Varvara Papadopoulou | Hellenic Ministry of Culture & Sports (original) (raw)
Papers by Varvara Papadopoulou
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Jan 31, 2024
Φῶς Ἱλαρόν ΑΦΙΈΡΩΜΑ ΣΤΗ ΜΝΉΜΗ ΑΘΑΝΑΣΊΟΥ ΠΑΛΙΟΎΡΑ, 2024
The topography of Byzantine Epirus still presents several lacunae and remains unclear on many iss... more The topography of Byzantine Epirus still presents several lacunae and remains unclear
on many issues despite the fact that a considerable number of studies have been published
that deal with its different aspects. In recent years, excavations have brought
to light a number of new sites and monuments in Epirus, which, however, have not
offered much to the identification of cities and settlements whose names are known to
us from the byzantine sources.
Information about the topography of early Byzantine Epirus (Epirus Vetus) derives
mainly from the Synekdemos of Hierokles and the historian Procopius. It is known that
during the early Christian period, Epirus, the south part of the present Albanian state
and part of Aetoloakarnania formed the province of Epirus Vetus to which belonged
the cities: Nicopolis, Dodona, Euroea, Acniou(?), Hadrianopolis, Phoinice, Anchiasmos,
Appon, Butrint, Photike, Corfu Island and Ithaca Island, for most of which we know
their location since excavations have brought to light many findings.
Of these, the city Appon has not been precisely identified. We believe that the name
Appon is a hidden alteration of the place Opaya or Oppa, known today as Agios Georgios
near Doliana of Ioannina, where an early Christian basilica with impressive mosaic floors
has been excavated. Of particular importance is the discovery of the ruins of a polygonal
tower which implies the presence of a fortified city in the valley of Kalpaki - Doliana.
The Case of Euroea
Regarding the location of the city of Euroea, various opinions have been expressed
from time to time, but until today it has not been identified with certainty. According
to the prevailed opinion, Euroea is situated in the present place of the settlement of
Glyki. The city is mentioned for the first time by Hermias Sozomenos (5th c. AD)
who, next to his references to the city’s bishop Saint Donatus, addresses some very
interesting topographic aspects, which support our hypothesis about its identification. Of
special interest are also the remarks of the historian Procopius about the topography of
Euroea. Among other things, he mentions that, Justinian, in order to protect the city’s
inhabitants from the barbarian invasions, resettled them to an islet in a neighbouring
lake and fortified it. This fortified position was previously located in the city of Ioannina.
The name Euroea has been found with different alterations in the sources up to
the 17th century and therefore it cannot be located at Glyki, which is also mentioned
in the byzantine sources. The most interesting hypothesis is the one of A. Petrides
(19th c.), who suggested that Euroea must be located in the settlement of Vrina (south
Albania), near the Butrint lake. We totally agree with this opinion: a) We believe that
the name of Vrina, comes from an alteration of the name Euroea and it is related to
the watersources and marshes, which existed in the region, according to the byzantine
sources, b) Vrina is very close to Corfu, almost opposite Cassiope, where its inhabitants
found shelter in the middle of the 6th century, in order to be protected by the barbarian
invasions. According to Pope’s Gregory I epistulae they were still there on 603/4, c)
Near Vrina there is the settlement of Soronia, which is identified with the city Issoria
or Soria, referred by Sozomenos, d) The local name Chamaigefyrai, referred also by
Sozomenos, is identified to the local Chamogiofyra. It is related with the relics of the
Roman aqueduct of Butrint, a part of which was extended in the extended plain of
Vrina where today lie its ruins, e) Finally, according to the local tradition, Vrina was
a bishopric seat.
Petrides mentions that ruins of the ancient city were visible near Vrina while those
of the fortified settlement near the island of the lake. He does not specify its exact
position. Petrides wrote his article in 1879. The extended marsh plain around Vrina
has been created by later interventions which gradually changed its image. It is well
proved that it was initially a bay which started to transform to a marsh due to the
accumulation of alluvial material brought down by the Pavllas and Bistriza rivers.
In Vrina’s valley a series of geophysical and excavation researches have been carried
out the last years with important results. Baths and early Christian basilicae with
mosaic floors have been discovered as well as other antiquities. All the above support
the hypothesis of the location of Euroea in the region of Vrina.
Euroea Acniou - Ioannina
The fortified city built by Justinian was formerly identified with the castle of Ioannina.
Dakaris believed that the two words Euroea and Acniou referred to the name of one
city, New Euroea, hypothesis for which paleographical objections have been formulated.
It has been proved that in the position of the current city of Ioannina laid an ancient
settlement, the name of which remains unknown. It is possible that its fortifications were
renovated by Justinian but it is very difficult to draw clear conclusions. The position of
Ioannina was far from the Thesprotian shores and Cassiope in which the inhabitants
of Euroea found shelter. Moreover, Procopius characteristically refers that the new
city was not too far away. For all the above reasons as well as for many other aspects
that the previous researchers did not take into account, we believe that the old theory
for the identification of Euroea with Ioannina is wrong. In addition, in the Synekdemos
of Hierocles is referred that Epirus Vetus had 12 cities. However, if we accept Dakaris
hypothesis we have the names of only 11 cities.
Is it an incorrect reading of Hierocles’ text and in the word Acniou hides the name
of a city which has no relation with Euroea? Regarding this, of special interest is the
reference in the book De Thematibus of Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, that at the
county of Epirus Vetus existed 12 cities, among which Nicopolis, Dodona, Euroea and
Action. We strongly believe that the wrong transcription of the word Action created a
great confusion. Our hypothesis is remained to be proven in the future.
Δελτίον Χριστιανικής Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας, 2001
The Deltion of the Christian Archaeological Society, 2021
Theodora Petraleipha and Anna Palaiologina Kantakouzene are two important and dynamic personaliti... more Theodora Petraleipha and Anna Palaiologina Kantakouzene are two important and dynamic personalities of the Medieval Epirus. The former was the wife of Michael II Komnenos Doukas, despot of the state of Epirus, while the latter was the niece of the emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos and wife of Nikephoros I, son of Theodora. They were mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, who participated in various ways in the political affairs of the Despotate of Epirus. This study attempts to approach their life, work and contribution to the monumental art of the area.
Δωδώνη. Τα χρηστήρια ελάσματα/ Dodona. The oracular tablets, 2023
The Ephorate of Antiquities of Ioannina is very happy to announce the inscription of the lead tab... more The Ephorate of Antiquities of Ioannina is very happy to announce the inscription of the lead tablets of Dodona in the "Memory of the World" of Unesco, the second Greek entry in the "Memory of the World Catalogue".
