Temple of Ancestral Apollo
The temple of Ancestral (Patrôos)
Apollo had both religious and civic significance
for the Athenians. The cult of Ancestral Apollo (along with that
of Zeus of the Courtyard) was one of those associated with the admission
to a phratry. Membership in a phratry (a social group connected
with a certain locality) was essential to achieving citizenship.
If a person could not prove legitimacy of birth, he could not be admitted
to a phratry and therefore could not achieve citizen status.
This temple is located just south of the Stoa
of Zeus Eleutherios and contained a huge statue
of Apollo dressed in musician's robes.
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(The Athenian Agora).
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(Political Life).