Secrets Of The Ancient Temple Of Dimitra At The Acropolis Of Falasarna Revealed By Archaeologists

Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com - The results of the archaeological studies at the Acropolis of Falasarna in Crete, Greece, are complete. While excavating at the site, scientists have unraveled some exciting secrets of the ancient Temple of Dimitra and discovered intriguing ancient artifacts.

Credit: Greek Culture Ministry

The temple was located on a rocky hill at the junction of two high mountain peaks in a natural cave with abundant water. One of the peaks had collapsed, which led to the cave being damaged. After the destruction of the cave, the entire rocky knoll functioned as an open-air sacred place for worshiping a chthonic deity associated with earth, water, fertility and, in general, the power of water as a source of life.

Credit: Greek Culture Ministry

This is inferred from the hundreds of clay figurines of female figures, enthroned deities, pole heads resembling the goddess Demeter, miniature hydras, and water-carrying women, all typical finds in sanctuaries of the ancient goddess Demeter.

According to the Greek Culture Ministry, the architectural structure of the temple that is preserved today was rebuilt with stones for a second use in the late 4th/early 3rd century. e.g., on the same rock, where the cave and the earliest worship existed. The mosque is defined by a mostly preserved enclosure, except for a part that seems to have been destroyed by a huge boulder.

Credit: Greek Culture Ministry

A monumental staircase led to two single-room buildings with a common intermediate wall and a common parapet wall on the north side. The eastern building was the main temple building, while the western one probably served as an auxiliary structure. A door in the eastern part of the structure led to an outdoor area where the sacrifices were made.

The temple's sanctuary had a tiled floor, as did the rest of the floors of the temple. On the floor were five offering cases, inside which were revealed vases of good quality with elegant shapes, some of the ceremonial character, one of which was inscribed in the Doric dialect with the name of the goddess to whom the temple was dedicated: A K E S T O I D A M A T R I, Akestoi dedicates to the goddess Demeter.

Credit: Greek Culture Ministry

The temple was in the Doric style, built on natural rock with two fluted columns, parts of which have been preserved. The roof was of the Corinthian type with clay sleepers and covers. Based on the study of the excavation data and the architectural members, it seems that the graphic restoration of the monument will be possible, as well as the future restoration of the temple.

Credit: Greek Culture Ministry

The rocky areas and the ancient deposits in excavated pits revealed findings mainly from the Archaic times. Daedalic art seems to dominate the early Archaic period (650 BC) in the form of nude female figures with Daedalic headdresses and high poles. From the findings of the 6th c., e.g., Egyptian and Phoenician glass objects, terracotta bird and animal figurines, arrowheads and spearheads, miniature vases, enthroned female figures, and a female figurine holding a poppy and pomegranate stand out.

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The geophysical surveys were carried out by professors G. Tsokas and G. Vallianatos with teams from the Mediterranean University of Crete. The scans showed architectural remains underground, and their shape at the bottom appeared to be semi-circular.

However, in the upper part, the image did not clearly show the semi-circular arrangement to identify the ruins as belonging to what was once a public building, e.g., a theater or parliament. Only the excavations will complete the picture given by the geophysical survey and lead to its complete interpretation.

Written by Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com Staff Writer