In November 2021, the Ephorate of Antiquities of Ioannina, in collaboration with the Directorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, composed and submitted the proposal for the registration of the lead tablets of Dodona, unique for Epirus and worldwide, where the oldest Greek oracle and the place that Zeus himself loved and designated as his sanctuary!
This is an extraordinary success of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Ioannina and also of those who assisted it in this multi-year effort.
Η Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Ιωαννίνων με μεγάλη χαρά ανακοινώνει την ένταξη των μολύβδινων ελασμάτων της Δωδώνης στον Κατάλογο "Μνήμη του Κόσμου" της Unesco. Πρόκειται για την δεύτερη ελληνική εγγραφή στον "Κατάλογο Μνήμη του Κόσμου".
Το Νοέμβριο του 2021 η Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Ιωαννίνων σε συνεργασία με την Διεύθυνση Προϊστορικών και Κλασικών Αρχαιοτήτων του Υπουργείου Πολιτισμού και Αθλητισμού συνέταξε και υπέβαλε την πρόταση εγγραφής του μοναδικού για την Ήπειρο αλλά και παγκοσμίως συντάγματος των μολύβδινων ελασμάτων της Δωδώνης, όπου το αρχαιότερο ελληνικό μαντείο και ο τόπος που ο ίδιος ο Δίας αγάπησε και όρισε ως ιερό του!
Πρόκειται για μια εξαιρετική επιτυχία της Εφορείας Αρχαιοτήτων Ιωαννίνων αλλά και όσων στάθηκαν αρωγοί της σε αυτή την πολυετή προσπάθεια.
Archaeo Bio Open Lab - Apoikia, 2023
Experiential Workshop "Archaeo-Bio Open Lab" on the occasion of the International Museum Day 2023... more Experiential Workshop "Archaeo-Bio Open Lab" on the occasion of the International Museum Day 2023
The Ephorate of Antiquities of Arta, on the occasion of this year's celebration of the International Museum Day with the theme "Museums as hubs for sustainability and the promotion of living together," is organizing a two-day experiential workshop on Thursday, May 18th and Friday, May 19th, 2023, at the Archaeological Museum of Arta. The workshop, titled "Archaeo-Bio Open Lab," is a joint effort of the five partners of the APOIKIA program (Ephorate of Antiquities of Arta, FORTH, University of Thrace, Technological Educational Institute of Western Greece, TETRAGON). The general public will have the opportunity to learn about the scientific methods used in an archaeological investigation of an ancient cemetery, including the excavation of tombs and archaeological finds. At the same time, they will be informed about issues related to the study of human skeletal remains, the extraction of samples for stable isotope analysis, and the extraction of samples for further analysis of ancient DNA.
The workshop titled "Apoikia. An interesting scientific program" will take place on May 18-19, 2023, and will include various presentations and discussions related to the archaeological research on the ancient Greek colony of Ambracia. The workshop will start with an opening speech by Dr. Varbara Papadopoulou, the Head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Arta and Deputy Head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Ioannina. This will be followed by talks on the Western Necropolis of Ambracia by archaeologist Theodora Kontogianni and on the archaeological research process by Athanasios Arkoumanis and Dimitra Papakosta, both archaeologists of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Arta.
Later on, Kyriakos Xanthopoulos and Angeliki Georgiadou, both physical anthropologists and PhD candidates at the Laboratory of Physical Anthropology of the Democritus University of Thrace, will present their research on the demographic and dietary trends of the population of Ambracia, using cutting-edge methods.
Finally, there will be a demonstration of the use of tools and equipment for the sampling and analysis of ancient DNA in the Archaeo-Bio Open Lab. This will be an open laboratory for the handling of archaeological biological material for ancient DNA analysis.
After the completion of the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to visit the archaeological site of the Western Necropolis of Ambracia, as well as the permanent and temporary exhibitions of the Archaeological Museum of Arta. Participation in the workshop is free, with a maximum of 30 participants per day.
For information about the activity and to register, you can contact the archaeologist of the APOIKIA project, Dimitra Papakosta, at the telephone numbers of the Archaeological Museum of Arta (26810 21191 & 26810 71700), or Ms. Vasiliki Galani, Archaeologist, at the telephone of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Arta (26810 24636 - ext. 33).
We look forward to seeing you!
Η αποσπασματικότητα διατήρησης του υλικού πολιτισμού από διαφορετικές χρονολογικές περιόδους και ... more Η αποσπασματικότητα διατήρησης του υλικού πολιτισμού από διαφορετικές χρονολογικές περιόδους και η έλλειψη επαρκών γραπτών μαρτυριών, ειδικότερα για τις απώτερες στο χρόνο εποχές, καθιστά συχνά δυσχερή την κατανόηση του παρελθόντος από το μη εξειδικευμένο κοινό. Εξ αυτού, οι αρχαιότητες, τα αρχαιολογικά ευρήματα, τα μνημεία και οι αρχαιολογικοί χώροι παγιώνονται στην κοινή συνείδηση ως έννοιες ξένες, απομακρυσμένες από την καθημερινότητα και τα βιώματα των ανθρώπων, ακόμη και σε περιπτώσεις που αυτά αναμειγνύονται στον σύγχρονο πολεοδομικό ιστό μιας περιοχής και η οπτική, τουλάχιστον, επαφή είναι αναπόφευκτη. Ένα σημαντικό εργαλείο που διαθέτει η Αρχαιολογική Υπηρεσία για να γεφυρωθεί το κενό επαφής και ενδιαφέροντος είναι τα εκπαιδευτικά προγράμματα, που υλοποιούνται σε μουσεία, μνημεία και αρχαιολογικούς χώρους και απευθύνονται κυρίως στην εκπαιδευτική κοινότητα αλλά και σε ομάδες κοινού διαφορετικών ηλικιών, καθώς και κοινωνικών χαρακτηριστικών. Στόχος της παρούσας μελέτης είναι η παρουσίαση του ρόλου των εκπαιδευτικών δράσεων στην προσέγγιση της κοινωνίας και ιδιαιτέρως της μαθητικής κοινότητας, στη μετάδοση της επιστημονικής πληροφορίας και στην επίτευξη της εξοικείωσης του κοινού με το πολιτιστικό αγαθό
The pedestal was presented for the first time in a lecture on 27.11.2022 at the Archaeological Mu... more The pedestal was presented for the first time in a lecture on 27.11.2022 at the Archaeological Museum of Ioannina, in the context of the action jointly implemented by the four Archaeological Museums of Epirus entitled "The power of 4".
