ATHENS - Monastiraki - 2002

General Information

Record ID

2163

Activity Date

2002

Chronology

Antiquity - Hellenistic - Roman

Byzantine period

Key-words

Pipe/drain - Well - Lamp - Numismatics - Architectural revetments - Sculpture - Metal - Hydraulic installation

Type of Operation

Excavation - Rescue excavation

Institution

Γ' Εφορεία Προϊστορικών και Κλασικών Αρχαιοτήτων (Γ' ΕΠΚΑ)

Localisation

Toponym
Athens Centre (Plaka, Monastiraki), Athènes Centre

Linked Record

2002

Report

Syntagma-Asomaton squares (metro tunnel). O. Zachariadou (Γ’ ΕΠΚΑ) reports on excavations conducted between September 1999 to October 2002 for the metro line linking Syntagma and Asomaton squares at a depth of 20-30m. 120 wells were discovered, many filled with antiquities, mostly dating to the Roman-Late Roman and Byzantine periods (Fig. 1). The opening of so many wells in this area indicates the exploitation of groundwater from the Eridanos River. The location of most of these wells is reported as follows:

Between Syntagma and Nikis Street two channels and six wells were found (wells 1, 2, and 5 contained Roman pottery and marble funerary members).

Between Ermou and Syntagma were 16 wells and a channel. Wells 21, 24, 42, and 57 produced Roman and Late Roman pottery (oinochoes, prochoes, amphorae, Fig. 2), while 32, 37, and 38 contained Hellenistic pottery, lead and bronze vessels, and marble funerary members.

The section from Ermou to Monastiraki contained 41 wells and two channels. Wells 16, 17, 20, 33, 43, 44, 50, 52, 53, 55, 57, 58, 61, 63, 64, 65, 78, 82, 90, and 95 produced much Roman, Late Roman and Byzantine pottery, bronze and lead vessels, lamps, marble architectural members, sculpture and parts of funerary monuments. Wells 60 and 96 contained earlier finds: Hellenistic skyphoi, fourth–third century lamps and fragments of sixth-century hydriae.

The section of the tunnel around Monastiraki station produced eight wells and a pit containing many Roman amphorae. Wells 10 and 36 contained Roman pottery, bronze vessels, utensils, and coins. Investigation of well 10 uncovered 81 large clay rings with incised lines, perhaps workshop equipment, while well 56 contained four Byzantine pots and a marble phiale.

The section from Monastiraki to Milaouli Street produced six wells, of which 102 was filled with Late Classical - Late Roman pottery.

From Plateia Asomaton towards Monastiraki were 26 wells: 1, 12, 13, 18 and 83 contained Late Classical – Early Hellenistic pottery, lamps and figurines, while Roman-Late Roman finds were recovered from wells 47, 86, and 97.

In the section from Plateia Asomaton to Aigaleo, 14 wells were investigated: 5, 62, 84, and 88 produced Late Classical-Early Hellenistic finds, 54 and 89 were in use during the Roman-Late Roman periods, and 42 contained bronze vessels.

Author

Robert PITT

Bibliographic reference(s)

AD 56-59 (2001-2004) Chr., 218-219.