Soils and land use at ancient Greek colonial temples of southern Italy

Abstract

Soils at ancient Greek temples in Greece are distinct for each deity, reflecting an economic basis for their cults, but did this pattern also extend to classical Greek colonies? This study of 24 temples in southern Italy reveals little assimilation by Greek colonists of indigenous cults at first, because their temples are on the same kinds of soils, reflecting similar cults for each of the Olympian deities as in Greece. Worship of Hera was more widespread in Italy than in Greece and the Aegean, and also on Alfisol soils suitable for pastoralism. Temples of Demeter in contrast were on Mollisols best for grain cultivation. Rocks and grottos sacred to Persephone are comparable with those in Greece, but were popular with hellenized Sikels for an indigenous hybrid cult of Demeter and Kore.