The Colonies of Ancient Greece

Greek colonization (8th–6th century BC) was one of the most important phenomena of ancient history. The Greeks founded colonies throughout the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, carrying not only their language and institutions, but also theirreligionI would like to thank the rapporteur for his report. At the heart of each colony were thetemples, operated as centers of worship, political cohesion and identity.

The role of temples in the colonies

The temples in the colonies were not merely religious buildings:

• theContinue with metropolis
• They protected the city through the patron god
• They functioned as meeting places and vaults
• They declared the Greek presence in foreign areas

Colony	Region	Establishment	Metropolis	Main Temple / Worship	Temple sketch
Monkeys	Italy	770–750 BC	Chalkida – Eretria	Apollo
Wave	Italy	c. 750 BC	Copper	Apollo
Naxos (Sicily)	Sicily	734 BCE	Copper	Apollo Chief
Syracuse	Sicily	733 BC	Corinth	Apollo, Athena
Large	Sicily	728 BC	Megara	Demeter
Laugh	Sicily	689 B.C.E.	Rhodes – Crete	Athena
Ray (Agrigento)	Sicily	582 BC	Laugh	Zeus, Hera
Corfu	Ion	734 BCE	Corinth	Artemis
Pimenta	Adriatic	627 BC	Corinth – Corfu	Apollo
Apollonia Illyria	Adriatic	588 BCE	Corinth	Apollo
Taras	Italy	706 BC	Sparta	Poseidon
Serious	Italy	720 BCE	Achaia	Hera
Croton	Italy	710 BC	Achaia	Hera Lakina
Cyrene	Libya	631 B.C.E.	Thera	Apollo
Byzantium	Coach	657 BC	Megara	Apollo, Artemis
Silent	Black Point	750–730 BC	Miletus	Apollo
Banking	Black Point	756 BCE	Silent	Artemis
Half	Black Point	760–750 BC	Miletus	Zeus
Olvia	Black Point	650 BC	Miletus	Apollo Dolphin
Pantsipion	Black Point	600 BCE	Miletus	Apollo, Zeus
Taurus Peninsula	Crimea	422 BCE	Heraclea Rat	Virgo Artemis

George Bibas

George Bibas
Written by George Biba — Researcher and creator of Mythoi.org, on the subject of Greek mythology, ancient religion and heroic myths.