An Evaluation of Glass Votive Beads at the Kastabos / Hemithea Sanctuary in the Context of Healing, Childbirth, and Postpartum

Abstract

This study analyzes plano-convex glass beads unearthed during the 2022-2024 excavations at the Kastabos Sanctuary, located in the Carian Chersonesos, through a contextual and material-based approach guided by four key research questions. A total of 107 beads, primarily recovered from sacred architectural spaces such as the naiskos / stoa / abaton complex and Rock Cult Area 1, are dated mostly to the late 4th and 3rd centuries BCE. These non-perforated beads, lacking traces of wear or attachment, are interpreted not as decorative or functional items but as votive offerings. Their consistent morphology and color diversity—particularly dark blue, green, amber, and yellow—align with symbolic systems of the ancient Mediterranean, where blue was linked to healing and protection, and green and amber to fertility. The study argues that these objects formed part of a localized ritual tradition dedicated to Hemithea, a healing goddess rooted in Anatolia’s Great Goddess cults. Stratigraphic data, architectural associations, and the absence of use-related marks support this interpretation. Comparative materials from regions such as Rhodes, Crete, and Egypt—although from different periods— exhibit symbolic similarities that situate the Kastabos assemblage within broader Eastern Mediterranean religious networks. Ultimately, this research contributes understanding the continuity of votive practices and protective ritual traditions in Anatolia and provides insights into the archaeological and historical integration of local Carian beliefs within the cultural landscape of the Hellenistic period.