The stone finding came to light during excavation works in the courtyard of the Byzantine monument of Aghia Theodora. Under its foundation sprawls one of the most important public buildings of Amvrakia, the Prytaneion, from which the exhibit comes from.
On its front side it features an inscription, of which three verses are preserved: OF ZEUS GENETOR/ IN FAVOUR OF PYRRUS/ KING. The position of the pedestal within the public center of the ancient city ensured its public viewing, but also the purpose of its inscription: the gratitude of the Amvrakians to their Molossian leader.
The Amvrakian exhibit is a unique finding for the excavation data of Epirus, as it features the name of the leading personality of the ancient political and military history of the northwestern Greek world.
Το βάθρο παρουσιάστηκε για πρώτη φορά σε διάλεξη στις 27.11.2022 στο Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Ιωαννίνων, στο πλαίσιο της δράσης που υλοποίησαν από κοινού τα τέσσερα Αρχαιολογικά Μουσεία της Ηπείρου με τίτλο« Η δύναμη των 4».
Το λίθινο εύρημα ήρθε στο φως κατά τη διάρκεια ανασκαφικών εργασιών στην αυλή του βυζαντινού μνημείου της Αγίας Θεοδώρας. Στο θεμέλιά του εκτείνεται ένα από τα πιο σημαντικά δημόσια κτήρια της Αμβρακίας,το Πρυτανείο,από το οποίο προέρχεται το έκθεμα.
Στη μία όψη φέρει επιγραφή, από την οποία σώζονται τρεις στίχοι. ΔΙΟΣ ΓΕΝΕΤΟΡΟΣ/ ΥΠΕΡ ΠΥΡΡΟΥ / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ.Η θέση του βάθρου εντός του δημόσιου κέντρου της αρχαίας πόλης εξασφάλιζε την κοινή θέασή του, αλλά και τον σκοπό της επιγραφής του: την ευγνωμοσύνη των Αμβρακιωτών στον Μολοσσό ηγήτορά τους.
Tο έκθεμα της Αμβρακίας αποτελεί ένα μοναδικό εύρημαγια τα ανασκαφικά δεδομένα της Ηπείρου, καθώς φέρει χαραγμένο το όνομα της κορυφαίας προσωπικότητας της αρχαίας πολιτικής και στρατιωτικής ιστορίας του βορειοδυτικού ελλαδικού κόσμου.
ΜΟΛΟΤΤΙΣ. Αρχαιολογικός Άτλαντας των αρχαίων θέσεων της Π.Ε. Ιωαννίνων / MOLOTTIS. Archaeological map of the ancient sites of the regional unit of Ioannina, Epirus, 2022
Οικιστική οργάνωση Μολοττίδος 281 ΤΟ ΙΔΙΑΙΤΕΡΑ ΚΑΤΑΚΕΡΜΑΤΙΣΜΕΝΟ ΑΝΑΓΛΥΦΟ ΤΗΣ ΗΠΕΙΡΟΥ, που χαρακτη... more Οικιστική οργάνωση Μολοττίδος 281 ΤΟ ΙΔΙΑΙΤΕΡΑ ΚΑΤΑΚΕΡΜΑΤΙΣΜΕΝΟ ΑΝΑΓΛΥΦΟ ΤΗΣ ΗΠΕΙΡΟΥ, που χαρακτηρίζεται από τεράστιους ορεινούς όγκους ανάμεσα στους οποίους αναπτύσσονται μικρές κοιλάδες, έπαιξε καθοριστικό ρόλο στη διαμόρφωση των πολιτιστικών σχηματισμών, δηλαδή των εθνών, που κατοίκησαν την περιοχή (Στράβων Γεωγραφικά Ζ, 7.5). Οι Ηπειρώτες, όπως και οι γείτονες τους οι Μακεδόνες, έμειναν πιστοί στην παλαιοκρατική φυλετική οργάνωση, σύμφωνα με τις φιλολογικές, επιγραφικές και νομισματικές μαρτυρίες των ιστορικών χρόνων. Από την Εποχή του Σιδήρου (12 ος-7 ος αι. π.Χ.) και έως τα τέλη του 5 ου αι. π.Χ. επικρατούσε η κατοίκηση κατά κώμας (Ψευδο-Σκύλαξ, Περίπλ. 32), η κατοίκηση δηλαδή σε μικρούς ανοχύρωτους οικισμούς. Η ανεύρεση οικοδομικών καταλοίπων είναι πενιχρή και έχει οδηγήσει στην υπόθεση ότι οι εγκαταστάσεις είχαν την μορφή πρόχειρων καταυλισμών, στους οποίους κατοικούσαν νομάδες ή ημινομάδες βοσκοί 282. Χαρακτηριστικό παράδειγμα αυτού του τύπου εγκατάστασης, κατά την πρώιμη εποχή του Σιδήρου, αποτελούν οι ορεινοί οικισμοί στη Βίτσα Ζαγορίου 283 , στο Λιατοβούνι Κόνιτσας 284 και στο Πωγώνι (Παλιουριά Παλιοπύργου, Γκλάβα Κάτω Μερόπης και Ανεμόμυλος Μερόπης) 285. Στις πεδινές εκτάσεις του λεκανοπέδιου αντίστοιχου τύπου οικισμοί αναπτύχτηκαν στην Κρύα 286 , στη Δουρούτη 287 και στους ανατολικούς πρόποδες του λόφου της Καστρίτσας 288. Οι οικίες είχαν την μορφή απλών οικοδομημάτων, μονόχωρων ή δί
The Greek colonial expansion of the early 1st millennium BC spread people, goods, art, ideas and ... more The Greek colonial expansion of the early 1st millennium BC spread people, goods, art, ideas and lifestyles across the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The relationships between the mother-cities and colonies were multidirectional, profitable for both entities, and in some cases the colonies preceded the motherland in terms of cultural and political developments. Within this context the reconstruction of dietary habits can shed significant light on these interactions, as food in ancient Greek societies was regarded as a marker of ethnic and cultural differentiation. To address pending questions about subsistence in ancient colonies, we apply the established method of stable isotope analysis in human bone collagen to present the diet in the colony of Ambracia, from its occupation phase (archaic era) up to its destruction (Hellenistic era). Ambracia was founded by the city of Corinth in 625 B.C. on the banks of the river Arachthos in western Greece. The geostrategic location, at the crossroad of southern and northern Greece, made the colony a melting pot of cultural and commercial exchange particularly during the classical period (480-323 BC). Our dataset consists values of stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen (δ15N, δ13C) from bone collagen of 158 human skeletons from the western cemetery of ancient Ambracia. Preliminary results show that terrestrial animal protein played a pivotal role in the dietary habits of the population with a lesser contribution of C3 plants and marine resources. Our findings will be correlated with literary evidence and other dietary studies in total period datasets from ancient Greek colonies. Our observations aim to delineate the dietary shifts during the colonization process and shed light on the intensely debated subject of daily life during the second Greek colonization in mainland ancient Greece.
