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Rocks, views, soils and plants at the temples of ancient Greece

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Gregory J. Retallack
Gregory J. Retallack*
Affiliation:
*Department of Geological Sciences, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 974034-1272, USA (Email: gregr@darkwing.uoregon.edu)
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Extract

This study explores bedrock geology, topographic setting, compass orientation, soil profile and plant cover at 84 temples of Classical (480-338 BC) mainland Greece, several Aegean islands and Cyprus. A striking pattern emerges: the soil and vegetation matches the dedications to particular deities, suggesting an economic basis for particular cults.

Keywords

Greecetemplessoilland-usegeobotanyarchaeological geology
Type
Research Article
Information
Antiquity , Volume 82 , Issue 317 , September 2008 , pp. 640 - 657
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd 2008

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