Special Exhibitions
Antioch Exhibition
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Special Exhibitions |
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Antioch Exhibition |
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Worship in the City The diverse population of Antioch worshiped a vast array of gods. Some were inherited from the Greek pantheon, some were local deities with a long history in the region, and some were relative newcomers. Unlike the monotheistic (single-god) faiths, Greco-Roman religion was an open system with its rituals integrated in civic life.The Olympian gods were worshiped from the city's Hellenistic origins. Athena boasted one of the oldest temples in the city, but none was more important than the famed shrine and oracle of Apollo at Daphne. The Tyche of Antioch was the goddess in charge of protecting the city whose name she bore. She had her own cult image standing in a temple, and public rituals were performed in her honor. Local Syrian goddesses such as Atargatis and her consort, the god Hadad, gradually fused with Greco-Roman divinities. Roman emperors and their families were granted divine honors in all Eastern Greek cities. Antioch was no exception to this rule. Foreign deities, whose mystery cults generally required special initiation, spread all over the Roman world and found a home in Antioch. Dionysos and the Egyptian goddess Isis were the oldest and best established. Mithras came later and was especially favored by soldiers. Page 5 of 6 | On the next page: Art Conservation |
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