Sparta - 54 Orthias Artemidos Street - 2010

Sparta - 54 Orthias Artemidos Street (O.T. 115, property of P. Stavropoulou). Maria Tsouli (Ε’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports that the property is located SE of the Acropolis of Ancient Sparta. The salvage excavation brought to light partially preserved architectural remains and finds in the entirety of the plot, mainly of the Late Roman period (Fig. 1,2).

Three buildings (Building 1-3) were discovered, with Building 1 being located at the centre of the S part of the property. Room 4 , in the corner of which a square structure was discovered (Fig. 3), was the most important space of the building. The discovery of a multitude of votive offerings above and around the structure, led to the belief that the structure was probably related to worship. In Room 1, a well containing Roman and Late Roman pottery was excavated. Late Roman pottery was found in the destruction layer of the room as well, along with earlier types of Roman pottery and a coin of Emperor Licinius (308-324 AD), a terminus post quem for the destruction period of the building. Under the destruction layer and on top of the natural ground, a coin of Emperor Gallienus (253-267 AD) and a bronze coin produced during the time of Lycurgus (43-31 BC) were also unearthed. Even though its purpose is not certain, it is suggested that Building 1 was of domestic/settlement use, based on the finds (pottery for use, loom weights etc.). The foundations of Building 2 were discovered E of the S part of the plot, where more Late Roman pottery was collected. This building was also of domestic/settlement use and its extension has been excavated at the neighbouring plot of S. Varzakakou.

At the N part of the property, part of a large built sewerage pipe (Fig. 3) was present. North of the pipe, the corner of a building/structure made of large blocks of limestone was discovered. Parts of this building were later used for the construction of the aforementioned pipe. Another smaller pipe which contained Late Roman and Late Hellenistic pottery and was connected to the main sewerage pipe was detected NW of the large structure.

At the E part of the property, another building complex of domestic/settlement use (Building 3) was investigated (Fig. 2). A coin of Emperor Constantine II (337-361 AD) was discovered at the upper layers of the building, providing evidence about the last period that it was used. Based on the pottery and two intact lamps, these remains also date to the Late Roman period. In Room 15, a coin dating to 48-40 BC was collected and was useful for the identification of the period the complex was first used. In Room 13, a partially preserved clay statue of Dionysus was located (Fig. 4), along with a significant amount of figurines and Late Roman pottery. It is possible that these finds were related to the structure of Building 1 and that a sanctuary where Dionysus was worshipped existed in the investigated area, which is nearby two other sanctuaries dedicated to the same god. Based on the architectural characteristics of the buildings, the finds, and the absence of traits of public sanctuaries, such as built altars, inscriptions on stones etc., the buildings at this property were identified as a domestic sanctuary instead.

During 2008, the antiquities at the N and S part of the plot were backfilled, while those at the centre and E part were taken apart.

[Entry created by C. Koureta]