The bronze finds from the Late Geometric ›South Temple 6‹ at Kalapodi: Cult practices and local craft traditions in eastern Phocis

Abstract The sanctuary of Kalapodi yielded a remarkable number of bronze finds from the Geometric period. These show a consistently high technical standard and a striking homogeneity with regard to their range of shapes and styles. The bronzes from the Geometric sanctuary at Kalapodi form one of the most important assemblages of this kind in the regions of ancient Phocis and eastern Locris, where our understanding of metal craftsmanship is limited. The present paper discusses the bronzes in their regional and interregional contexts, whilst also considering issues of regional metallurgical styles and the possibility of an independent, eastern Phocian and eastern Locrian workshop circle. It furthermore stresses the significance of the analysis of the bronze offerings from this sanctuary within their stratigraphic context so as to reconstruct the votive and ritual practices conducted at the site. Finally, it discusses the findings from the bronze votive offerings with regard to the identity of the venerated deity and the worshippers themselves.

Keywords Kalapodi, bronzes, dedication, ritual practices, metal craft