Abstract
An ancient Greek believed they could encounter a god while on a mountain, or in a forest. Gods were born in caves; lakes, springs, and rivers were regenerative. This archaeology class explores how nature intersected with religious practices in Greece. We will begin with the Bronze Age Minoans and Mycenaeans, who preferred mountains and caves, and extend to the Greeks, who worshiped on mountains, in caves, nearby water features, and amid sacred groves. We will explore the archaeological evidence for these practices. We will learn about how natural environments were utilized for worship, and particularly, how the Greeks designed their sacred architecture to integrate them. We end in Late Antiquity, exploring the motives for Christians to build chapels and monasteries on secluded peaks. Our questions include: what did the ancient Greeks require for a place of worship? What inspired particular sanctuaries to be purposefully situated in unique natural environments? How was the form and function of these sanctuaries designed to utilize these environments? When a specialized environment was not sought out, how else could these sanctuaries manifest the importance of nature in ancient Greek religion?