The sanctuary of Despoina at Lykosoura: a Megalopolitan creation?

Pausanias states that the most important Parrhasian sanctuaries were duplicated in Megalopolis in the aftermath of its creation in the 4th century B.C. A noteworthy exception is the sanctuary of Despoina at Lykosoura, which was very ancient according to the author. However, the absence of epigraphical or literary evidence concerning Lykosoura and predating the synoecism and the very limited archaeological material dating to the Archaic and Classical periods suggest that it was the site of a minor cult before the synoecism. The presence of Despoina is not attested before, and it is possible that the cult of the goddess was only developed by Megalopolis, which associated to it several other Arcadian deities and gave it an ancient and local flavour, in order to assert its position as the new cult-centre of Arcadia. Similarly, the sanctuary of Demeter Eleusinia at Basilis may have only been created or developed by Megalopolis, despite its alleged antiquity. This phenomenon finds its closest parallel in the sanctuary of Andania, controlled by the city of Messene. The presence of Demeter and deities associated with her in these sanctuaries, as well as the existence of mysteries, may reflect the growing influence of the sanctuary of Eleusis during the Hellenistic period.