Antikythera Castle Excavation
Donation protected
In the island of Antikythera (ancient name Egilea), every summer we go excavating. The ancient city of Antikythera (widely known among locals as ‘Kastro’ (Castle) has had a rich history due to the island’s key position as a sea passage. The first phase of the fortification dates to the 4th century B.C. in the period of the conflict between the Persian Empire and Alexander the Great’s realm, while during the Hellenistic period the island participated in the pirate activity practised by Cretan cities such as Phalasarna. The ancient city was eventually destroyed by the Romans in 69–67 B.C.
(Xiropotamos; The temple of Apollo)
(Potamos, the port of Antikythera; photo credit: © myGreece.travel photo)
(Potamos, the port of Antikythera; photo credit: © myGreece.travel photo)
(Excavation: Remnants of an Amphora)
(Antikythera: Camarella Beach)
(Hellenistic Castle: View of the Walls)
(Hellenistic Castle: View of the Walls)
1. Why is this excavation important?
As you noticed from above, the island has a rich history, which shouldn't be ignored. Furthermore, the ancient fortification covers an area of approximately 300 acres, containing today the remains of sanctuaries, military installations, remnants of houses, water cisterns, and other architectural elements. The archaeological site is therefore rather extensive and uncovering all of the remains it encloses would require an effortof many decades.
(Excavation site: View of the Temple of Apollo)
(Excavation site: Balneum installations)
(Xiropotamos; The temple of Apollo)(Potamos, the port of Antikythera; photo credit: © myGreece.travel photo)(Potamos, the port of Antikythera; photo credit: © myGreece.travel photo)(Excavation: Remnants of an Amphora)(Antikythera: Camarella Beach)(Hellenistic Castle: View of the Walls)(Hellenistic Castle: View of the Walls)1. Why is this excavation important?
As you noticed from above, the island has a rich history, which shouldn't be ignored. Furthermore, the ancient fortification covers an area of approximately 300 acres, containing today the remains of sanctuaries, military installations, remnants of houses, water cisterns, and other architectural elements. The archaeological site is therefore rather extensive and uncovering all of the remains it encloses would require an effortof many decades.
(Excavation site: View of the Temple of Apollo)(Excavation site: Balneum installations)2. Contribution of the excavation to the island and to the local community:
Our goal is to create an archaeological park, which will contribute to the further development of the island. In the excavation participate voluntarily students of archaeology or other departments or everyone, with the supervision of archaeologists. But our vacations aren't only about excavating. We participate in the local festival, have fun and live all together as a group, in rather demanding circumstances.
(Potamos; Arrival at 04:00 am and resting there)
(It's 07:00 am in Xiropotamos; Time to climb up to the site!)
(Xiropotamos, Castle; Mr Tsaravopoulos guiding us around the site)
(Xiropotamos, sanctuary at the upmost level of the Castle)
(Excavation: Antikythera Diggers on site!)
(Excavating, while making sketches of the site)
This kind of tourism is vital for the island's local community, as its permanent residents are only 20 people. During the excavation, this number triples. By helping this excavation, you are helping Antikythera's touristic development. Imagine if more archaeologists and people with keen interest in archaeology would keep showing up and help the excavation project for a period much longer than just 1 month. This would mean that the island would have more economic and touristic development due to the increasing needs of the people who participate in the excavation.
(Our camping site: Just outside the former school)
(Excavating: Antikythera Diggers on site!)
(After the excavation: Recording the daily finds)
(After the excavation: giving lectures about the daily finds)
(After the excavation: sling bullets, weaponry et varia metallic objects finds)
(Local Festival 17 August)
3. Why donate to this cause?
Right now the excavation is being held by the archaeologist of the island (Mr Tsaravopoulos), who is held in reserve state of work, due to the economic measures, even though there is no other archaologist there. Mr. Tsaravopoulos has asked them to go excavating the island by his own expenses. So, him and us volunteers go there every summer and try to excavate the island. Each euro that is donated, is going directly towards that cause and helps us have the means to go and continue excavating this area. We need your help to sustain this excavation during this period of huge economic crisis, in which cultural artefacts come second and make it wider known to everyone interested while supporting economically the residents of this deserted and distant island.
(Port: The coming of the ship)
(Day one: tour at the excavation site)
(Day 7: Presentation of the Pirate's Nest)
So, will you help us continue digging the Pirate's Nest? Donate, share and join the exciting side of Antikythera, The Pirates' Nest Island!
(Support us to discover the myth of Antikythera!)
(Note: We appeal to people who want to help us keeping this excavation alive. This page is not for commercial-advertising use)
(Potamos; Arrival at 04:00 am and resting there)(It's 07:00 am in Xiropotamos; Time to climb up to the site!)(Xiropotamos, Castle; Mr Tsaravopoulos guiding us around the site)(Xiropotamos, sanctuary at the upmost level of the Castle)(Excavation: Antikythera Diggers on site!)(Excavating, while making sketches of the site)This kind of tourism is vital for the island's local community, as its permanent residents are only 20 people. During the excavation, this number triples. By helping this excavation, you are helping Antikythera's touristic development. Imagine if more archaeologists and people with keen interest in archaeology would keep showing up and help the excavation project for a period much longer than just 1 month. This would mean that the island would have more economic and touristic development due to the increasing needs of the people who participate in the excavation.
(Our camping site: Just outside the former school)(Excavating: Antikythera Diggers on site!)(After the excavation: Recording the daily finds)(After the excavation: giving lectures about the daily finds)(After the excavation: sling bullets, weaponry et varia metallic objects finds)(Local Festival 17 August)3. Why donate to this cause?
Right now the excavation is being held by the archaeologist of the island (Mr Tsaravopoulos), who is held in reserve state of work, due to the economic measures, even though there is no other archaologist there. Mr. Tsaravopoulos has asked them to go excavating the island by his own expenses. So, him and us volunteers go there every summer and try to excavate the island. Each euro that is donated, is going directly towards that cause and helps us have the means to go and continue excavating this area. We need your help to sustain this excavation during this period of huge economic crisis, in which cultural artefacts come second and make it wider known to everyone interested while supporting economically the residents of this deserted and distant island.
(Port: The coming of the ship)(Day one: tour at the excavation site)(Day 7: Presentation of the Pirate's Nest)So, will you help us continue digging the Pirate's Nest? Donate, share and join the exciting side of Antikythera, The Pirates' Nest Island!
(Support us to discover the myth of Antikythera!) (Note: We appeal to people who want to help us keeping this excavation alive. This page is not for commercial-advertising use)
Organizer
Πηνέλπ Φλέννα
Organizer
Athens, Attica GR, Athens