During the installation of the new water pipe system in Eretria, a significant archaeological discovery was made: a pebble mosaic dating from the late Classical period, specifically from the mid-4th century B.C.
The discovery took place in the urban core of the ancient city of Eretria, near the sanctuary of Apollo Daphnephoros, the “Neighborhood of Panathenaic Amphoras”, and the “House of Mosaics”, areas where 4th-century B.C. residences adorned with pebble mosaics had previously been found.
The excavation revealed a square-shaped room with internal dimensions of 3.50 x 3.55 meters, bordered to the south and east by walls. However, it was not possible to uncover the north and west walls due to the limited excavation area and the presence of a municipal road.
Inside this room, a natural white pebble mosaic was found, featuring a central medallion 1.13 meters in diameter depicting two satyrs. These satyrs are shown as male figures with animal characteristics (tail, horns, pointed ears). One of them, younger, plays a double aulos (a type of double flute), while the other, older and bearded, appears to be dancing to the music.
Facial and body details were executed with pebbles of different colors (white, black, red, yellow), using yellow pebbles to depict the hair, adding realism and vitality to the figures.
On the north, east, and west sides of the room, an elevated mortar floor was found, 0.935 meters wide and approximately 2-3 centimeters high. This construction was used for placing beds or triclinia, a common element in houses of that era in Eretria, suggesting that this space was an andron, a room used for banquets and symposiums.
The depiction of satyrs, who are in a festive mood, enjoying themselves to the sound of music, conceptually relates to the use of the space, which was intended for celebrations held in the house.
After being abandoned in the early Christian centuries (5th-6th centuries A.D.), the space was reused as a cemetery. This is deduced from the identification of five tombs (four covered with tiles and one simple pit) excavated within the fill of the room, which in some cases penetrated and altered the floor. Additionally, five more tombs (four covered with tiles and one simple pit) from the same period were found to the south (outside) of the room.
After completing the archaeological investigation and conducting the first evaluation of the data, it was concluded that the house and the pebble mosaic probably date from after the mid-4th century B.C. This period is characterized by the emergence of luxurious private residences in ancient Eretria, following the well-known architectural style of the central peristyle courtyard, around which the family’s private spaces and public areas for official events and symposiums were organized. Similar mosaics from the “House of Mosaics” have been dated around 360-350 B.C.
The Central Greece Monuments Council unanimously decided on the temporary burial of the mosaic for its protection and the modification of the water pipe route so as not to affect the finding and to highlight it in the future.
The Ephorate of Antiquities of Euboea, considering the excellent state of preservation of the pebble mosaic and the uniqueness of the central medallion’s representation, proceeded to carry out immediate stabilization and cleaning work by the Agency’s Conservators. At the same time, an initiative has been undertaken to integrate this new archaeological ensemble into the “Study for the Unification of the Monuments of the Archaeological Site of Eretria”, financed by the “Central Greece 2014-2020” program and to be examined by the Central Archaeological Council of Greece.
SOURCES
- Share this article:
Discover more from LBV Magazine English Edition
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
The Cadastre of Orange, the Roman Map Showing How Conquered Land Was Divided Among Settlers
The Cadastre of Orange is an ancient plan that shows the Roman centuriations (land distributions) that extended across the territory of the colony of Arausio (modern-day Orange in France) in…
How Were Mirrors Made in Ancient Egypt? An Analysis Reveals the Use of Alloys That Produced Golden or Silver Reflections
The mirrors of ancient Egypt have been the subject of great attention for their cultural importance and their connection to religious beliefs. However, their manufacturing process has not been thoroughly…
How the Bishop of the Diocese of Orlando Became the Bishop of the Moon
The year 2019 marked the 50th anniversary of Man’s landing on the Moon. It was on July 21, 1969, when Commander Neil Armstrong stepped onto the surface where the Eagle,…
The Enigmatic Cones Worn by the Ancient Egyptians on Their Heads
Some readers, when looking closely at the Egyptian paintings in the tomb of the scribe Nebamun, might be surprised by the strange shapes crowning the figures’ heads. It may seem…
Rihonor de Castilla, the Village that is Half Spanish and Half Portuguese
Border towns and territories often have a turbulent history, being the object of both military and political confrontations over their possession, and frequently changing hands. When it comes to regions,…
Marcus Antonius Pallas, the Treasurer of Two Roman Emperors Who Became Rich Without Ever Embezzling Public Funds
Callistus, Terentius, Hyginus, Narcissus, Asiaticus, Neophytus, Phaon, Pallas… What do these names of historical figures from Ancient Rome have in common? All of them were freedmen, that is, slaves freed…
Punic Tophets Did Not House Sacrifices, They Were Sacred Spaces for Children Who Died of Natural Causes, Researchers Discovered
An international team of researchers has conducted a thorough study of the cremated remains of infants and children found in the tophet of Zita, Tunisia, revealing a complex history of…
Thorin, the World’s Loneliest Neanderthal, Belonged to a Lineage Isolated for Over 50,000 Years
A fossilized Neanderthal, discovered in a cave system in the Rhône Valley, France, has been identified as belonging to an ancient and previously unknown lineage that split from other known…
The Tired Light Theory and James Webb Telescope Observations Challenge the Validity of the Big Bang
A recent study by an engineer from Kansas State University offers new observational support for a century-old theory that directly challenges the validity of the Big Bang theory. Lior Shamir,…
Enigmatic Rock-Cut Architecture of Zoroastrian Origin Discovered in Madagascar
An international team of researchers has made a surprising archaeological discovery in the heart of Madagascar that could rewrite the history of the island’s settlement and its connections with distant…
The Zagros Mountains were the place where Neanderthals and modern humans interbred
An international team of researchers has used innovative ecological modeling techniques to identify, for the first time, the possible geographical areas where Neanderthals and anatomically modern humans might have encountered…
Iron Was The First and Only Metal of Life’s Origin
Life as we know it relies on small quantities of metals to perform essential biological functions like breathing, DNA transcription, and energy conversion. Since the earliest forms of life floated…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.