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Despotiko : an unknown sanctuary of Apollo

Αρχαιολογικά χρονικά

• Κουραγιός, Γιάννος

Between the islands of Antiparos and Siphnos lies the uninhabited islet of Despotiko, on which an extensive sanctuary of Apollo has been discovered in recent years. Despotiko is known from literary evidence and has been identified with ancient Prepesinthos, but the sanctuary brought to light by archaeological excavation is unknown to the literary sources.Systematic excavations have taken place from 1997 to the present at Mandra in the north-east of Despotiko. The site is known from earlier excavations at which buildings dating from the Archaic to the medieval period were uncovered, as well as a large number of portable finds that suggest it was an important sanctuary in ancient times.Buildings of Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic date have come to light, though the cult temple has notyet been found. The most important of these structures is Building A which consists of five rooms with a vestibule, porch and lean- to roof. It was probably a banqueting hall or some other kind of ancillary building of the sanctuary. Building B is a large rectangular structure occupying an imposing location in the sanctuary, and Building Γ was probably a double oecus dedicated to Apollo and Artemis, since it was oriented towards Delos. Building Δ consists of a vestibule and a main room with a paved floor, with six rooms next to it forming a kind of stoa (north stoa). Building E consists of two rooms with a paved floor, and next to it is a small building in the form of a temple. Building Z consists of four rooms with a shared paved atrium. The discovery of a semicircular exedra to the east of Building A was of considerable importance. Building A with its very long south wall, Buildings Δ, E and the north stoa together form a kind of Π-shaped enclosure with gates at the north and south. Inside this lies the exedra. The other buildings stand outside the enclosure to the east and north-east.One of the most important finds was thesquare built altar dating from the Classical period, found in front (to the east) of Building A, which bears the inscription ΕΣΤΙΑΣ ΙΣΘΜΙΑΣ (‘of Isthmian Hestia’). Hestia with the epithet Isthmia was possibly one of the deities worshiped in the sanctuary as patron deity of sailors. This capacity is in keeping with the location of the sanctuary on Despotiko, which in ancient times would have formed a kind of isthmus with the islet of Tsimintiri opposite.The excavations have also uncovered a large number of portable finds. Many architectural members, such as triglyphs, column drums, and a palmette crowning, were found scattered over the site or incorporated into later structures. A large number of marble limbs from kouroi and korai has also been found. Particular importance attaches to two heads of Archaic kouroi and a head of a kore. There was also a large number and wide variety of pottery finds, mainly Archaic vases, such as Corinthian aryballoi and alabastra. The discovery of several sherds inscribed with the names of Apollo and Artemis was of some importance in helping to identify the sanctuary. The most important of the clay artefacts is the figurine of a Daidalic kore found in Building A which probably served a cult purpose. Finally, there is a large number of finds made of faience (such as beads and figurines), of ivory (such as fibulae), of metal (mainly tools), and objects of exotic origins (such as scarabs and an ostrich egg), attesting to contacts between Despotiko and the East.

• History and Archaeology

• Αρχαιολογία

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