The contribution of the innovative research program APOIKIA to the study the phenomenon of Corint... more The contribution of the innovative research program APOIKIA to the study the phenomenon of Corinthian Colonization in the area of the modern city of Arta (V. Papadopoulou, Ar. Vasios, D. Papakosta and K. Xanthopoulos) 10:20-10:40 O2. WEaning Age FiNder (WEAN): A tool for estimating weaning age from isotopic data of dentine microsections (E. Ganiatsou, A. Souleles and C. Papageorgopoulou) 10:40-11:00 O3. Geometric morphometric analysis of human skeletal material from ancient Thessaloniki. Reconstructing the population history of an urban center (A.
The contribution of the innovative research program APOIKIA to the study the phenomenon of Corint... more The contribution of the innovative research program APOIKIA to the study the phenomenon of Corinthian Colonization in the area of the modern city of Arta (V. Papadopoulou, Ar. Vasios, D. Papakosta and K. Xanthopoulos) 10:20-10:40 O2. WEaning Age FiNder (WEAN): A tool for estimating weaning age from isotopic data of dentine microsections (E. Ganiatsou, A. Souleles and C. Papageorgopoulou) 10:40-11:00 O3. Geometric morphometric analysis of human skeletal material from ancient Thessaloniki. Reconstructing the population history of an urban center (A.
The contribution of the innovative research program APOIKIA to the study the phenomenon of Corint... more The contribution of the innovative research program APOIKIA to the study the phenomenon of Corinthian Colonization in the area of the modern city of Arta (V. Papadopoulou, Ar. Vasios, D. Papakosta and K. Xanthopoulos) 10:20-10:40 O2. WEaning Age FiNder (WEAN): A tool for estimating weaning age from isotopic data of dentine microsections (E. Ganiatsou, A. Souleles and C. Papageorgopoulou) 10:40-11:00 O3. Geometric morphometric analysis of human skeletal material from ancient Thessaloniki. Reconstructing the population history of an urban center (A.
The contribution of the innovative research program APOIKIA to the study the phenomenon of Corint... more The contribution of the innovative research program APOIKIA to the study the phenomenon of Corinthian Colonization in the area of the modern city of Arta (V. Papadopoulou, Ar. Vasios, D. Papakosta and K. Xanthopoulos) 10:20-10:40 O2. WEaning Age FiNder (WEAN): A tool for estimating weaning age from isotopic data of dentine microsections (E. Ganiatsou, A. Souleles and C. Papageorgopoulou) 10:40-11:00 O3. Geometric morphometric analysis of human skeletal material from ancient Thessaloniki. Reconstructing the population history of an urban center (A.
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2018
The Filanthropinon monastery church is regarded the birthplace of the BEpirus/NW Greece School^of... more The Filanthropinon monastery church is regarded the birthplace of the BEpirus/NW Greece School^of painting as it bears the oldest wall paintings of this very school. Surviving inscriptions bear no painter name(s), yet they testify that the murals were executed in three phases between 1531/2 and 1560. The bulk of the technical and typological characteristics of the latter paintings are typical of post-Byzantine religious art, while OM, SEM-EDX, and micro-Raman probing reveals the existence of a number of idiomorphic characteristics that might be viewed as part of the microscopic fingerprint of the BEpirus school.^A microscopic fingerprint of the school is important because current attributions of relevant works to specific painters are mostly stylistic ones, as pertinent signatures are rare. The latter characteristics include the application of a Bcharcoal plus blue smalt^substrate in the paintings' background and the employment of a possibly local (: Epirus), unusual ochre pigment. Sophisticated segregation of pigment grains, employment of glauconite, and the extensive use of San Giovanni white were also documented. Analytical data support the following scheme as regards artistic identities: the 1531/2 nave paintings were executed by a single painter, possibly assisted by a pupil who also contributed to the 1542 paintings. The paintings of the 1542 and 1560 phases are apparently the outcome of another-yet related to the nave painter-workshop; there are clues which indicate employment of Georgios and Frangos Kontaris in both of these commissions. Finally, remnants of four different overpaintings were also revealed: pertinent pigments indicate successive interventions during an extended period of time, which reflect the will of Filanthropinon votaries to retain the murals vivid.
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2017
St Basil’s late Byzantine church in Arta (NW Greece) is unique among other surviving churches of ... more St Basil’s late Byzantine church in Arta (NW Greece) is unique among other surviving churches of the same era as a result of two glazed relief ceramic icons and arrays of square glazed tiles that decorate its external wall. The latter decorative items were carefully examined by means of analytical techniques in order to reveal the materials and techniques used for their manufacture and thus interpret their connection to the contemporary Byzantine and Italian ceramics. Analytical results indicate that lead plus quartz suspensions were employed for the fabrication of the majority of the glazes in the spirit of recipes for Italian Archaic majolica pottery, and thus they are differentiated from the common contemporary Byzantine products. Nonetheless, the raw materials used in the Arta area ceramics deviate substantially from those used in the Italian products and, possibly, a local (NW Greece) production is reflected. The unexpected rather rich variety of raw materials and/or techniques that underlies the visual uniformity of the glazed material in consideration might reflect selection of the best products generated upon experimentation with various contemporary technical alternatives. Finally, the decorative arrangement of the glazed items that we see today might reflect a way to circumventing original objections to the ceramic icon innovation.
Archaeometry, 2015
The grounds of 51 post-Byzantine icons (Eastern Orthodox panel paintings) were studied by means o... more The grounds of 51 post-Byzantine icons (Eastern Orthodox panel paintings) were studied by means of analytical techniques. The artefacts cover the period from the mid-15th to the mid-19th century and originate mainly from western (Epirus and the Ionian Islands) and southern Greece (Crete). The findings are examined in the light of technical recipes from related areas and eras, while special insights are gained from the exploration of a gypsum processing recipe by Dionysius of Fourna. A spectrum of ground fabrication practices that is richer than that reported so far or can be deduced from surviving Greek recipes is documented; three instances of ‘grosso-sottile’ type grounds and a case of ‘inverse grosso-sottile’ ground are among the reported novel, for post-Byzantine icons, findings. Moreover, a case of an early icon restoration intervention is documented.
