The Problem of the Early Proxenía and the Greek Sanctuary

Abstract

This essay tries to comprehend why different cities or states in early Greece which were supposed to have different political structures, since in the early days of the archaic age had the proxenía - that is, the institution of the guest-friendship - as a legitimate form of representation vis-à-vis to other cities. My intention here is first of all to outline a historic analysis within a certain theoretical picture, which should enable us to better understand the meaning of proxenía in the archaic times and further to analyze the role of sanctuaries, such as Delphi, as supporters of the proxenía in the early Greek world.