Colonies, caves and worship in North Aegean
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2448-1750.revmae.2026.245508Palabras clave:
Greek colonisation, Cave Archaeology, Cult caves, North Aegean archaeology, Archaeology of Macedonia and ThraceResumen
The intensification of archaeological fieldwork and research in northern Greece since the late 20th century has yielded significant new data to the region’s archaeological record, sparking renewed scholarly debates about the North Aegean’s archaeological landscape and particularly the Greek colonisation process. While the significance of religion and sanctuary establishment has been discussed in the context of colonies in Italy and Sicily, this paper examines two northern Aegean case studies: the Drakotrypa Cave on Thasos island and the Cave of the Nymphs at Nea Herakleitsa on the opposite mainland coast. Recent excavations at these cult caves provide compelling evidence that both extra-urban sanctuaries were established within the first generations of their respective colonial settlements. This chronological correlation suggests these sacred sites played an integral role in the early phase of territorial organization, potentially serving as markers of colonial authority and spatial control structures in newly acquired territories.
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Journal abbreviations are according to the American Journal of Archaeology abbreviations: https://ajaonline.org/submissions/journals-series/.
In addition, the following abbreviation was used:
AΕΜTh = Το Αρχαιολογικό Έργο στη Μακεδονία και Θράκη. Πρακτικά Επιστημονικής Συνάντησης [The Archaeological Work in Macedonia and Thrace.]
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