Archaeometry, 2017
Metal leaves were widely used as decorative materials in post-Byzantine ritual painting. Fiftytwo... more Metal leaves were widely used as decorative materials in post-Byzantine ritual painting. Fiftytwo icons (mid-15th to mid-19th centuries) were studied by means of analytical techniques in order to reveal the materials and techniques encountered in their metal-leaf decorations. High-purity gold leaf was used throughout the studied period. Silver was employed rarely and mostly during the latter part of the period in consideration, while metal powders were mostly used from the mid-18th century onwards. The identification of a gold-silver powder mixture and an 'electrum'-type alloy are among the reported findings, which are novel for post-Byzantine icons. Three micromorphologically distinct highlighting techniques were also documented.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Jan 31, 2024
Φῶς Ἱλαρόν ΑΦΙΈΡΩΜΑ ΣΤΗ ΜΝΉΜΗ ΑΘΑΝΑΣΊΟΥ ΠΑΛΙΟΎΡΑ, 2024
The topography of Byzantine Epirus still presents several lacunae and remains unclear on many iss... more The topography of Byzantine Epirus still presents several lacunae and remains unclear
on many issues despite the fact that a considerable number of studies have been published
that deal with its different aspects. In recent years, excavations have brought
to light a number of new sites and monuments in Epirus, which, however, have not
offered much to the identification of cities and settlements whose names are known to
us from the byzantine sources.
Information about the topography of early Byzantine Epirus (Epirus Vetus) derives
mainly from the Synekdemos of Hierokles and the historian Procopius. It is known that
during the early Christian period, Epirus, the south part of the present Albanian state
and part of Aetoloakarnania formed the province of Epirus Vetus to which belonged
the cities: Nicopolis, Dodona, Euroea, Acniou(?), Hadrianopolis, Phoinice, Anchiasmos,
Appon, Butrint, Photike, Corfu Island and Ithaca Island, for most of which we know
their location since excavations have brought to light many findings.
Of these, the city Appon has not been precisely identified. We believe that the name
Appon is a hidden alteration of the place Opaya or Oppa, known today as Agios Georgios
near Doliana of Ioannina, where an early Christian basilica with impressive mosaic floors
has been excavated. Of particular importance is the discovery of the ruins of a polygonal
tower which implies the presence of a fortified city in the valley of Kalpaki - Doliana.
The Case of Euroea
Regarding the location of the city of Euroea, various opinions have been expressed
from time to time, but until today it has not been identified with certainty. According
to the prevailed opinion, Euroea is situated in the present place of the settlement of
Glyki. The city is mentioned for the first time by Hermias Sozomenos (5th c. AD)
who, next to his references to the city’s bishop Saint Donatus, addresses some very
interesting topographic aspects, which support our hypothesis about its identification. Of
special interest are also the remarks of the historian Procopius about the topography of
Euroea. Among other things, he mentions that, Justinian, in order to protect the city’s
inhabitants from the barbarian invasions, resettled them to an islet in a neighbouring
lake and fortified it. This fortified position was previously located in the city of Ioannina.
The name Euroea has been found with different alterations in the sources up to
the 17th century and therefore it cannot be located at Glyki, which is also mentioned
in the byzantine sources. The most interesting hypothesis is the one of A. Petrides
(19th c.), who suggested that Euroea must be located in the settlement of Vrina (south
Albania), near the Butrint lake. We totally agree with this opinion: a) We believe that
the name of Vrina, comes from an alteration of the name Euroea and it is related to
the watersources and marshes, which existed in the region, according to the byzantine
sources, b) Vrina is very close to Corfu, almost opposite Cassiope, where its inhabitants
found shelter in the middle of the 6th century, in order to be protected by the barbarian
invasions. According to Pope’s Gregory I epistulae they were still there on 603/4, c)
Near Vrina there is the settlement of Soronia, which is identified with the city Issoria
or Soria, referred by Sozomenos, d) The local name Chamaigefyrai, referred also by
Sozomenos, is identified to the local Chamogiofyra. It is related with the relics of the
Roman aqueduct of Butrint, a part of which was extended in the extended plain of
Vrina where today lie its ruins, e) Finally, according to the local tradition, Vrina was
a bishopric seat.
Petrides mentions that ruins of the ancient city were visible near Vrina while those
of the fortified settlement near the island of the lake. He does not specify its exact
position. Petrides wrote his article in 1879. The extended marsh plain around Vrina
has been created by later interventions which gradually changed its image. It is well
proved that it was initially a bay which started to transform to a marsh due to the
accumulation of alluvial material brought down by the Pavllas and Bistriza rivers.
In Vrina’s valley a series of geophysical and excavation researches have been carried
out the last years with important results. Baths and early Christian basilicae with
mosaic floors have been discovered as well as other antiquities. All the above support
the hypothesis of the location of Euroea in the region of Vrina.
Euroea Acniou - Ioannina
The fortified city built by Justinian was formerly identified with the castle of Ioannina.
Dakaris believed that the two words Euroea and Acniou referred to the name of one
city, New Euroea, hypothesis for which paleographical objections have been formulated.
It has been proved that in the position of the current city of Ioannina laid an ancient
settlement, the name of which remains unknown. It is possible that its fortifications were
renovated by Justinian but it is very difficult to draw clear conclusions. The position of
Ioannina was far from the Thesprotian shores and Cassiope in which the inhabitants
of Euroea found shelter. Moreover, Procopius characteristically refers that the new
city was not too far away. For all the above reasons as well as for many other aspects
that the previous researchers did not take into account, we believe that the old theory
for the identification of Euroea with Ioannina is wrong. In addition, in the Synekdemos
of Hierocles is referred that Epirus Vetus had 12 cities. However, if we accept Dakaris
hypothesis we have the names of only 11 cities.
Is it an incorrect reading of Hierocles’ text and in the word Acniou hides the name
of a city which has no relation with Euroea? Regarding this, of special interest is the
reference in the book De Thematibus of Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, that at the
county of Epirus Vetus existed 12 cities, among which Nicopolis, Dodona, Euroea and
Action. We strongly believe that the wrong transcription of the word Action created a
great confusion. Our hypothesis is remained to be proven in the future.
