Ancient artifacts,
kouroi and goats
A multitude of finds makes the need to protect islet of
Despotiko imperative
By Iota Sykka
Uninhabited apart
from dozens of wild and disobedient goats that roam its scrubland, Despotiko,
off the island of Antiparos in the Cyclades group, was in ancient times a
destination for pilgrims. Its strategic importance as a beacon of the Aegean
has been confirmed by a number of significant archaeological finds, which
include impressive kouros statues, parts of which are scattered around
Despotiko.
Despotiko is thought to have been a sanctuary throughout the
Geometric era which rose to prominence in ancient times after the inhabitants
of Paros established it as a place of worship in order to confirm the larger
neighboring island as a dominant force in the Aegean.
It continued to serve as a religious site up until the
beginning of the 2nd century BC, when it suffered extensive destruction at the
hands of the Athenians as a punishment to Paros for siding with the Persians.
Later, in Roman times and the post-Byzantine era, the islet was frequently
targeted by pirates.
In recent years researchers have been attempting to secure
Despotiko a place in the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) funding
program in the hope that it may one day be seen as a paradigm of Archaic
restoration, just like Sangri and Iria on Naxos, Messini in the Peloponnese and
Karthea on Kea.
Whether these plans will be implemented rests with the
Central Archaeological Council (KAS) and the archaeological services, while
according to the director of the excavations on Despotiko, Yiannis Kouragios,
the Municipality of Antiparos has been aiding proceedings to the best of its
abilities so that steps can be initiated for the island to become a destination
for archaeological tourism.
While previous excavations have taken place on Despotiko,
most of the architectural ruins and a plethora of tools and storage vessels
made out of seashells were brought to light during this year’s digs in the area
of Mantra, as well as Archaic ceramics and other ancient artifacts concerning
the god Apollo. During the last few days of excavation work, a pleasant surprise
came in the discovery of a piece of marble which appeared to belong to a kouros
due to its muscular form, adding to the dozens of marble fragments that have
been unearthed on the island of kouroi, as Despotiko has been dubbed.
Kouragios has continued his research around the ancient
temple dedicated to Apollo. Twelve buildings have been discovered around
Despotiko and another five on the nearby islet of Tsimintiri. The current
research team (which includes archaeologists Cornelia Daifa, Spyros Petropoulos
and architects Aenne Ohnesorg and Katerina Papagianni from the University of
Munich) has been working around the temple and a walled-in space where rituals
were held. The various facets of the structures have been studied, more
buildings have been excavated and various architectural elements categorized. A
marble sacrificial site was discovered at the forefront of the temple, similar
to one found at a shrine on Naxos. Kouragios says older artifacts uncovered in
front of one of the temple’s pillars have proved crucial, as “they identify the
temple’s function during the Geometric era.” Among the finds were vases from
the Late Geometric and Early Archaic periods, as well as engravings and a
table-like structure made of four plaques (a type of altar).
The tomb of an adult was discovered without funeral
offerings in the outer corner of the temple and at its base was yet another
find that proved perplexing for the archaeologists as it was next to a place of
worship. If this tomb proves to date back to the Archaic period, it could be
surmised that the deceased was a laborer that died in the temple and was buried
next to the ruins. If however evidence shows it is from more recent times, it
could be merely one of the temple’s pillagers. A tomb containing three skeletons
dating back to Late Roman era, meanwhile, was found within the interior of
Building B.
The excavation was made possible thanks to the sponsorship
of the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, the P&A Canellopoulos
Foundation, the A.G Leventis Foundation and the Merchant Marine Ministry’s
secretariat for islands.