Carroll, M. (2021). "Sanctuary of Zeus Philios." Gardens of the Roman Empire, accessed October 2, 2026. https://roman-gardens.github.io/id/b358c1f3d6/

Sanctuary of Zeus Philios

Author: Maureen Carroll

Contributors: Jane Millar, Amartya Shri

Published: 2021-04-21

Last modified: 2026-09-28

Dates

unspecified (still flourished in the 2nd century CE)

Garden Description

Pausanias mentioned a small grove of trees in the sanctuary of Zeus Philios that was in close proximity to the agora in Megalopolis (8.31.4-5). The grove was enclosed within a boundary wall. In the precinct were images of the goddesses Demeter and Kore. This grove almost certainly had been in existence since pre-Roman times, but it still flourished in the 2nd century CE when Pausanias visited the site.

Keywords

literary gardens
Pausanias
sacred groves (AAT:300251876)

Places

Megalopolis (Pleiades:570467)
Megalopolis (deserted settlement) (TGN:7010920)
Achaea/Achaia (region) (Pleiades:570028)
Achaea (province) (TGN:7030332)