The Tonaia and Samian Identity

The Tonaia ritual on Samos, traditionally interpreted as a pre-marriage or New Year's ceremony, is revealed to reflect complex social and cultural dynamics. This study argues that the ritual mediates tensions between autochthonous origins, Argive ancestry, and Karian inclusion, using mythological narratives and historical accounts to recontextualize its significance. The ritual's performance—binding and then freeing Hera’s cult image—symbolizes themes of theft, repatriation, and marginalization, offering a nuanced understanding of Samian identity and cultural integration in the ancient Mediterranean.

Beck-Schachter, A. (2019). The Tonaia and Samian Identity. Religious Convergence in the Ancient Mediterranean, 437–453. https://doi.org/10.5913/2019167.ch21