Abstract
This article more closely examines the votive behavior of ancient Greek society, with a focus on the meaningful and status-regulating function of votives in Greek sanctuaries. In addition to serving as places of worship, the Greek sanctuaries were also sites with a community-building, political function. The tripod, a traditional votive offering, demonstrates the status-building character of this institution: the precious vessels served as honorary gifts in the Homeric exchange among members of the upper class, and until the seventh century BC remained the medium of representing individual generosity in the sanctuaries. This context of the gift exchange between humans and gods makes the dedications from foreign rulers to Greek sanctuaries comprehensible.