The Evolution of Apolline divination in Asia Minor: The Architecture of Claros and its Cognitive Inputs

This article investigates the agency of the architecture of the Temple of Apollo at Claros and its cognitive impact on the ritual of divination. In the comparison with Delphi, Claros represents a peculiar example of how architecture evolved to suit and shape at the same time the ritual it was hostin...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Frigerio, Giulia (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2024
In: Journal of cognition and culture
Year: 2024, Volume: 24, Issue: 1/2, Pages: 75-90
Further subjects:B architectural agency
B cognitive archaeology
B Divination
B Greek Religion
B ritualistic behaviour
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Summary:This article investigates the agency of the architecture of the Temple of Apollo at Claros and its cognitive impact on the ritual of divination. In the comparison with Delphi, Claros represents a peculiar example of how architecture evolved to suit and shape at the same time the ritual it was hosting. The paper starts with the analysis of the exteriors of the building, highlighting the choice of the Doric style dictated by the desire of being associated to Delphi. A further analysis of the internal layout gives the author a chance of describing the cognitive inputs that the peculiar structure sent to the ancient mind. Specifically, the paper studies how the narrow tunnels made of black marble that turned seven times and the underground cave like adyton created a situation of sensory confusion in the mind of the seekers and the oracle that found themselves prone to detect agencies in the surrounding space and specifically to identify the agent with Apollo.
ISSN:1568-5373
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of cognition and culture
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/15685373-12340177