PRAISOS - 2006
Informations Générales
Numéro de la notice
1795
Année de l'opération
2006
Chronologie
Mots-clés
Nature de l'opération
Institution(s)
Localisation
Toponyme
Nea Praisos, Vaveloi
Nea Praisos, Vaveloi
Notices et opérations liées
Description
Praisos shrine. Ch. Sophianou (ΚΔ' ΕΠΚΑ) reports on rescue excavation conducted on Acropolis A (Fig. 1) in 2005-2006. A landslip following a wildfire revealed wall traces close to the area of the underground chamber explored in 1996. Work in 2005 revealed a large room (7m x 4.5m), partly dug into the bedrock and integrated with a large wall previously surveyed. This room 1 (Fig. 2) had two entrances at the west and one to the north (leading to the chamber). A thick destruction layer of tiles and building debris lay over eight large Archaic pithoi (Fig. 3) and an amphora. At the north was a clay model of a seated female (Fig. 4) with other female figurines nearby. A hoard of 22 silver coins, mostly Hellenistic, was retrieved from the floor (with hints of cloth, perhaps a bag), as were jugs, amphoriskoi, cups, braziers (Fig. 5), lamps and other vases, loomweights and metal items. Scattered about the floor were the bones of a large animal, perhaps an ox. In 2006, room 2 (Fig. 6) (5.5m x 2.15m) was discovered in front of the chamber opening. Similar finds were made, including a lead astragalos, salt-cellar and braziers (Fig. 7). The last were stacked on a rock-cut bench and in corners, along with a Rhodian Hellenistic silver coin. Recleaning of the underground chamber (4.1m x 2.1m x 1.92m high) revealed that it was painted red and equipped with three niches; nails in the walls and roof were perhaps to hang offerings. Traces of the inward opening doors are visible as wear on the floor. Holes in the floor at this entrance were perhaps connected to scaffolding and supports for some external roofing (as many tile fragments attest). The complex is identified as a shrine to a female deity with chthonic attributes, who was worshipped at night and with aspects of mysteries. Discussion of the 0.25m high clay model (Fig. 8) of the seated personage centres on her identification as Rhea/Cybele, perhaps derived from an earlier Potnia Theron. The Phrygian cap and bird in her left hand are attributes not normally seen in Greece. The figurine is dated to the fifth century BC, with the facial modeling recalling Archaic representations.
Auteur de la notice
Don EVELY
Références bibliographiques
AEK 1 (2010), 179-87
Légende graphique :
localisation de la fouille/de l'opération
localisation du toponyme
polygone du toponyme Chronique
Fonctionnalités de la carte :
sélectionner un autre fond de plan
se rapprocher ou s'éloigner de la zone
afficher la carte en plein écran
Date de création
2011-02-08 00:00:00
Dernière modification
2023-10-06 10:54:45
Figure(s)
Fig. 1/ Acropolis A.
Fig. 2/ Room 1 during excavation.
Fig. 3/ Pithoi in situ.
Fig. 4/ Figurine of Cybele.
Fig. 5/ Braziers.
Fig. 6/ Room 2 and the facade of the chamber.
Fig. 7/ The brazier with 'plastic' heads.
Fig. 8/ 'Rhea/Cybele' figurine.