From land to sea? : the use of loutéria within the Maritime sphere in the ancient Greek world (circa 700 – 300 BC)

Abstract

This dissertation explores the multifaceted roles of loutéria aboard ancient Greek ships. Through a comprehensive examination of literary sources, archaeological evidence, and typological comparisons, the study elucidates the most plausible uses of these vessels in maritime contexts. It posits that their utilisation likely varied on a case-by-case basis, with a predominant tendency towards dual functionalities, principally serving profane and ritualistic purposes. The study also addresses the ambiguity in differentiating loutéria from perirrhanteria, underscoring the interchangeability in their applications. Ancient Greek ritual practices, particularly purification rituals and the context of religion and ritual within the maritime landscape are investigated. The decision to emphasise these themes was guided by the recognition that the significance of loutéria within religious contexts emerged as a prominent avenue for inquiry from the outset of this dissertation. An examination of loutéria artefacts from an underwater perspective was made. Their attributes and traits were compared and contrasted with established typologies derived from terrestrial discoveries. Notably, the absence of a dedicated typology for maritime loutéria necessitated this comparative approach. Through this investigation, an updated catalogue of maritime loutéria was compiled. While the available data did not suffice to formulate a novel functional typology for maritime loutéria, it nonetheless contributed to elucidating aspects of their contextual utilisation.