Sanctuary of female (?) divinity

GENERAL

The site is identified with the ancient capital of the island, the homonymous "Kythnos", which was inhabited from the beginning of the Early Iron Age down to the 6th-7th c. A.D.

The 1990-1994 survey brought to light on the northern summit within the fortification wall of the ancient capital the possible remains of a sanctuary of an unknow female (?) deity.

MONUMENTS

No architectural remains are visible.

FINDS

The evidence relies exclusively on the discovery around the summit of the North hill of a few terracotta female figurines of the Classical-Hellenistic period, including an hydriaphoros.

A small Ionic capital was also found in the surroundings.

RECORDS

Survey Date: 1990-1994

Institution/Excavator: A. Mazarakis Ainian

Excavation/Survey Type: Systematic

REFERENCES

Primary Publications:

• Mazarakis Ainian A., 1995.Επιφανειακές έρευνες στη νήσο Κύθνο: Έκθεση για τις ερευνητικές περιόδους 1991-1995, Πρακτικά της Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας, 137-209.
• Mazarakis Ainian A., 1995. Ricognizioni Archeologiche nell'isola di Kithnos, in Le Cicladi ed il Mondo Egeo, Atti del Seminario Internazionale di Studi, Roma 19-21 Novembre 1992, D. Schilardi-E. Lanzillotta (eds), Roma, 245-273.
• Mazarakis Ainian A., 1998. The Kythnos Survey Project. A Preliminary Report, in Kea-Kythnos. History and Archaeology, Acts of an International Symposium, 22-25 June 1994, L. Mendoni & A. Mazarakis Ainian (eds) (MELETHMATA 27, ΚΕΡΑ-ΕΙΕ), Αthens, 363-379 (text), 397-435 (figs).
• Mazarakis Ainian A.,2005. Επιφανειακές έρευνες στην αρχαία πόλη της Κύθνου, in Πρακτικά Β' Κυκλαδολογικού Συνεδρίου, Θήρα 31 Αυγ. - 3 Σεπτ. 1995, Επετηρίς Εταιρείας Κυκλαδικών Μελετών ΙΗ’, 2002-2003, Athens, 154-186.