City and Sanctuary in Plutarch

Chapter 4 discusses Plutarch’s visits to sanctuaries in Rome, Greece, and Egypt for scholarly investigation, contemplation, and pleasure. It presents snapshots of Plutarch walking in the Delphic sanctuary or looking at the temples of Fortuna and of Jupiter Capitolinus in Rome; of Plutarch’s theoria to various festivals such as the Elaphebolia in Phocis, the Daedala in Plataea, the Pythian Games, the Isthmian Games, the Dionysia in Athens. It also highlights the festival of Eros in Thespiae (from which Plutarch and his retinue retreated to the sanctuary of the Muses on Mt. Helicon) where the story of Ismenodora and Bacchon set in the town of Thespiae provides the stimulus for philosophical discussion. The discussion shows Plutarch’s keen interest in urban sanctuaries but brings out his preference for the peace and quiet of the out-of-town sanctuaries as loci for philosophical discussion over the hustle and bustle of life in the city.