KEPHALA - Skopela - 2006
Informations Générales
Numéro de la notice
2854
Année de l'opération
2006
Chronologie
Mots-clés
Nature de l'opération
Institution(s)
Localisation
Toponyme
Skopela
Skopela
Notices et opérations liées
2006
Description
Kephala, Skopela. N. Panagiotakis, A. Dipla and M. Panagiotaki report the discovery of a possible sanctuary on a hilltop between the Patsidianos and Ai Giannis (Chourmalis) streams, overlooking the coast from the ridge of Rodia to near Chersonissos. A probable Bronze Age watch or signal post was also located on the hill.
The foundations of an impressive structure, oriented northeast-southwest, are preserved on the highest part of the hill, where a platform slopes down to the north, west and south. The massive foundations of the west wall are 52m long, and there are preserved traces of two more stepped walls defining the platform at the north and south. The east side is defined by bedrock outcrops. On the hillside below, massive wall foundations, also running north-south, enclosed a large, almost rectangular area. The complex is interpreted as a sanctuary, with a temple on the hill top and a temenos wall below. Archaic to Hellenistic pottery found mostly within the ‘temple’ area includes very high quality pieces.
It difficult to identify the sanctuary with any certainty in Classical or later literature. Early travellers did not note the remains, suggesting that the temple was long reduced to its foundations. Pausanias (3.18.4) mentions a temple of Artemis, and Strabo (10.479.14) refers to the sanctuary of Britomartis at Chersonissos (Artemis-Britomartis was identified with Chersonissos, where she had a wooden xoanon). An inscription found at Fortetsa by N. Platon refers to a sanctuary of Artemis Skopelitis, and it is suggested that this may be the sanctuary at Kephala. Supporting this conclusion are: the impressive remains indicating an important sanctuary; the sanctuary’s border location at the boundaries of Knossos, Lyktos, and Chersonissos and near Eltinea and Lykastos (at modern Astritsi); the dominant location which fits the epithet Skopelitis (noting the proximity, 3km to the southwest, of the village of Skopela, a name mentioned in all Venetian and Ottoman censuses which may have survived from antiquity). The sanctuary of Zeus Thenata at Amnissos, associated by Platon with the sanctuary of Zeus and mentioned together with Artemis Skopelitis in the Fortetsa inscription, lies a little to the northwest of the Kephala sanctuary.
The sanctuary may have belonged to Knossos (the inscription was found near to that city-state), but it is more likely to have belonged to Chersonissos with its close association with Artemis. It was likely destroyed in the second century BC due to political or religious rivalry. If it belonged to Chersonissos, Knossos may have been responsible for the destruction and the Fortetsa inscription may have been loot. Lime kilns were found below Kephala.
Auteur de la notice
Don EVELY
Références bibliographiques
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
2012-09-26 00:00:00
Dernière modification
2023-12-11 09:00:06