DOI article:
Rolfe, John Carew: Discoveries at Anthedon in 1889, [1]
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8678#0217
DISCOVERIES AT ANTHEDON.
201
unless the enigmatic Leap of Glaukos was a building, is the double
stoa around the agora mentioned by the pseudo-Dikaiarchos; and the
long parallel walls d and e might very well belong to such a structure.
The agora in a town of fishermen and mariners would naturally be
situated near the port, around which the town evidently clustered.
All that Leake says (I. c.) about the supposed temple might apply
equally well to the agora. The entrance, if it be an entrance, de-
scends to the port, as would be expected.3
Of the other walls, the next in order, m, is probably Greek. From
the fact that it does not run parallel to d and c, and because it is of
poorer and rougher construction, it probably belonged to a different
structure. The dressed stones of the plan are of blue limestone and
■stand on the outer (southern) edge of the wall m: when uncovered they
appeared in shape like the top of a stele, formed of a large central stone
and two smaller ones at the sides. Between the central and the eastern
stone was'a bit of a Doric column of poros, showing channels.
The small structure between this wall and « is of extraordinary
irregularity. The blocks composing the walls are good, and the foun-
dation is firm and broad, but the edges are very irregular, hardly any
two blocks being of the same width. A small and narrow wall of very
poor construction connects it with m. Through the western wall is
carried a v-shaped water-trough, formed of grooved lengths of stone.
This comes abruptly to an end after running a short distance.
The walls n seem to form the foundation of a Roman building.
The curved portion of this wall, which rests upon e, contains mortar.
At the western end are considerable remains of a Roman mosaic pave-
ment. The greater part of this was covered with a thin layer of plas-
ter, which revealed the individual stones composing the mosaic but hid
the pattern. To the west is a rectangular flooring, with remains of a
similar mosaic pavement. This flooring seems to have been surrounded
by a foundation-wall, of which there are but scanty remains. At the
northern end of this rectangle are some exceedingly irregular walls.
All these -walls arc built of blocks of poros, and we found no traces
of mortar anywhere except at the curved part of the wall n. It is
quite possible that these foundations extend still further toward the
3 Mr. Schultz is of the opinion that the end of the walls d and c has not heen reached,
though, as has been said, there is no trace of their further extension. It may he men-
tioned as a curiosity that there is a tradition, among the villagers of Loukisi, of a
palace of Alexander in that neighborhood.
201
unless the enigmatic Leap of Glaukos was a building, is the double
stoa around the agora mentioned by the pseudo-Dikaiarchos; and the
long parallel walls d and e might very well belong to such a structure.
The agora in a town of fishermen and mariners would naturally be
situated near the port, around which the town evidently clustered.
All that Leake says (I. c.) about the supposed temple might apply
equally well to the agora. The entrance, if it be an entrance, de-
scends to the port, as would be expected.3
Of the other walls, the next in order, m, is probably Greek. From
the fact that it does not run parallel to d and c, and because it is of
poorer and rougher construction, it probably belonged to a different
structure. The dressed stones of the plan are of blue limestone and
■stand on the outer (southern) edge of the wall m: when uncovered they
appeared in shape like the top of a stele, formed of a large central stone
and two smaller ones at the sides. Between the central and the eastern
stone was'a bit of a Doric column of poros, showing channels.
The small structure between this wall and « is of extraordinary
irregularity. The blocks composing the walls are good, and the foun-
dation is firm and broad, but the edges are very irregular, hardly any
two blocks being of the same width. A small and narrow wall of very
poor construction connects it with m. Through the western wall is
carried a v-shaped water-trough, formed of grooved lengths of stone.
This comes abruptly to an end after running a short distance.
The walls n seem to form the foundation of a Roman building.
The curved portion of this wall, which rests upon e, contains mortar.
At the western end are considerable remains of a Roman mosaic pave-
ment. The greater part of this was covered with a thin layer of plas-
ter, which revealed the individual stones composing the mosaic but hid
the pattern. To the west is a rectangular flooring, with remains of a
similar mosaic pavement. This flooring seems to have been surrounded
by a foundation-wall, of which there are but scanty remains. At the
northern end of this rectangle are some exceedingly irregular walls.
All these -walls arc built of blocks of poros, and we found no traces
of mortar anywhere except at the curved part of the wall n. It is
quite possible that these foundations extend still further toward the
3 Mr. Schultz is of the opinion that the end of the walls d and c has not heen reached,
though, as has been said, there is no trace of their further extension. It may he men-
tioned as a curiosity that there is a tradition, among the villagers of Loukisi, of a
palace of Alexander in that neighborhood.