Hellenistic Stoa at Epano Skala in Mytilene

The Hellenistic stoa at Epano Skala in Mytilene is located in the archaeological site of the Municipality of Mytilene, defined by the streets of Navmachias Ellis, Lesvonaktos, Kornaros and Panselina Ageioritou. This particular location, south of the northern commercial harbour of the city, is associated with the wider area of the ancient market, from which the remains of at least four more stoae are known today, which, however, are not preserved.

The ancient market of Mytilene was directly related to its commercial harbour, the so-called “Maloenta harbour” (3rd c. BC), as it was located directly opposite its entrance, next to the city’s maritime defence wall. From written sources we can deduce that the coastal zone of Mytilene was adorned with imposing stoae, which also served the increased commercial activities of the northern harbour (trading of goods, ceramics, supply of raw materials, etc.). A building inscription of the Hellenistic period informs us about a stoa that was to be built at that time (3rd c. BC), very close to the northern coastal wall of the city, on the same site where a second one was located for commercial use (IG XII, 2, 14). Although it is difficult for us to associate the Hellenistic stoa at Epano Skala in Mytilene with any of the stoae of the inscription, we do know that it was a component of the ancient market of the city and that it probably had a commercial character.

The stoa was first discovered in 1929, during the construction of the ” Asia Minor refugee market”, when a small part of it was initially uncovered. The work was continued more extensively by the 10th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities at the beginning of the next century, and more specifically, in the years 1998-1999, as part of the project: ‘‘Construction of the rainwater and sewage system and water supply network for the central and northern part of the city of Mytilene’’. However, the largest part of it came to light during the rescue excavations that took place between 2000 and 2001, on the occasion of the construction of the new Mytilene Town Hall. In addition to the stoa, a large part of the city’s coastal defence wall was also uncovered, part of which was used for the wall of the northern long side of the stoa, which seems to have been either tangential or resting on it. Between 2008 and 2012, the 10th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, in cooperation with the Directorate for the Restoration of Ancient Monuments and the Municipality of Mytilene, completed the transformation of this particular plot of land of the Municipality of Mytilene into an archaeological site open to visitors.

From the preserved building remains and the findings of the excavation research of all the years, we can restore to a certain extent the original form of the stoa. It appears to be a two-storey (probably of a closed type) Doric-style stoa, with an E-W orientation and maximum surviving dimensions of 87 x 16 m. However, its original total length probably exceeded 150 m. The roof was supported by a two-tier colonnade running through the interior in the middle of the stoa along its longitudinal axis. The colonnade rested on low pillars of soft brown-yellowish tufa (dimensions: 1.40 x 1.46 m. and distance between them: 2.50 m.), maintained at a maximum height of six layers. The large-scale pillars were in the form of column pedestals and supported 20 octagonal bases, made of local reddish volcanic stone. The walls of the stoa, which are preserved at a height of four to seven layers of stone, were also made of the same material, in accordance with the isodomic building system. On several of the stone plinths of the walls, inscriptions/symbols of architectural/structural nature are preserved. The seaside facade of the stoa was marble with impressive architectural features: fragmentary Doric half-columns, triglyphs and cornices from the superstructure are preserved, probably mainly from the second floor.

Based on the architectural evidence, the original construction of the stoa dates between the late 4th c. BC and the early 3rd c. BC. The portable finds found in the area include Hellenistic pottery (lamps, skyphoi, kyathia, kylikes, kantharoi, pyxides, amphorae), as well as numerous, sometimes sealed, textile weights and figurines. The dating of the portable finds ranges from the late 4th c. BC to the Roman period, which extends chronologically along the duration of the use of the monument. In the late Roman period, a square bath with six rooms and ducts, measuring 12 x 11.5 m., was built in the middle of the stoa, indicative of the new needs of the time, in the busy market and commercial harbour areas. During the 18th and 19th c., the wider coastal area of Epano Skala was used as the main cemetery of the Ottoman community of the city. Today, the archaeological site of the Hellenistic Stoa at Epano Skala in Mytilene is open to visitors.

Location

Municipality: Mytilene

Municipal Section: Mytilene

Location: Epano Skala district, next to the Northern Harbour

Images

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