Ancient Thouria - 2011

Ancient Thouria, Panagitsa. Xeni Arapogianni (ΛΗ ΕΠΚΑ) reports on continuing excavations at this location. At the end of this season, the whole N side of Building Γ as well as the pebble floor of the pavement that runs around the outside of the building and the same kind of floor was revealed internally in the W part of the building (Fig. 1). Supplementary research on the building of the winepress (6th-7th c. AD) revealed almost completely the rectangular paved space. In the floor there are also spolia of architectural members (Fig. 2).

Building B: Ionic Stoa. This year the W part of an Ionic colonnade was revealed S of Building A (Fig. 3). At the E extreme of the colonnade there is still in situ the jamb of the entrance gate with a fallen part of the Ionic epistyle (Fig. 4). A water channel runs along the outer side of the colonnade and it is slightly concave (Fig. 5). At 2 points along the channel there are oval sediment basins. In the space between the Ionic stoa and Building Γ, the excavation uncovered a large quantity of animal bones (pigs, boars, cows, chickens, roosters, etc.) and shells that were strewn across the area.

The SW corner and the façade were discovered. In square N25 a small poorly made wall of unworked stones (SE-NW orientation) was found. At the NW extreme, a worked limestone block was found as spolia. On one of its lateral surfaces there was an ephebic list, densely inscribed, that contains the dedication of the Thourian gymnasiarch Antias to Hermes. Initial dating of the inscription is the 2nd c. BC.

In the façade of the building, 3 pedestals were found in situ and were attached to the 1st step of the crepis below the stylobate (Fig. 6). Pedestal B was found next to Pedestal A and forms the base of a limestone stele, on the front of which has a dedicatory inscription in very good condition. It states that 2 parents, Aristomenes and Philotis, dedicated the statue of their son, Philoxenos, to Asklepios and Hygeia (Fig. 7). Building Γ is, therefore, a temple dedicated to Asklepios and Hygeia.

[Entry created by E. Strazdins]