Mysterious altars in the ancient Greek world
Mysterious altars in the ancient Greek world
One of the oldest used sacred sites in the ancient world perched on a massive earthen mound dating back to the Early Helladic Neolithic period around 3,000 BC. Near the eastern entrance stands a two tiered stone base that once supported a pillar topped with a gilded eagle. This original sacred site one of the oldest and most mysterious in ancient Greece is the remains of compressed earth and burnt animal bones used in rituals for over 500 centuries perched on the southern summit of Mount Lycaion at an altitude of 1,382 meters.
The Altar of Zeus's ashes reveals the oldest physical evidence of the worship of the god filled with Bronze Age pottery animal bones and bronze statues dating back to the 16th century BC.
This extends the site's historical scope to the ancient city of Olympia in the northwest of the Peloponnese peninsula of Greece dating back to the Bronze Age. Archaeologists have discovered a striking 2,500 year old bronze bull statue estimated to date between 1050 and 700 BC.
The supreme god of the Temple of Olympus in ancient Greek mythology Zeus is depicted in sculptures and marble statues in a majestic form with a beard and curly hair a popular artistic icon among the ancient Greeks
In the past the story of the altar of Zeus on Mount Lycaon has captivated people and historians for centuries. It is believed that this altar once offered a panoramic view of the Peloponnese peninsula. Beneath the altar lay the sacred site of Temenos a separate piece of land dedicated to the gods a sacred area known in ancient times as the birthplace of Zeus.
Mount Lycaion located in the heart of the Peloponnese Peninsula was an ancient sacred mountain where the Arcadia once worshipped the god Zeus.
Human and animal sacrifices mostly sheep and goats were performed in secret rituals to worship the god Zeus. Ancient Greek mythology recounts that King Lycaon and his son were cursed by Zeus to become werewolves or lycans for their cruelty and disrespect towards the gods for defying Zeus by sacrificing humans and demanding rain. Therefore the sacred site of Lycaon is considered the origin of the werewolf legend and a place dedicated to Zeus.
