Larissa: The foundations of the ancient temple of Athena Poliados in Bezesteni have been found – See photos

May 17, 2022

Robert

Important revelations and findings with the most important foundations (stereo) ancient templeprobably of the temple known from the inscriptions of Athena Poliadosbrought the work of the Ephorate of Antiquities to Bezesteniin the context of the project of the Municipality of Larissa for the “Restoration – Reuse of the Bezesteni building”.

This is an important find of archaeologists who confirm the worship of Athena in ancient Larissa, and in the area of the citadel of the city, on the present hill of the Fortress.

According to the Ephorate of Antiquities of Larissa The cult of Athena on the hill was established from the archaic period, however the stereovat must belong to a temple of Roman or Hellenistic times. This particular date is supported by a marble statue of Athena, which was found built as a building material in the foundations of the western pillar of Bezesteni. The statue of Athena dates back to the Hadrian period (117-138 AD) and is one of the best copies of the so-called Ince type, whose patterns are traced to original classical creations of the 5th century. e.g.

The mayor of Larissa, Apostolos Kalogiannis, was in Bezesteni in the morningwhere he met with the head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Larissa Mr. Stavroula Sdrolia and officials of the Ephorate, who are involved in the project.

Mrs. Sdrolia and the executives of the Ephorate informed the mayor and the executives of the Municipality of Larissa about the findings in the area. It was agreed at the meeting that the Municipality and the Ephorate, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, will continue to work harmoniously in order to find the best solution for the protection of the recently found important antiquities, combined with the need to complete the project in Bezesteni, even if modification is needed. of the approved study.

This was also pointed out by Ms. Sdrolia and Mr. Kalogiannis in their relevant statements.

In particular, Ms. Sdrolia stressed that we are pleased to announce that significant finds and many interesting aspects of the city’s history, from the ancient, Roman and Ottoman periods, have been identified. The most important find concerns the foundations of a large building, which probably concerns the ancient temple of Athena, which according to ancient writers was the most important building of the acropolis of Larissa.

For his part, the mayor of Larissa after emphasizing that the project of restoration of Bezesteni was included by the Municipality of Larissa for funding in the NSRF in order to complete and give for reuse another emblematic building on the hill of the Fortress.

It is important that the Ephorate of Antiquities, which is involved in the project, has found itself in front of important findings, such as those mentioned by Mrs. Rolls, which must be highlighted. In collaboration with the Ephorate of Antiquities, we will find the appropriate way for the findings to be highlighted and the project in Bezesteni to be completed. The keywords are collaborations and synergies “concluded A. Kalogiannis.

In detail, in a relevant information note of the Ephorate to the Ministry of Culture for the findings in Bezesteni, the following are mentioned, among others:

«Bezesteni of Larissa is built on the top of the hill “of the Fortress”, which was the acropolis of the ancient and Byzantine city. It is located in the immediate vicinity of the basilica of St. Achilles and the first ancient theater and together they form the so-called archaeological site of the Fortress. Bezesteni is the large covered market, built by the Ottomans between 1484-1506.

The restoration of Bezesteni of Larissa was included as a sub-project in the Project “Restoration – Reuse of the building of Bezesteni” and is funded by the Operational Program “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation” 2014-2020 “. The works started on 12-5-2020 and according to the current schedule they end on 12-6-2022.

The work of the Ephorate includes the removal of the embankment inside the building through the excavation method, the maintenance and restoration of the shell and the excavation in the open space immediately west of the monument, where according to the study the construction of an underground auxiliary building is located. The first two works have been completed and the third is in progress.

In the whole area of the sandpit, which has dimensions of 21 × 13m. and required foundation depth of about 3.70-4m. Ancient remains have been found in successive phases. Among others, sections of cobblestones were discovered in two overlapping layers leading from the west to Bezesteni, a layer of tombs of the first half of the 14th century, building remains of Ottoman, Late Byzantine and Middle Byzantine eras such as a small workshop probably ceramics, coins, metal objects, architectural members etc.

In the eastern half of the dug, a strong construction was revealed, which was part of the stereotype of an ancient temple, which we consider to be identical with the temple of Athena Poliados known from the inscriptions..

It is made of large slate slabs in overlapping layers and is maintained at a height of about 80cm. The worship of Athena on the hill has been established since the archaic period, however the stereotype must belong to a temple of Roman or Hellenistic times.

This particular date is reinforced by a marble statue of Athena, which was found embedded as building material in the foundations of the western pillar of Bezesteni. This dates back to the Hadrian period (117-138) and is one of the best copies of the so-called Ince type, the patterns of which are traced to original classical creations of the 5th c. e.g.

Evidence for the existence of a temple building of the archaic – early classical times are the architectural members made of sandstone material that were discovered during the excavation, used as a spolia in later buildings.

Also, a semicircular wall 1.10m wide has been identified. which in places goes under the stereotype of the temple and must correspond to an older precinct of the sanctuary.

The excavation is in progress.

Upon completion and full documentation of the findings, a detailed report will be submitted.

“Our Ephorate is in collaboration with the Municipality of Larissa, in order to find the best solution for the protection of the recently found important antiquities, which will be submitted to the competent Directorates of the Ministry of Culture in the context of modifying the approved study, if required.”

At the autopsy in Bezesteni, Ap. Kalogiannis was accompanied by the Deputy Mayor of Technical Works, Mr. G. Soultis, Head of the Technical Services Department Mr. Th. Patsiouras and the executive of the service Mr. Ast. Papaioannou.