Tradizione e innovazione cultuale in età ellenistica: Arato e la realtà di Sicione

Abstract

The polis of Sicyon is particularly interesting for our understanding of waves of changes from the IV Century B.C. onwards, into abeyance between heroic and divine cults. The timai for Euphron I and Demetrius Poliorketes are significant in this regard, but above all one must focus on the cult for Aratus, which was honoured as soter and new founder in his hometown, as described in detail in Plutarch’s biography. It represents the respect of cultic tradition comparing to the divine honours tributed to Antigonus Doson and to other protagonists of III-II Century B.C. in Sicyon and in the Peloponnese. Furthermore, it constitutes a good exemplum for Plutarch’s contemporaries and, above all, Polikrates (and his sons), to whom the Life of Aratus is dedicated.