 Archaeological
Site of Episkopi at Tegea.
Part
of the Ancient theatre, remains of the portico of the ancient Agora and
two early Christian Basilicas were revealed at excavations conducted by
French Archaeologists, in the site of Episkopi at Tegea during the last
century. The rest of the monuments were uncovered during recent excavations
by Dr. Th. Spyropoulos.
The
two early Christian Basilicas revealed by the French Prof. Berard, were
destroyed except for a part of the so called Basilica of Thyrsos, which
Anastasios Orlandos published in 1953 in the "Bulletin of Byzantine and
Christian Monuments of Greece", which preserved mosaic floor with representation
of the rivers of Edem and the months of the year. The new excavations,
which were sponsored by the foundation "Viohalko-N. Stasinopoulos" were
conducted during the years 1982-1995.
The
most important monuments of the site are:
-
The ancient
theatre of Hellenistic date.
-
Parts
of the Ancient Agora of Tegea, dated to Hellenistic and Roman period.
-
Early
Christian Basilica (5th-6th century A.D.).
-
Parts
of Byzantine settlement (10th-13th century A.D.)
Archaeological
Site of Ancient Mantineia
The
town of ancient Mantineia with its walls, towers, agora, theatre and the
rest public buildings, was founded at the plain of Mantineia in Geometric
and Archaic period, while in pehistoric times it was situated on the acropolis
"Gortsouli". There, prehistoric structures and quite important sanctuaries
of historic times, have been revealed. In Roman period the site was called
"Antigoneia".
Today
the site in its full extent has been officially recognised state property
and archaeological area.
Systematic
excavations at Mantineia were conducted by the French Archaeological School
At Athens, at the beginning of the century. They revealed the ancient theatre,
dated to the end of the 4th century B.C., the Bouleuterion and the Agora
of Hellenistic and Roman date. Quite recently, excavations conducted by
the Greek Archaeological Service under the direction of Dr. Th. Karagiorga
and Dr. Th. Spyropoulos on the sites of "Gortsouli" and " Tripehi", brought
into light sanctuaries of historic period.
The
most important monuments of the site are:
-
The ancient
theatre of Early Hellenistic date (4th/3d century B.C.).
-
The Bouleuterion
-
Remains
of the ancient Agora with sanctuaries of Podaris.
-
Baths
of Roman date.
Malliaropouleion
Municipal Theatre
A
building with many neoclassical elements, erected at the beginning of this
century. It is an interesting example of the architecture of that time.
The building has been restored to some extent and will serve as the Municipal
Theatre of Tripolis.
The
sanctuary of Alea Athena at Tegea.
In
its current form, the sanctuary of Alea Athena, and especially its temple
is dated to the first half of the 4th century B. C. and it was executed
by the famous Parian sculptor and architect, Skopas. The temple was the
largest in Peloponnese after the the one of Olympian Zeus in Olympia. Under
the temple, were found remains of an earlier building, probably also a
temple, which is dated to the Archaic period.
The
excavations on the site were begun at the end of the last century and continued
with intervals until 1930. They were firstly conducted by the German Archaeological
Institute at Athens and afterwards by the French Archaeological School
at Athens. At that time, the temple of Alea Athena and remains of an Early
Christian Basilica were uncovered. The excavation that started again in
1990, at the area of the temple and its surrounding buildings are conducted
by the Norwegian Archaeological Institute and the 5th Ephorate of Prehistoric
and Classical Antiquities.
The
most important monument of the site is the temple of Alea Athena and some
of its additional buildings. |
