They honoured the saviour (Soter) of a danger and could be dedicated to all the gods or only one (mainly Zeus Soterios).
Heroic men regarded as deliverers were sometimes associated to the divinities, e.g. Aratus at Sicyon.
The most famous Soteria in antiquity were those held at Delphi.
[1] They had been instituted to commemorate the victory over the Celt invader Brennus (279 BC).
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