks to fill a gap in the knowledge base and chronology of Sicily and the island's relationship with mainland Greece.

Comments

Includes supplementary digital materials.||Advisors: Michael Kolb.||Committee members: Winifred Creamer.

Extent

138 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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