AIPEIA - 2008

Aipeia, Panagitsa (anc. Thouria). The ΛΗ’ΕΠΚΑ reports the discovery of a retaining wall on the western slopes of the Hellinikon hill, and of many architectural members reused in the neighbouring small chapel of the Panagia. Subsequent excavation revealed two retaining walls and a monumental, probably public, building of the Classical period (fig. 1) on the terrace created. The building was oriented east-west, built of isodomic dress limestone masonry (fig. 2), and was destroyed by fire (a thick ash layer was found beneath the roof collapse). A single burnt terracotta relief plaque depicting an armed Athena is the sole indication that the building may have been a temple. The second, north-south, retaining wall, built in careful isodomic masonry (fig. 3), has the remains of steps to the upper terrace and the monumental building at its north end (fig. 4). Part of an ionic colonnade was found on the lower terrace with three columns and a door jamb in situ, as well as a doric building with the floor preserved within which a stone ‘treasure box’ was found in situ.

North of the acropolis, the site of the city cemetery, a funerary monument contained three funerary receptacles with Early Hellenistic grave goods, noting in particular an exaleiptron with relief decoration (fig. 5).