Die Kultbildgruppe im Heiligtum der Despoina zu Lykosura

The original preserved monumental Hellenistic cult group in the sanctuary of the goddess Despoina in Lycosura is of high importance for the archaeological research. Pausanias is considered as the only literary source about the cult group, which was created by the artist Damophon and was located in the dark cella of the temple. The work is preserved in a highly fragmentary way, so there are various reconstruction proposals. The author's aim is to present a new reconstruction of the group based on the literary and monetary sources, as well as on a rich photographic documentation. Questions of religious and cultural history of the group are also part of this study.