Temple of Apollo in Despotiko
As you already know I am back. As it is I wish I wasn't.
But I'll have to live with it! I call our chief archaeologist every day to ask how things are in excavation and heard my colleges squeeeing and cheering. Just today they found a new wall and started digging lower.
But to understand where I was, I'll have to explain a few things about the place, which is not that difficult for me considering that I did all the guiding of tourists who came to Despotiko. (Chief used to scream " Show them around fast and get your fine butt here and keep digging!" The faster I managed was 30 min! But then again Chief has a sense of time that no man posses in this world!)
So Despotiko is a tiny island opposite Antiparos which is a small island opposite Paros. The whole island of Despotiko is an archaeological area with buildings and tombs dated to prehistoric years. But the period of glory was between 6th and 5th century B.C. In the north side of the island excavation brought in light a temple dedicated to Apollo and Artemis (or Diana). The temple dates to 700-600 B.C as the most acient find dates to 680 B.C. There are inscription in pieces of finds, statuettes, statues of kouri (human size statues), tiles, rings, points of arrows and a lot other stuff that give a specific chronology.
During the classic years (4th century B.C) an inscription of "Estias Isthmias" a dedication to Goddess Estia Isthmia who protected sailors and seamen gave the conclution that there has to be an isthmus between Despotiko and Antiparos in acient times.
There is a blank period between classic years and medival period. Maybe the temple was deserted during roman period to be reused in medival (1400 A.C) In medival period the temple had a domestic use. Parts of the acient temple and statues were used as building material. Statues were used as hinges, doors were used as floor, etc.
But the most important thing is that this temple is not mentioned in any testimony or resource. Thus there is a mistery around this temple. It is a very intriguing case for the historians.
This is where I was! Interesting huh?! And this is not done yet! This excavation will take years and years as there are so many buildings to be excavated. While making a survey we detected at least 10 walls and a bastion!
This was my summer heaven and right now I feel as if I came back to hell! Hell it is in truth in Athens these days. Tmperature reached 43 C. The heat is unbearable and I feel my brain melted! My exam period starts in July 3rd and ends in July 17th! I chose to study only three courses which I may pass or at least there are more chanses. After that I'll have no more brain at all! It will be like cream butter out of the fridge!
So that's all my news folks! For you who are waiting for icons it will take some time till I post new bunches. Right now I am studing "The construction of Churches in Byzantium" which is uncomfortably boring!!!
That's for now... ta!
Goodnight and Good Luck!
~ViVe
But I'll have to live with it! I call our chief archaeologist every day to ask how things are in excavation and heard my colleges squeeeing and cheering. Just today they found a new wall and started digging lower.
But to understand where I was, I'll have to explain a few things about the place, which is not that difficult for me considering that I did all the guiding of tourists who came to Despotiko. (Chief used to scream " Show them around fast and get your fine butt here and keep digging!" The faster I managed was 30 min! But then again Chief has a sense of time that no man posses in this world!)
So Despotiko is a tiny island opposite Antiparos which is a small island opposite Paros. The whole island of Despotiko is an archaeological area with buildings and tombs dated to prehistoric years. But the period of glory was between 6th and 5th century B.C. In the north side of the island excavation brought in light a temple dedicated to Apollo and Artemis (or Diana). The temple dates to 700-600 B.C as the most acient find dates to 680 B.C. There are inscription in pieces of finds, statuettes, statues of kouri (human size statues), tiles, rings, points of arrows and a lot other stuff that give a specific chronology.
During the classic years (4th century B.C) an inscription of "Estias Isthmias" a dedication to Goddess Estia Isthmia who protected sailors and seamen gave the conclution that there has to be an isthmus between Despotiko and Antiparos in acient times.
There is a blank period between classic years and medival period. Maybe the temple was deserted during roman period to be reused in medival (1400 A.C) In medival period the temple had a domestic use. Parts of the acient temple and statues were used as building material. Statues were used as hinges, doors were used as floor, etc.
But the most important thing is that this temple is not mentioned in any testimony or resource. Thus there is a mistery around this temple. It is a very intriguing case for the historians.
This is where I was! Interesting huh?! And this is not done yet! This excavation will take years and years as there are so many buildings to be excavated. While making a survey we detected at least 10 walls and a bastion!
This was my summer heaven and right now I feel as if I came back to hell! Hell it is in truth in Athens these days. Tmperature reached 43 C. The heat is unbearable and I feel my brain melted! My exam period starts in July 3rd and ends in July 17th! I chose to study only three courses which I may pass or at least there are more chanses. After that I'll have no more brain at all! It will be like cream butter out of the fridge!
So that's all my news folks! For you who are waiting for icons it will take some time till I post new bunches. Right now I am studing "The construction of Churches in Byzantium" which is uncomfortably boring!!!
That's for now... ta!
Goodnight and Good Luck!
~ViVe