Δελτίον Χριστιανικής Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας, 2001
The Deltion of the Christian Archaeological Society, 2021
Theodora Petraleipha and Anna Palaiologina Kantakouzene are two important and dynamic personaliti... more Theodora Petraleipha and Anna Palaiologina Kantakouzene are two important and dynamic personalities of the Medieval Epirus. The former was the wife of Michael II Komnenos Doukas, despot of the state of Epirus, while the latter was the niece of the emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos and wife of Nikephoros I, son of Theodora. They were mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, who participated in various ways in the political affairs of the Despotate of Epirus. This study attempts to approach their life, work and contribution to the monumental art of the area.
Δωδώνη. Τα χρηστήρια ελάσματα/ Dodona. The oracular tablets, 2023
The Ephorate of Antiquities of Ioannina is very happy to announce the inscription of the lead tab... more The Ephorate of Antiquities of Ioannina is very happy to announce the inscription of the lead tablets of Dodona in the "Memory of the World" of Unesco, the second Greek entry in the "Memory of the World Catalogue".
In November 2021, the Ephorate of Antiquities of Ioannina, in collaboration with the Directorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, composed and submitted the proposal for the registration of the lead tablets of Dodona, unique for Epirus and worldwide, where the oldest Greek oracle and the place that Zeus himself loved and designated as his sanctuary!
This is an extraordinary success of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Ioannina and also of those who assisted it in this multi-year effort.
Η Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Ιωαννίνων με μεγάλη χαρά ανακοινώνει την ένταξη των μολύβδινων ελασμάτων της Δωδώνης στον Κατάλογο "Μνήμη του Κόσμου" της Unesco. Πρόκειται για την δεύτερη ελληνική εγγραφή στον "Κατάλογο Μνήμη του Κόσμου".
Το Νοέμβριο του 2021 η Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Ιωαννίνων σε συνεργασία με την Διεύθυνση Προϊστορικών και Κλασικών Αρχαιοτήτων του Υπουργείου Πολιτισμού και Αθλητισμού συνέταξε και υπέβαλε την πρόταση εγγραφής του μοναδικού για την Ήπειρο αλλά και παγκοσμίως συντάγματος των μολύβδινων ελασμάτων της Δωδώνης, όπου το αρχαιότερο ελληνικό μαντείο και ο τόπος που ο ίδιος ο Δίας αγάπησε και όρισε ως ιερό του!
Πρόκειται για μια εξαιρετική επιτυχία της Εφορείας Αρχαιοτήτων Ιωαννίνων αλλά και όσων στάθηκαν αρωγοί της σε αυτή την πολυετή προσπάθεια.
Archaeo Bio Open Lab - Apoikia, 2023
Experiential Workshop "Archaeo-Bio Open Lab" on the occasion of the International Museum Day 2023... more Experiential Workshop "Archaeo-Bio Open Lab" on the occasion of the International Museum Day 2023
The Ephorate of Antiquities of Arta, on the occasion of this year's celebration of the International Museum Day with the theme "Museums as hubs for sustainability and the promotion of living together," is organizing a two-day experiential workshop on Thursday, May 18th and Friday, May 19th, 2023, at the Archaeological Museum of Arta. The workshop, titled "Archaeo-Bio Open Lab," is a joint effort of the five partners of the APOIKIA program (Ephorate of Antiquities of Arta, FORTH, University of Thrace, Technological Educational Institute of Western Greece, TETRAGON). The general public will have the opportunity to learn about the scientific methods used in an archaeological investigation of an ancient cemetery, including the excavation of tombs and archaeological finds. At the same time, they will be informed about issues related to the study of human skeletal remains, the extraction of samples for stable isotope analysis, and the extraction of samples for further analysis of ancient DNA.
The workshop titled "Apoikia. An interesting scientific program" will take place on May 18-19, 2023, and will include various presentations and discussions related to the archaeological research on the ancient Greek colony of Ambracia. The workshop will start with an opening speech by Dr. Varbara Papadopoulou, the Head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Arta and Deputy Head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Ioannina. This will be followed by talks on the Western Necropolis of Ambracia by archaeologist Theodora Kontogianni and on the archaeological research process by Athanasios Arkoumanis and Dimitra Papakosta, both archaeologists of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Arta.
Later on, Kyriakos Xanthopoulos and Angeliki Georgiadou, both physical anthropologists and PhD candidates at the Laboratory of Physical Anthropology of the Democritus University of Thrace, will present their research on the demographic and dietary trends of the population of Ambracia, using cutting-edge methods.
Finally, there will be a demonstration of the use of tools and equipment for the sampling and analysis of ancient DNA in the Archaeo-Bio Open Lab. This will be an open laboratory for the handling of archaeological biological material for ancient DNA analysis.
After the completion of the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to visit the archaeological site of the Western Necropolis of Ambracia, as well as the permanent and temporary exhibitions of the Archaeological Museum of Arta. Participation in the workshop is free, with a maximum of 30 participants per day.
For information about the activity and to register, you can contact the archaeologist of the APOIKIA project, Dimitra Papakosta, at the telephone numbers of the Archaeological Museum of Arta (26810 21191 & 26810 71700), or Ms. Vasiliki Galani, Archaeologist, at the telephone of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Arta (26810 24636 - ext. 33).
We look forward to seeing you!
Η αποσπασματικότητα διατήρησης του υλικού πολιτισμού από διαφορετικές χρονολογικές περιόδους και ... more Η αποσπασματικότητα διατήρησης του υλικού πολιτισμού από διαφορετικές χρονολογικές περιόδους και η έλλειψη επαρκών γραπτών μαρτυριών, ειδικότερα για τις απώτερες στο χρόνο εποχές, καθιστά συχνά δυσχερή την κατανόηση του παρελθόντος από το μη εξειδικευμένο κοινό. Εξ αυτού, οι αρχαιότητες, τα αρχαιολογικά ευρήματα, τα μνημεία και οι αρχαιολογικοί χώροι παγιώνονται στην κοινή συνείδηση ως έννοιες ξένες, απομακρυσμένες από την καθημερινότητα και τα βιώματα των ανθρώπων, ακόμη και σε περιπτώσεις που αυτά αναμειγνύονται στον σύγχρονο πολεοδομικό ιστό μιας περιοχής και η οπτική, τουλάχιστον, επαφή είναι αναπόφευκτη. Ένα σημαντικό εργαλείο που διαθέτει η Αρχαιολογική Υπηρεσία για να γεφυρωθεί το κενό επαφής και ενδιαφέροντος είναι τα εκπαιδευτικά προγράμματα, που υλοποιούνται σε μουσεία, μνημεία και αρχαιολογικούς χώρους και απευθύνονται κυρίως στην εκπαιδευτική κοινότητα αλλά και σε ομάδες κοινού διαφορετικών ηλικιών, καθώς και κοινωνικών χαρακτηριστικών. Στόχος της παρούσας μελέτης είναι η παρουσίαση του ρόλου των εκπαιδευτικών δράσεων στην προσέγγιση της κοινωνίας και ιδιαιτέρως της μαθητικής κοινότητας, στη μετάδοση της επιστημονικής πληροφορίας και στην επίτευξη της εξοικείωσης του κοινού με το πολιτιστικό αγαθό
The pedestal was presented for the first time in a lecture on 27.11.2022 at the Archaeological Mu... more The pedestal was presented for the first time in a lecture on 27.11.2022 at the Archaeological Museum of Ioannina, in the context of the action jointly implemented by the four Archaeological Museums of Epirus entitled "The power of 4".
