We are pleased to invite you to watch the CSPS SPECS webinar entitled “BEING PELOPONNESIAN”, with Dr. Aeneas Kapouranis and his talk entitled “The Cult of the Dioscuri in Roman Peloponnese – Evidence from Votive Reliefs”. Among the most important cults of the Peloponnese, that of the Dioscuri maintained a prominent position during the Roman period. During this period, the Tyndareides – most often referred to as Castor and Polydeuces – continued to be worshipped as protectors of young future hoplites, athletes and sailors. Although Sparta remained the main centre of their worship, where they were ranked among the most important gods and heroes of the city, evidence of their worship is also attested in Corinth, Epidaurus and Tegea.
The multifaceted nature of their cult is reflected in the stone votive reliefs dedicated to them, which maintain a consistent visual commonality: the twins are always depicted as a pair, either alone or accompanied by their horses. However, the diversity of iconographic types and stylistic approaches raises questions about the semantic content of these images, the evolution of typological patterns in relation to earlier periods, and the possible identification of local workshops. This talk examines eight votive reliefs from the aforementioned cities through iconographic and stylistic comparison, in order to assess the continuing vitality of the Dioscuri cult in the Roman Peloponnese. Particular attention is paid to typological assessment, compositional patterns, and workshop practices. The reliefs illuminate processes of cultural continuity and urban self-determination, demonstrating how traditional cultic iconography adapted to the political and social realities of Roman rule. Dr. Aeneas Kapouranis is a classical archaeologist who received his PhD from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in 2023. His thesis, entitled
“The Votive Reliefs of the Peloponnese: Iconography, Interpretation and Meaning from the Archaic to the Roman Period”, offers a comprehensive examination of votive reliefs and their religious contexts over time. The study is currently being prepared for publication as a monograph under the title “Cults and Reliefs of the Peloponnese: A Continuing Dialogue”. Dr. Kapouranis has published articles in Acta Archaeologica on the iconography of Artemis on 4th-century BC votive reliefs from Tegea, and in Themes of Archaeology on the sculptor Pasiteli in Themes of Archaeology. He has also contributed book reviews to the American Journal of Archaeology and the Bryn Mawr Classical Review. In 2024, he presented part of his research at the 4th International Scientific Meeting on Archaeological Work in the Peloponnese (AWOP 4). His research focuses on Greek cultic practice and votive iconography — topics closely related to the discussion of this webinar on the Dioscuri and their cult in the Roman Peloponnese.
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