Water, Cults and Rituals in Ancient Greece: the case of Attica

Abstract

Water is life, purification, regeneration. This gives rise to many opportunities for development. Immersion in water is a
return to basics, with an outcome that generates strength and purity. The potential water are large and innovative. The
Pythia, the priestess of Apollo at Delphi, drinking to Castalia fountain, in order to draw inspiration before his prophecies.
Pilgrims on their way to the shrine of Delphi had to take a purifying bath in the same source, as a precondition to
be able to consult the oracle. The speech will be aimed to analyze the relationship between the water and the rituals in
Ancient Greece in sacred contexts as the sanctuaries of Delphi, Sounion, Brauron and Eleusis.