Baptistery
Christian Graves
Demeter Temple
Dedication Statue
Isis Temple

The content on this website is maintained by Robert Myallis, pastor at Zion's Lutheran Church, of Jonestown, PA. 

The photos were taken by Emily Myallis, a diaconal minister in the ELCA who also serves at Zion's Lutheran.

This website and travel to Greece was made possible by a grant from the Fund for Theological Education, which provides grants to assist the education and formation of Christian  leaders from numerous denominations.

Bible quotes are taken from the New Revised Standard Version, unless cites otherwise.

The above photo of Greece comes from NASA; The icon of Saint Paul comes from George Mitrevski's website. 

 

 

Isis Temple

This is the temple of Isis, an Egyptian goddess. Here she was worshipped as the goddess of post-child birth. Early worship here was for Artemis, a Greek goddess, but Isis "took over" her worship spot.

Her annual festival in the spring was attended by many, but only those who had been initiated into her cult could stay over night at the temple. Here she would communicate with them in a dream.

How is the temple of Isis significant for understanding the world of Paul?

Isis worship indicates a few things:

1) The strong influence of Egyptian mythology and worship.

2) The beginnings of "mystery" religions, which require a rite of initiation.

3) The belief that many people held that gods could communicate through dreams.

For more on Egyptian worship, go to the Osiris Sculpture in Thessaloniki.

source:
info on Isis:  Placards at Delphi Museum, July 2006.