Analysis and predictive modeling of ancient Greek temples throughout the Mediterranean

1. Analysis and predictive modeling of ancient Greek temples throughout the Mediterranean By Sean Patrick Yusko

2. Overview • Classical Archaeology emphasis on individual site studies • New interest in sacred space • GIS analysis encompassing all temples • Spatial relationships & patterns • Predictive modeling

3. Introduction • Temples carried cultural significance • 236 temples from roughly 800 BC – 150 AD

4. Introduction cont.

5. Statement of Problem • A gap exists in on-going research concerning sacred space • Little geographic data pertaining to temples • No assessment of spatial patterns

6. Purpose • Identify spatial relationships of temples with their surroundings and with each other • Investigate those relationships

7. Potential Patterns

8. Review of Literature • Classical Archaeology • Sacred space • Temple surveys • Greek city planning • Roles of regional sanctuaries • Rise of the polis • Ancient tourism (Pausanias)

9. Methodology • Research • Data collection, creation (digitizing) • Zonal statistics, autocorrelation • Investigate relationships of temples with elevation, ecological data, water source • Hill shade, temple orientation • Investigate patterns with deities, architectural styles

10. Methodology cont. • Are there meaningful geographic patterns with respect to physical features? • Analysis and interpretation • Data limitations • Predictive modeling

11. Significance • Aim to establish certain spatial correlations • Investigate deity worship patterns • Provide new data for exploration • Use variables to predict temple locations

12. Plan of Work • 4 weeks research, investigation, reading • 2 weeks GIS operations • 2 weeks analysis • 2 weeks document and predictive modeling • 2 weeks write final report

13. Questions?