What Happened on ”Wolf Mountain” (Mt Lycaion)?

New York.- By Vicki James Yiannias
Zeus, the supreme god of the Greeks, was first mentioned in Linear B tablets around 1400 B.C. Said to have been born in a cave on Mt. Lycaion — Wolf Mountain — in Arcadia, in the southern Peloponessos, the powerful god of sky and thunder was worshipped in a sanctuary on its spectacular 4,500 foot-high southern peak with sacrifices offered on its ash altar. An animal sacrifice was underway when Pausanias, in the second century B.C, arrived on Mt. Lycaion, a sacred place, he writes, where Zeus had been worshipped for 1,000 years.

But in early 2008, David Romano, professor of classical studies at Penn Museum leader of the Mount Lycaion Excavation and Survey Project and his team of scientists made a stunning find Early Helladic period pottery in his sanctuary indicating that an even more ancient, pre-Greek, divinity may have been worshipped there 2,000 years earlier.

If Zeus wasnʼt around yet some 5,000 years ago, who or what was worshipped there? “Possibly a pre-Zeus, or a proto-Zeus divinity, also associated with natural phenomena,” says Romano, “Perhaps if there is a deity from the 3rd millennium B.C., maybe itʼs something similar.” says Romano.

“There may have been some continuous use of the sight during the Bronze Age, and possibly in relation to a cult. We donʼt yet know exactly how the altar was first used in this early period from 3000 to 2000 B.C. We donʼt know if it was an ash altar 5,000 years ago, in fact we rather doubt it, but there are different kinds of cults. You donʼt have to have an altar; it might have been a place where dedications were made.”

Why was the southern peak of Mt. Lycaion, not as high as Lycaionʼs northern peak, considered sacred? Fierce storms and even hail, amazing lightening, and sudden temperature drops on the mountain from 100 degrees to 40 degrees in the summer suggest that the first deity worshipped on Mt. Lycaion might have been linked to natural forces, as was the thunderbolt-wielding Zeus (referred to as “Cloud Gathering Zeus,” the “Master of the Bright Lightning,” and “He who Releases Rain in ancient texts).

Perhaps the site was chosen for its wild weather, but the differences between the southern peak of Mt.Lycaion and the northern peak suggest that it may have also have been chosen for the nature of its geology and topography, says geologist George Davis of the University of Arizona.

“The geology of the mountain means there must have been earthquakes then, as there are today in the area. Earthquakes would have increased belief among ancient worshippers that the site was sacred. Davis, whose emphasis is on “connecting geology to archaeology,” has found how the fault lines of the mountain created springs and fountains along their route, which then map directly onto the paths and roads taken up the mountain by pilgrims going to the altar who would need water for themselves and their animals.”

The sanctuary flourished from the eighth century B.C. onward as a destination for pilgrims as offerings from later periods, as bronze tripods and rings, silver coins, and burned animal bones found on the ash altar confirm.

Plans for an archaeological park that would unify and protect the ancient cities and sanctuaries in that part of the Peloponnesos through the creation of roads and trails are also part of Romanoʼs project. Strengthening the infrastructure of the area would help protect against forest fires such as those that ravaged the area last summer, he says.

The Greek News asked Professor Romano what he finds most exciting about his work on Mt. Lycaion. “Working with a large team of dedicated students and scholars on top of a mountain in rural Arcadia is a real thrill as well as a challenge. It is wonderful to spend so much of my day outside in the beautiful Arcadian landscape and working at a famous Greek sanctuary of Zeus. The views from the mountain are breathtaking each day.” Romanoʼs co-directors are Michaelis Petropoulos of the Greek Archaeological Service and Mary Voyatzis, a classicist from the University of Arizona.

Romano cites the famous Greek archaeologist George Mylonas as his inspiration to become a classicist. “My archaeology professor in college at Washington University, St. Louis was, a famous Greek archaeologist who excavated at Mycenae. He was a great teacher and he interested me in the ancient world where I became interested in the field of ancient Greek athletics.” On a high meadow below the sanctuary he and his team have excavated an ancient hippodrome where Greek athletes competed in horse and chariot races in the Pan-Arcadian and Pan-Hellenic athletic contests in honor of Zeus.

Did Romano experience any particular pleasures or any difficulties in dealing with the locals or the place this summer? “The local village of Ano Karyes is extremely supportive of our project and all of the many aspects of our work. The village winter population is 22 individuals and the village has no real services so this does make it a challenge to shop for food and supplies in Megalopolis some 30 minutes away and down the mountain. The Syllogos of Ano Karyes has been very helpful to us in arranging rooms in houses for the students and staff to stay in and in arranging a place for us to eat and a wonderful laboratory building, the Pneumatiko Kentro which is the former schoolhouse. We have received the generosity of the village from the beginning of our work to the current time.

The village population seems to be as interested in the project now as they were in 2004, Romano observes. “There have been some major improvements made to the village in terms of building and renovation. Some of the villagers serve as our workmen.”

“Itʼs a spectacular mountaintop in the sense that you can see great distances in all directions,” says Romano. “You can see the Ionian Sea on a clear day, you can see Zakynthos, you can see Kalamata, you can see Taygetos, you can see the Arcadian mountains. You can see all the way to the northern Peloponnesos. Itʼs a fantastic location.” And Mount Lycaion is still a place of religion; a Greek Orthodox Church dedicated to St. Elias is near the altar of Zeus.

Romano stressed to The Greek News the importance of Greek and Greek American support for the project, noting that that the major support for the excavation project has come from Greek Americans.