Greece Uncovers Important Gate Sanctuary and Ancient Tomb
Source: Balkan Insight
Photo: Greek Ministry of Culture
Two new important archeological discoveries have emerged in Greece – a gate sanctuary found at the Minoan palace of Archanes on the island of Crete and a tomb believed to date from the time of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, found in Pthiotis, Thessaly.
The gate sanctuary at the Minoan palace of Archanes will help shed more light on the site’s religious and architectural importance, experts say.
“Archaeologist Dr Efi Sapouna-Sakellarakis continued the archaeological research to complete the image of the three-storey building, which along with Knossos [the biggest Minoan palace on Crete], played an important role in the development of the Minoan civilization,” the Greek Ministry of Culture said on October 23.
“It is a gate sanctuary, a unique element, found for the first time in a Minoan palace, outside its main entrance, in the same place where four altars have been uncovered, as well as the two arms of the stone construction of the platform, which as a whole indicate the religious importance of the place,” the ministry added.
The Minoan city of Archanes and palace complex, built around 1900 BC, lies in a small closed valley, 15 km south of Knossos palace. The site was discovered in the 1960s.
Various findings from Archanes and the wider area confirm the existence of continuous habitation. Columns, figurines and statues are examples of important art that developed in the area.
The bronze age Minoan Civilization flourished from around 3000 to 1450 BC in Crete and other Aegean islands, especially in the Cyclades. It was one of the first advanced civilizations in Europe, which left behind large building complexes, tools, works of art, writing systems, and an extensive trading network reaching both Cyprus and Egypt.
The media outlet Lamia Report reported meanwhile that on October 23, construction works at the village of Echinos, in Fthiotis, had revealed a large tomb, alleged to be a Macedonian one.
Echinos was a town in ancient Thessaly founded by the Thebans during the period of Theban hegemony. Philip II took control of Echinos to facilitate his passage from Thermopylae.
The construction works have been stopped to enable archeologists to uncover the burial monument. Objects from the tomb unfortunately have been stolen already, probably long ago.
The original article: belongs to Balkan Insight .
