Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Newfound Altar Predates Zeus Worship

Archaeologists uncover evidence of ancient pre-Greek diety

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 5, 2008 11:15 AM CST

(Newser) – Archaeologists in Greece have unearthed the remains of an altar that predates Zeus worship, the New York Times reports. The evidence of animal sacrifices to an unknown deity thousands of years ago turned up during excavation of a temple to Zeus in Greece's Arcadia region. “We went from BC to 'BZ'—before Zeus," quipped one archaeologist.

The sanctuary on a stark mountaintop was ancient even in the time of the ancient Greeks and dates as far back as 3000 BC, some 900 years before Greek-speaking people arrived. "You have some god being worshiped on a mountaintop, and the arriving Greeks translated the god as ‘Zeus,’ their god of the sky, lightning, weather and so on," one expert explained.

GREECE, Olympia: Detail of the temple of Zeus. (c) Ferdinando Scianna/Magnum Photos (SCF9085)
GREECE, Olympia: Detail of the temple of Zeus. (c) Ferdinando Scianna/Magnum Photos (SCF9085)   (Magnum Photos)
GREECE, Olimpia: statue of Zeus and Ganimede. (SCF6514)
GREECE, Olimpia: statue of Zeus and Ganimede. (SCF6514)   (Magnum Photos)
The temple of Olympian Zeus. Archaeologists excavating a site on a mountain-top nearby found evidence that a god pre-dating Zeus had been worshipped there.
The temple of Olympian Zeus. Archaeologists excavating a site on a mountain-top nearby found evidence that a god pre-dating Zeus had been worshipped there.   ((c) jtstewart)
Temple of Olympian Zeus
Temple of Olympian Zeus   ((c) jtstewart)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Man May Have Sailed the Seas 130K Years Ago

Atlantis-like City Mapped Off Greek Coast

Skeleton Hints at Cleopatra's African Heritage

Archaeologists Unearth Ancient Gold Wreath

1780 British Warship Found


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne