What is it about?
This article explores the connection between ancient Greek statues (agalmata) and the Sacred Roads (hierai hodoi) on the island of Samos and in Didyma (an ancient site near Miletus, in present-day Turkey). First, it explains the meanings of agalma and hierai hodoi in simple terms. Then, it provides historical background on these locations. Finally, it offers a deeper interpretation, showing how the statues were not just artistic objects but also had political (linked to the city-state), religious (connected to piety), and aesthetic (reflecting order and beauty) significance in relation to the Sacred Roads.
Featured Image
Photo by Egidijus Bielskis on Unsplash
Why is it important?
This article offers a fresh perspective on ancient Greek statues (agalmata), highlighting their complex meanings. Unlike previous interpretations, it emphasizes not only the artistic or political aspects of these statues but also their religious significance. Moreover, rather than treating these dimensions separately, as is often the case, it presents them as complementary and interconnected. Additionally, the article sheds new light on the role of Sacred Roads (hierai hodoi) in antiquity.
Perspectives
This is my debut academic article, which is part of my broader doctoral research on agalma. Later this year, my second article, Towards a New Theory of Agalma, will be published in the Brill series Supplements to Method & Theory in the Study of Religion, where I further explore different aspects of ancient Greek agalmata. My first article, however, originated from the international conference Sacred Places. Sacredness – Open to Dialogue or Closed to Changes?, which took place in Gdańsk in 2022. The photographs included in this article come from my research trip to Samos and Didyma.
MA Sławomir Michał Bobola
Uniwersytet Jagiellonski w Krakowie
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Agalma and “hierai hodoi” in Samos and Didyma, February 2025, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1163/9789004678316_010.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
