Although recent research has paid more attention to cultic practices in caves, relatively less focus has been given to caves and grottoes located within the immediate areas of sanctuaries. This poster explores the meaning of such caves and grottoes within the sacred landscapes of sanctuaries in the Cyclades and Attica. It treats caves as dynamic components of sanctuary settings and highlights the special relationships some developed in cultic contexts. By examining votive practices both within sanctuaries and in associated caves, comparing practices across these spaces, and studying the divinities connected to them, the poster investigates how these relationships evolved over time.
Particular attention is given to how caves were incorporated into sanctuary settings and how their roles and meanings shifted. The connections between caves, grottoes, and sanctuaries are also explored by considering location and accessibility, challenges of exploration, diachronic use, and the complex dynamics of human–cave interaction.
The poster demonstrates that the significance of caves — both cultic and conceptual — emerges from sustained interactions among people, practices, and place, revealing layered histories embedded within sanctuary landscapes.

First Author: Erica Angliker

Keywords:
Caves
Sanctuaries
Cyclades
Landscape