The stone finding came to light during excavation works in the courtyard of the Byzantine monument of Aghia Theodora. Under its foundation sprawls one of the most important public buildings of Amvrakia, the Prytaneion, from which the exhibit comes from.
On its front side it features an inscription, of which three verses are preserved: OF ZEUS GENETOR/ IN FAVOUR OF PYRRUS/ KING. The position of the pedestal within the public center of the ancient city ensured its public viewing, but also the purpose of its inscription: the gratitude of the Amvrakians to their Molossian leader.
The Amvrakian exhibit is a unique finding for the excavation data of Epirus, as it features the name of the leading personality of the ancient political and military history of the northwestern Greek world.
Το βάθρο παρουσιάστηκε για πρώτη φορά σε διάλεξη στις 27.11.2022 στο Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Ιωαννίνων, στο πλαίσιο της δράσης που υλοποίησαν από κοινού τα τέσσερα Αρχαιολογικά Μουσεία της Ηπείρου με τίτλο« Η δύναμη των 4».
Το λίθινο εύρημα ήρθε στο φως κατά τη διάρκεια ανασκαφικών εργασιών στην αυλή του βυζαντινού μνημείου της Αγίας Θεοδώρας. Στο θεμέλιά του εκτείνεται ένα από τα πιο σημαντικά δημόσια κτήρια της Αμβρακίας,το Πρυτανείο,από το οποίο προέρχεται το έκθεμα.
Στη μία όψη φέρει επιγραφή, από την οποία σώζονται τρεις στίχοι. ΔΙΟΣ ΓΕΝΕΤΟΡΟΣ/ ΥΠΕΡ ΠΥΡΡΟΥ / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ.Η θέση του βάθρου εντός του δημόσιου κέντρου της αρχαίας πόλης εξασφάλιζε την κοινή θέασή του, αλλά και τον σκοπό της επιγραφής του: την ευγνωμοσύνη των Αμβρακιωτών στον Μολοσσό ηγήτορά τους.
Tο έκθεμα της Αμβρακίας αποτελεί ένα μοναδικό εύρημαγια τα ανασκαφικά δεδομένα της Ηπείρου, καθώς φέρει χαραγμένο το όνομα της κορυφαίας προσωπικότητας της αρχαίας πολιτικής και στρατιωτικής ιστορίας του βορειοδυτικού ελλαδικού κόσμου.
ΜΟΛΟΤΤΙΣ. Αρχαιολογικός Άτλαντας των αρχαίων θέσεων της Π.Ε. Ιωαννίνων / MOLOTTIS. Archaeological map of the ancient sites of the regional unit of Ioannina, Epirus, 2022
Οικιστική οργάνωση Μολοττίδος 281 ΤΟ ΙΔΙΑΙΤΕΡΑ ΚΑΤΑΚΕΡΜΑΤΙΣΜΕΝΟ ΑΝΑΓΛΥΦΟ ΤΗΣ ΗΠΕΙΡΟΥ, που χαρακτη... more Οικιστική οργάνωση Μολοττίδος 281 ΤΟ ΙΔΙΑΙΤΕΡΑ ΚΑΤΑΚΕΡΜΑΤΙΣΜΕΝΟ ΑΝΑΓΛΥΦΟ ΤΗΣ ΗΠΕΙΡΟΥ, που χαρακτηρίζεται από τεράστιους ορεινούς όγκους ανάμεσα στους οποίους αναπτύσσονται μικρές κοιλάδες, έπαιξε καθοριστικό ρόλο στη διαμόρφωση των πολιτιστικών σχηματισμών, δηλαδή των εθνών, που κατοίκησαν την περιοχή (Στράβων Γεωγραφικά Ζ, 7.5). Οι Ηπειρώτες, όπως και οι γείτονες τους οι Μακεδόνες, έμειναν πιστοί στην παλαιοκρατική φυλετική οργάνωση, σύμφωνα με τις φιλολογικές, επιγραφικές και νομισματικές μαρτυρίες των ιστορικών χρόνων. Από την Εποχή του Σιδήρου (12 ος-7 ος αι. π.Χ.) και έως τα τέλη του 5 ου αι. π.Χ. επικρατούσε η κατοίκηση κατά κώμας (Ψευδο-Σκύλαξ, Περίπλ. 32), η κατοίκηση δηλαδή σε μικρούς ανοχύρωτους οικισμούς. Η ανεύρεση οικοδομικών καταλοίπων είναι πενιχρή και έχει οδηγήσει στην υπόθεση ότι οι εγκαταστάσεις είχαν την μορφή πρόχειρων καταυλισμών, στους οποίους κατοικούσαν νομάδες ή ημινομάδες βοσκοί 282. Χαρακτηριστικό παράδειγμα αυτού του τύπου εγκατάστασης, κατά την πρώιμη εποχή του Σιδήρου, αποτελούν οι ορεινοί οικισμοί στη Βίτσα Ζαγορίου 283 , στο Λιατοβούνι Κόνιτσας 284 και στο Πωγώνι (Παλιουριά Παλιοπύργου, Γκλάβα Κάτω Μερόπης και Ανεμόμυλος Μερόπης) 285. Στις πεδινές εκτάσεις του λεκανοπέδιου αντίστοιχου τύπου οικισμοί αναπτύχτηκαν στην Κρύα 286 , στη Δουρούτη 287 και στους ανατολικούς πρόποδες του λόφου της Καστρίτσας 288. Οι οικίες είχαν την μορφή απλών οικοδομημάτων, μονόχωρων ή δί
The Greek colonial expansion of the early 1st millennium BC spread people, goods, art, ideas and ... more The Greek colonial expansion of the early 1st millennium BC spread people, goods, art, ideas and lifestyles across the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The relationships between the mother-cities and colonies were multidirectional, profitable for both entities, and in some cases the colonies preceded the motherland in terms of cultural and political developments. Within this context the reconstruction of dietary habits can shed significant light on these interactions, as food in ancient Greek societies was regarded as a marker of ethnic and cultural differentiation. To address pending questions about subsistence in ancient colonies, we apply the established method of stable isotope analysis in human bone collagen to present the diet in the colony of Ambracia, from its occupation phase (archaic era) up to its destruction (Hellenistic era). Ambracia was founded by the city of Corinth in 625 B.C. on the banks of the river Arachthos in western Greece. The geostrategic location, at the crossroad of southern and northern Greece, made the colony a melting pot of cultural and commercial exchange particularly during the classical period (480-323 BC). Our dataset consists values of stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen (δ15N, δ13C) from bone collagen of 158 human skeletons from the western cemetery of ancient Ambracia. Preliminary results show that terrestrial animal protein played a pivotal role in the dietary habits of the population with a lesser contribution of C3 plants and marine resources. Our findings will be correlated with literary evidence and other dietary studies in total period datasets from ancient Greek colonies. Our observations aim to delineate the dietary shifts during the colonization process and shed light on the intensely debated subject of daily life during the second Greek colonization in mainland ancient Greece.
