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THE AGORA OF GYTHEUM

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 October 2014

Chrysanthos Kanellopoulos  and
Eleni Zavvou
Chrysanthos Kanellopoulos*
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology and History of Art, University of Athens
Eleni Zavvou
Affiliation:
Athens Epigraphical Museum
*
[email protected]
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Abstract

The Roman ‘Agora’ of Gytheum appears to be a large compound with an interior peristyle; its width is 52 m and its length at least 61 m. Excavations have revealed the remains of the north-east corner and a portion of the west wing. The extant architectural blocks allow the reconstruction of the colonnades. Column shafts were made of local red limestone and at least some of them were crowned with lotus-and-acanthus capitals. Three different interaxial column spacings are present. A single column must have stood on each corner of the peristyle. The style of the column capital suggests a date after the year ad 100. The entablature is almost identical, in both style and dimensions, to the one found on the Captives' Facade at Corinth. The inscription on two epistyles reveals the private dedication of an exedra to theoi Sebastoi and the city. Most probably the exedra was behind the colonnaded space; the mention of theoi Sebastoi might suggest imperial cult either in the exedra alone or both in the exedra and in the entire colonnaded compound. Quite possibly, and following A. Themos' suggestion, a large part of the colonnaded compound that is conventionally termed the ‘Agora’ can be identified with the Sebasteum/Caesareum of Gytheum; this latter structure is attested in other inscriptions from the city.

Η Ρωμαϊκή Αγορά του Γυθείου

H Ρωμαϊκή ‘Αγορά’ του Γυθείου φαίνεται ότι είναι ένα μεγάλο συγκρότημα με εσωτερικό περιστύλιο. Το πλάτος είναι 62 µ. και το μήκος τουλάχιστον 71 µ. Οι ανασκαφές έχουν αποκαλύψει τα λείψανα της βορειοανατολικής γωνίας και τμήμα της δυτικής πτέρυγας. Τα υπάρχοντα αρχιτεκτονικά μέλη επιτρέπουν την γραφική αναπαράσταση των κιονοστοιχιών. Οι κορμοί των κιόνων θα ήταν κατασκευασμένοι από τοπικό ερυθρό ασβεστόλιθο και, τουλάχιστον μερικοί από αυτούς, θα έφεραν υδροχαρή κιονόκρανα. Από τα επιστύλια γίνονται γνωστά τρία διαφορετικά μεταξόνια. Στις γωνίες θα υπήρχε απλός κίονας. Το ύφος των κιονοκράνων προτείνει χρονολόγηση μετά το έτος 100 µ.Χ. Ο θριγκός είναι σχεδόν πανομοιότυπος στο ύφος και στις διαστάσεις με εκείνον στην Πρόσοψη των Αιχμαλώτων στην Κόρινθο. Η επιγραφή στα επιστύλια αποκαλύπτει την ανάθεση εξέδρας στους θεούς σεβαστούς από τον ιδιώτη Νείκανδρο. Πολύ πιθανά, η εξέδρα έστεκε πίσω από την στοά. Η αναφορά στους Θεούς Σεβαστούς θα μπορούσε να προδίδει αυτοκρατορική λατρεία είτε στην ίδια την εξέδρα ή σε ολόκληρο το συγκρότημα με το περίστυλο εσωτερικό. Σύμφωνα με την υπόθεση του Α. Θέμου μεγάλο τμήμα του συγκροτήματος, που ονομάζεται συμβατικά η ‘Αγορά’, μπορεί να ταυτιστεί με το Σεβαστείον/Καισάρειον του Γυθείου. Αναφορά για το τελευταίο γίνεται σε άλλες επιγραφές της αρχαίας πόλης.

Type
Articles
Information
Annual of the British School at Athens , Volume 109 , November 2014 , pp. 357 - 378
Copyright
Copyright © The Council, British School at Athens 2014 

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