CIRCE

Sanctuary of Apollo Pythios

Author of the notice : A. Mazarakis Ainian

Location

Place : Poles

: Karthaia

: Kea isl.

Notice linked to toponyme Kea, Keos, Zea, Céos, Tzia

Description

GENERAL

Karthaia is located at the SE coast of the island, at the Bay of Poles. On the southern slopes of the Acropolis of Karthaia a temple of Apollo Pythios was revealed.

MONUMENTS

The temple is of Doric order, hexastyle in antis (31.15x16.05 m). Its cella is divided into two parts by an axial colonnade of five columns. An altar stood in front of the E side.

MOVABLE FINDS: VOTIVE OFFERINGS & CULT EQUIPMENT

Surface sherds of the Geometric and Archaic periods have been noted. Some foundations of walls may belong to the same period. Nevertheless, it has not been determined so far whether the sherds and the architectural remains are associated with cult activities.

CHRONOLOGY

The Doric temple dates to the last quarter of the 6th c. BC.

Surface sherds date to the Late Geometric and Archaic period.

IDENTIFICATION

The identification of the divinity worshipped in the tempnos is based on certain Hellenistic decrees found in the surroundings.

RECORDS

Excavation Date: 1811, 1905, 1987-1989

Institution/Excavator: Brönsted P.O. (1811), Graindor P. (1905), University of Athens/Mendoni L. (1987-1989), E. Simantoni-Bournia (XXXX-XXXX)

Excavation type: Survey and restauration work

REFERENCES

Primary Publications:

Brönsted, P. O 1826. Voyages dans la Grèce accompagnés de recherches archéologiques et suivis d’un aperçu sur toutes les entreprises scientifiques, qui ont eut lieu en Grèce depuis Pausanias jusqu’à nos jours, I, Paris, pl. VI

Graindor, P. 1905. Fouilles de Karthaia (Ile de Kéos), BCH 29: 329-333

Mendoni, L. 1989. Αρχαιολογικές έρευνες στην Κέα: Αρχαία Καρθαία, Archaiognosia, 4 (1985-1986): 149-184

Simantoni-Bournia, E., L. Mendoni, T. Panagou, Καρθαία. Ελαχύνωτον στέρνον χθονός..., Athens 2009

Secondary Publications:

Gounaris, A. 2005. Cult places in the Cyclades during the Protogeometric and Geometric periods : their contribution in interpreting the rise of the Cycladic poleis, M. Yeroulanou - M. Stamatopoulou (eds), Architecture and Archaeology in the Cyclades. Papers in honour of J. J. Coulton, Oxford, 65

Mazarakis Ainian, A. 1997. From Rulers’ Dwellings to Temples. Architecture, Religion and Society in Early Iron Age Greece (1100-700 B.C.), Jonsered (Studies in Mediterranean Archaeology 122), 247

Mermoz, J. 2010. La vie religieuse des Cyclades de l’HR IIIC à la fin de la période archaïque, Lyon, PhD Thesis, 296

Schüller, M. 1985. Die dorische Architektur der Kykladen in spätarchaischer Zeit, JDAI, 100: 319-398

Papanikolaou, A. 1998. Η οικοδομική δραστηριότητα στη Ν κλιτύ της Ακροπόλεως της Καρθαίας, in L. Mendoni & A. Mazarakis Ainian (eds), Kea-Kythnos. History and Archaeology, Acts of an International Symposium, 22-25 June 1994, (MELETHMATA 27, ΚΕRΑ-ΕΙΕ), Αthens, 555-563

GENERAL
Karthaia is located at the SE coast of the island, at the Bay of Poles. On the southern slopes of the Acropolis of Karthaia a temple of Apollo Pythios was revealed.
MONUMENTS
The temple is of Doric order, hexastyle in antis (31.15x16.05 m). Its cella is divided into two parts by an axial colonnade of five columns. An altar stood in front of the E side. 
MOVABLE FINDS: VOTIVE OFFERINGS & CULT EQUIPMENT
Surface sherds of the Geometric and Archaic periods have been noted. Some foundations of walls may belong to the same period. Nevertheless, it has not been determined so far whether the sherds and the architectural remains are associated with cult activities.
CHRONOLOGY
The Doric temple dates to the last quarter of the 6th c. BC.
Surface sherds date to the Late Geometric and Archaic period.
IDENTIFICATION
The identification of the divinity worshipped in the tempnos is based on certain Hellenistic decrees found in the surroundings.
RECORDS
Excavation Date: 1811, 1905, 1987-1989
Institution/Excavator: Brönsted P.O. (1811), Graindor P. (1905), University of Athens/Mendoni L. (1987-1989), E. Simantoni-Bournia (XXXX-XXXX)
Excavation type: Survey and restauration work
REFERENCES
Primary Publications:
Brönsted, P. O 1826. Voyages dans la Grèce accompagnés de recherches archéologiques et suivis d’un aperçu sur toutes les entreprises scientifiques, qui ont eut lieu en Grèce depuis Pausanias jusqu’à nos jours, I, Paris, pl. VI
Graindor, P. 1905. Fouilles de Karthaia (Ile de Kéos), BCH 29: 329-333
Mendoni, L. 1989. Αρχαιολογικές έρευνες στην Κέα: Αρχαία Καρθαία, Archaiognosia, 4 (1985-1986): 149-184
Simantoni-Bournia, E., L. Mendoni, T. Panagou, Καρθαία. Ελαχύνωτον στέρνον χθονός..., Athens 2009
Secondary Publications:
Gounaris, A. 2005. Cult places in the Cyclades during the Protogeometric and Geometric periods : their contribution in interpreting the rise of the Cycladic poleis, M. Yeroulanou - M. Stamatopoulou (eds), Architecture and Archaeology in the Cyclades. Papers in honour of J. J. Coulton, Oxford, 65
Mazarakis Ainian, A. 1997. From Rulers’ Dwellings to Temples. Architecture, Religion and Society in Early Iron Age Greece (1100-700 B.C.), Jonsered (Studies in Mediterranean Archaeology 122), 247
Mermoz, J. 2010. La vie religieuse des Cyclades de l’HR IIIC à la fin de la période archaïque, Lyon, PhD Thesis, 296
Schüller, M. 1985. Die dorische Architektur der Kykladen in spätarchaischer Zeit, JDAI, 100: 319-398
Papanikolaou, A. 1998. Η οικοδομική δραστηριότητα στη Ν κλιτύ της Ακροπόλεως της Καρθαίας, in L. Mendoni & A. Mazarakis Ainian (eds), Kea-Kythnos. History and Archaeology, Acts of an International Symposium, 22-25 June 1994, (MELETHMATA 27, ΚΕRΑ-ΕΙΕ), Αthens, 555-563

Fig. 1: Plan of ancient Karthaia

Fig. 2: View of Karthaia (Simantoni-Bournia 2009)

Fig. 3: View of the promontory (A. Mazarakis Ainian, 2011)

Fig. 4: Temple of Apollo Pythios. View and reconstruction

Fig. 5: Plan of temple of Apollo

Investigation :
No data

Reference :
No data

Monuments	dedicace	cultual law	decreet	insc. honorific	other	Ref
Temple				VIès.		Apollon Pythios

Finds	dedicace	cultual law	decreet	insc. honorific	other	Ref
No data found