As Sparta was a Dorian polis, many of its heroic cults have been interpreted as part of Sparta’s so-called ‘Achaian’ policy, which introduced Achaian heroes in order to legitimise its territorial claims in the Peloponnese. This article reviews the topic of ethnicity as a motivating factor behind the instigation of hero-cults in the Greek world. It focuses on three case studies in Sparta: the cult of Agamemnon, the transfer of the bones of Orestes, and of those belonging to his son Teisamenos. By examining the evidence within Greek religious tradition and by placing it in its historical context, I challenge the persisting views associated with the cults of these heroes. In turn, I argue that Sparta worshiped these heroes because they were traditionally local and their foundation was not driven by any ethnic consideration. I emphasise how there has been a scholarly tendency to overuse political interpretation in the understanding of these cults, while their religious significance has been frequently neglected.
Sparte étant une cité dorienne, nombre de ses cultes héroïques ont été interprétés comme faisant partie de la politique dite « achéenne » de Sparte, qui aurait introduit des héros achéens afin de légitimer ses revendications territoriales dans le Péloponnèse. Cet article examine le thème de l’ethnicité comme élément instigateur des cultes héroïques dans le monde grec. Il se concentre sur trois études de cas à Sparte : le culte d’Agamemnon, le transfert des ossements d’Oreste et de ceux de son fils Teisamenos. En replaçant dans leur contexte historique les éléments de la tradition religieuse, le point de vue habituel sur les cultes de ces héros est remis en question. En fait, Sparte vénérait ces héros parce qu’ils étaient traditionnellement locaux et leur fondation ne reposait pas sur des considérations ethniques. L’article souligne la tendance des chercheurs à utiliser à l’excès l’interprétation politique dans la compréhension de ces cultes, alors que leur signification religieuse a souvent été négligée.
Ce document sera publié en ligne en texte intégral en octobre 2023.
Plan
Introduction
The Dorian Spartans
Ethnicity and hero-cult
Case studies: Agamemnon, Orestes, and Teisamenos
Agamemnon
Orestes
Teisamenos
Conclusion
Aperçu du texte
Introduction
From the late eighth/early seventh-centuries onwards Sparta witnessed the popularity of hero-cults as evidenced by the cults of Helen and Menelaus at the Menelaion, the worship of Agamemnon and Alexandra/Kassandra,and from the sixth century on, the cults of the Dioskouroi and Orestes.Because of Sparta’s aggressive attitude towards her neighbours during the Archaic period, it has been suggested that the popularity of heroes in Sparta was a calculated attempt to introduce Achaian heroes for political purposes: the so-called ‘Achaian Policy’.For example, the Menelaion has been interpreted as politically motivated because of seventh-century competition with Argos that sought to legitimise Sparta’s presence in the area through the local promotion of Achaian heroes. The cult of Agamemnon and Alexandra/Kassandra is considered to have been deliberately promoted by Sparta in order to show its dominance in the Peloponnese, especially against Argos. The religious significance of t...
Nicolette Pavlides, « Heroes, Politics, and the Problem of Ethnicity in Archaic and Classical Sparta », Kernos, 34 | 2021, 9-53.
Référence électronique
Nicolette Pavlides, « Heroes, Politics, and the Problem of Ethnicity in Archaic and Classical Sparta », Kernos [En ligne], 34 | 2021, mis en ligne le 01 octobre 2023, consulté le 26 mai 2022. URL : http://journals.openedition.org/kernos/3833 ; DOI : https://doi.org/10.4000/kernos.3833