1. Artemis Orthia, Apollo, Poseidon
Gods and Goddesses
Artemis Orthia, Apollo, Poseidon

2. Artemis orthia COMBINATION of two deities
ORTHIA: earlier Spartan goddess - little is known. The combining of the two deities became a particular Spartan religious observance.
ARTEMIS: was Apollo’s twin sister and was regarded as:
The goddess of hunting, the forest and the moon “mistress of the wild”
Goddess of Chastity
protector of women who were about to be married or approaching childbirth
Infallible archer like her brother
ARTEMIS SANCTUARIES: there were many Artemis sanctuaries including:
The Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia near the Eurotas river (outside centre of Sparta)
Festival of Artemis Orthia – stealing of the cheese from her altar by young boys – whipped by older boys (rite of passage) - PAUSANIAS
“Whereat an oracle was delivered to them, that they should stain the altar with human blood. He used to be sacrificed upon whomsoever the lot fell, but Lycurgus changed the custom to a scourging of the ephebos, and so in this way the altar is stained with human blood. By them stands the priestess, holding the wooden image. “(Description of Greece III, 16)

3. Apollo APOLLO: was the son of Zeus:
he was recognised as the god of light, music and truth (originally of the sky)
bringer of health
also an archer god whose arrows never missed their heart , warrior god
Spartan obsession with youth (worshipped as a young man)
ORACLE OF DELPHI: through his temple at Delphi, he was believed to send messages that influenced decisions - SPARTAN CONSITUTION SANCTUARIES: he had many sanctuaries to Apollo including:
The Sanctuary of Apollo myklaios at Amaclae - Amyklaion
Statue of Apollo armed with a spear and bow
Major festivals – Hyakinthia, Gymnopaedia
The three principal festivals all honour Apollo, the model youth”
R. Parker

4. Poseidon POSEIDON: brother of Zeus:
god of sea and horses
God of fresh water
held responsible for earthquakes, so Greeks called him the “Earth shaker” e.g. the Spartans believed he sent an earthquake in c. 464BC to punish them
SANCTUARIES: he had several sanctuaries and temples including:
Several sanctuaries of Poseidon in Laconia
Poseidon and his wife Amphitrite were featured in bronze reliefs in the temple of Athena
Also worshipped at the temple near Cape Taenaron
Pausanias, Description of Greece : "Not far from them [the markets of Sparta] is a sanctuary of Poseidon surnamed Asphalios (Securer).”
Pausanias, Description of Greece : "Not far from the theater [of Sparta] is a sanctuary of Poseidon Genethlios (God of Kin)."