New Light in Old Rooms: The Reexamination of an Old Excavation of a Large Roman Villa-Philosophical School in the Center of Athens (20 min)

Presenters

Dimitris Sourlas, Greek Ministry of Culture, Ephorate of the City of Athens

Abstract

During the years 1982–1983 a large excavation was conducted in the heart of Athens, northeast from the Acropolis hill. A large complex of buildings was unearthed, lavishly decorated with sculptures and mosaics. These buildings were in use from the second century C.E. until the sixth century C.E. and later. For the last several years, the Ephorate of Antiquities of Athens has been attempting to study further and comprehend the identity and the purpose of the complex. Aim of this paper is to present the study of the buildings, the chronological phases, and their decoration, and to use an overview of other buildings of the same type in Roman and late-Roman Athens as a comparanda, especially concerning their sculptural decoration.

  AIA-1H