Agenda
Joint Cultural Interactions/NMS/NDS Lecture
Western Greek Colonies and Sanctuaries ‘Back Home’: Delphi as a Case Study
Prof. Em. Judith M. Barringer
May 6, 2026
Johanna Hudiggebouw – 1.27 (Alex Brenninkmeijer Zaal)
Kromme Nieuwegracht 47E, Utrecht
Lecture abstract
Centuries after their founding, Greek colonial poleis in southern Italy and Sicily continued to maintain connections to sanctuaries ‘back home’. Although cities, such as Syracuse, Taras, and Akragas had long established sanctuaries and festivals of their own, they made dedications and financial contributions far from their own shores—not just at Delphi and Olympia, but also on Delos, Rhodes, Samos and at sanctuaries in Asia Minor. Why? Of what benefit was this to the donors—and to the receipients of this largesse? This talk focuses on Delphi—with a brief excursus to Olympia—as a case study.
The lecture is supported by:
- The Network for Mediterranean Studies (UU)
- Sacrality and the Greek Polis (UU)
- Cultural Interactions in the Mediterranean (Brill)
- Cultural Interactions in the Ancient World (Oikos)
- Institutions for Open Societies (UU)
- New Discoveries Seminar (UU)
- Hieron (Network for the Study of Greek Sanctuaries)
About the speaker
Judith M. Barringer is Professor Emerita of Greek Art and Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh, where she has been based since 2005. Her research centres on the archaeology, art, and culture of ancient Greece from the Archaic through Hellenistic periods, with a particular focus on the intersection of art, myth, religion, and civic life. She is the author of several major works, including The Art and Archaeology of Ancient Greece (Cambridge University Press, 2014), for which she was awarded the PROSE Award, and Olympia: A Cultural History (Princeton University Press) for which she was longlisted for the Runciman Award. Her current research examines the relationship between western Greek cities and sanctuaries on the Greek mainland and in Magna Graecia. She recently co-edited a volume with Gunnel Ekroth and David Scahill: Logistics in Greek Sanctuaries: Exploring the Human Experience of Visiting the Gods (Brill).
Program May 6
Morning Session
Location: Trans 10 – 0.19
10.00 Workshop for graduate students (in-person).
NB Graduate students must register via email: c.b.dejong1@students.uu.nl
13.00 Lunch
Afternoon Session
Location: Johanna Hudiggebouw – 1.27 (Alex Brenninkmeijer Zaal)
15.15 Welcome by Floris van den Eijnde (Universiteit Utrecht)
15.30 Western Greek Colonies and Sanctuaries ‘Back Home’: Delphi as a Case Study
17.00 Drinks