New Discoveries In The Asklepieion Of Ancient Pheneos, Greece

AncientPages.com | October 19, 2015 | Archaeology, Civilizations, Places

AncientPages.com - New impressive findings have come to light in the archaeological excavations at the site of the Asklepieion in ancient Pheneos, in the Peloponnese.

Among them are a pedestal on which originally stood two bronze statues which were later replaced by one made of stone, the form of the Ionic colonnade and the access to the sanctuary, reports The Greek Reporter.

Ancient Pheneos is a hill located in the Pheneos plateau of the same name on the mountainous region of the Corinth prefecture, at a height of 750 meters.

Ancient Pheneos, located in the Pheneos plateau of the same name in the prefecture of Corinth lies at a height of 750 meters. It was the site of Asclepeion, dating from the 2nd half ot eh 2nd century BC.

According to Herodotus the river Styx originates near Pheneos . Pheneos lies at the foot of Mount Cyllene, mythical birthplace of the god Hermes. It therefore served as an important cult center for the god.

The Asklepeion, which dates from the 2nd half of the 2nd century BC was unearthed in the late 1950’s and archaeologists found remnants of an ancient settlement and marble parts of statues which now reside in the local museum.

Ruins of Asklepieion of ancient Pheneos

In September 2015, the first phase of the excavations concluded under the direction of the eforate of ancient antiquities in Corinth and its director Konstantinos Kissas and Classic Archaeology Professor Dr. Torsten Mattern from the University of Trier in Germany.

Hygieia, one of the daughters of Asklepios (Asclepius) and granddaughter of Apollo, played an important role in the cult of Asklepios as a giver of health - via Universität Trier

In this year's excavations, archaeologists revealed that the colonnade was shaped like a "?" with a space of 2.30 meters between the columns and confirmed the direction of the walls of the colonnade and the outdoor courtyard.

In this year’s excavations, archaeologists revealed that the colonnade was shaped like a “Π” with a space of 2.30 meters between the columns and confirmed the direction of the walls of the colonnade and the outdoor courtyard.

They also revealed that the entrance to the sanctuary was achieved from the east via a ramp.

A secondary entrance was located to the north, along the corresponding wall of the courtyard.

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via The Greek Reporter