Arround installation works of the new Eretria single water supply pipelines, in the context of his project Municipality of Eretria “Replacement of the Water Supply Network of Eretria (remaining parts of the city)” included in the E.P. “Transport Infrastructures, Environment and Sustainable Development 2014-2020” (OPS 500157), which is monitored by specialized staff of EFA Evia (2nd sub-project), was located in the city of Eretria part of a house from the late classical period (mid 4th century BC ), which preserves a pebbled floor with a central representation of two Satyrs.

As stated in an announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the said building is located in the core of the urban fabric of the ancient city, near the sanctuary of Daphniforos Apollo, the “Quarter of the Panathenaic Amphorae” and the “House of the Mosaics”, where houses of the 4th century have been researched in the past. BC, decorated in many cases with elaborate pebbled mosaic floors.

During the excavation research, a four-sided room with an almost square plan, with internal dimensions of 3.50 m, was revealed. x 3.55m, which is defined to the south and east by walls. On the other sides (north and west) it was not possible to reveal the walls of the room, due to the limited extent of the excavation pit and the existence of the municipal road surface.

Inside the room was investigated a mosaic floor made of natural pebbles, small in size and white in color, which preserves a central medal, 1.13m in diameter, depicting Satyrs. Two male figures with animal-like features (tail, horns, pointed ears) are depicted. One is young and plays a double flute, while the other is bearded, older, and probably dancing to the music. Pebbles of various colors (white, black, red, yellow) have been used to render the features of the face or details of the body, with the most characteristic being the rendering of the hair with yellow pebbles, which lend realism and vitality to the figures of the show.

Along the north, east and west sides of the room, a raised mortar floor, 0.935m wide, was exposed. and about 2-3 centimeters high, a structure that was used to place beds or recliners, an element that is often found in residences of the same period in Eretria (West Quarter, House of Mosaics) and leads to the identification of the space with men, where gatherings were held and banquets. In fact, the performance of the Satyrs who are in a cheerful mood, enjoying themselves to the sounds of music, is also connected figuratively to the use of the space, which was intended for the celebrations that took place in the house.

After its abandonment, in the first Christian centuries (5th-6th century AD), the site was used as a cemetery, as can be deduced from the identification of five (5) tombs (4 with ceramic roofs and 1 simple pit), which had been dug inside the embankment of the room and in some cases they had intruded and disturbed the floor, as well as five (5) more tombs (4 tiled roofs and 1 simple pit) of the same period to the south (outside) of the room.

According to the same announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after the completion of the excavation research and the first assessment of the archaeological data, the house and the pebbled mosaic floor probably date after the middle of the 4th century. BC, the time when the luxurious private houses appear in ancient Eretria and follow the well-known architectural type with the central peristyle courtyard, around which are developed the private areas of the family and the public areas for official occasions and holding banquets . Similar pebble floors from the “House of the Mosaics” have been dated to around 360-350 BC.

Following the unanimous opinion of the local Council of Monuments of Central Greece according to no. 3/26-6-2024 At its meeting, it was decided to temporarily cover the floor for protection reasons and to modify the passage of the water supply pipe, so that it is not affected in any way and can be highlighted in the future.

The EFA of Evia, taking into account the excellent state of conservation of the pebbled mosaic floor and the uniqueness of the presentation of the central medal, first carried out direct fixing and cleaning work by the Service’s Conservators, while at the same time care has been taken so that this new archaeological ensemble is included to be highlighted in the “Study of the integration of the monuments of the archaeological site of Eretria”, which was prepared with funding from the E.P. “Solid Greece 2014-2020” and is to be examined by the KAS.