Ancient Sikyon - 2017

Ancient Sikyon. Zoe Spyranti (Ephorate of Antiquities of Corinth) and Athanasios Tsiogkas (Ephorate of Antiquities of Corinth) report the following:

Rescue excavations at Ancient Sicyon for the construction of the new Olympia Odos highway revealed part of the Classical city and provided the opportunity to ascertain typical features of the Sikyonian house. Of the eight houses that were partially excavated, many feature an andron, or room for hosting private symposia. The andron is the most lavishly decorated room in the house, usually with a pebble mosaic floor, surrounded by a raised platform for dining couches. The door of the andron is placed off-centre to maximize space and ensure privacy during the symposium. Pebble mosaic floors stand out in Classical Greek houses, and Sikyon is no exception. Sikyonian floors are of excellent manufacture, depicting animals, mythological creatures, and vegetal motifs equal in quality to those found in other important cities of this period, such as Olynthus and Eretria. The quality and sophistication of the newly discovered floors suggest the existence of a local workshop. Motifs created by famous artists who lived in the city during the 4th century BC may have served as a source of inspiration.