The contribution of the innovative research program APOIKIA to the study the phenomenon of Corint... more The contribution of the innovative research program APOIKIA to the study the phenomenon of Corinthian Colonization in the area of the modern city of Arta (V. Papadopoulou, Ar. Vasios, D. Papakosta and K. Xanthopoulos) 10:20-10:40 O2. WEaning Age FiNder (WEAN): A tool for estimating weaning age from isotopic data of dentine microsections (E. Ganiatsou, A. Souleles and C. Papageorgopoulou) 10:40-11:00 O3. Geometric morphometric analysis of human skeletal material from ancient Thessaloniki. Reconstructing the population history of an urban center (A.
The contribution of the innovative research program APOIKIA to the study the phenomenon of Corint... more The contribution of the innovative research program APOIKIA to the study the phenomenon of Corinthian Colonization in the area of the modern city of Arta (V. Papadopoulou, Ar. Vasios, D. Papakosta and K. Xanthopoulos) 10:20-10:40 O2. WEaning Age FiNder (WEAN): A tool for estimating weaning age from isotopic data of dentine microsections (E. Ganiatsou, A. Souleles and C. Papageorgopoulou) 10:40-11:00 O3. Geometric morphometric analysis of human skeletal material from ancient Thessaloniki. Reconstructing the population history of an urban center (A.
The contribution of the innovative research program APOIKIA to the study the phenomenon of Corint... more The contribution of the innovative research program APOIKIA to the study the phenomenon of Corinthian Colonization in the area of the modern city of Arta (V. Papadopoulou, Ar. Vasios, D. Papakosta and K. Xanthopoulos) 10:20-10:40 O2. WEaning Age FiNder (WEAN): A tool for estimating weaning age from isotopic data of dentine microsections (E. Ganiatsou, A. Souleles and C. Papageorgopoulou) 10:40-11:00 O3. Geometric morphometric analysis of human skeletal material from ancient Thessaloniki. Reconstructing the population history of an urban center (A.
The contribution of the innovative research program APOIKIA to the study the phenomenon of Corint... more The contribution of the innovative research program APOIKIA to the study the phenomenon of Corinthian Colonization in the area of the modern city of Arta (V. Papadopoulou, Ar. Vasios, D. Papakosta and K. Xanthopoulos) 10:20-10:40 O2. WEaning Age FiNder (WEAN): A tool for estimating weaning age from isotopic data of dentine microsections (E. Ganiatsou, A. Souleles and C. Papageorgopoulou) 10:40-11:00 O3. Geometric morphometric analysis of human skeletal material from ancient Thessaloniki. Reconstructing the population history of an urban center (A.
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2018
The Filanthropinon monastery church is regarded the birthplace of the BEpirus/NW Greece School^of... more The Filanthropinon monastery church is regarded the birthplace of the BEpirus/NW Greece School^of painting as it bears the oldest wall paintings of this very school. Surviving inscriptions bear no painter name(s), yet they testify that the murals were executed in three phases between 1531/2 and 1560. The bulk of the technical and typological characteristics of the latter paintings are typical of post-Byzantine religious art, while OM, SEM-EDX, and micro-Raman probing reveals the existence of a number of idiomorphic characteristics that might be viewed as part of the microscopic fingerprint of the BEpirus school.^A microscopic fingerprint of the school is important because current attributions of relevant works to specific painters are mostly stylistic ones, as pertinent signatures are rare. The latter characteristics include the application of a Bcharcoal plus blue smalt^substrate in the paintings' background and the employment of a possibly local (: Epirus), unusual ochre pigment. Sophisticated segregation of pigment grains, employment of glauconite, and the extensive use of San Giovanni white were also documented. Analytical data support the following scheme as regards artistic identities: the 1531/2 nave paintings were executed by a single painter, possibly assisted by a pupil who also contributed to the 1542 paintings. The paintings of the 1542 and 1560 phases are apparently the outcome of another-yet related to the nave painter-workshop; there are clues which indicate employment of Georgios and Frangos Kontaris in both of these commissions. Finally, remnants of four different overpaintings were also revealed: pertinent pigments indicate successive interventions during an extended period of time, which reflect the will of Filanthropinon votaries to retain the murals vivid.
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2017
St Basil’s late Byzantine church in Arta (NW Greece) is unique among other surviving churches of ... more St Basil’s late Byzantine church in Arta (NW Greece) is unique among other surviving churches of the same era as a result of two glazed relief ceramic icons and arrays of square glazed tiles that decorate its external wall. The latter decorative items were carefully examined by means of analytical techniques in order to reveal the materials and techniques used for their manufacture and thus interpret their connection to the contemporary Byzantine and Italian ceramics. Analytical results indicate that lead plus quartz suspensions were employed for the fabrication of the majority of the glazes in the spirit of recipes for Italian Archaic majolica pottery, and thus they are differentiated from the common contemporary Byzantine products. Nonetheless, the raw materials used in the Arta area ceramics deviate substantially from those used in the Italian products and, possibly, a local (NW Greece) production is reflected. The unexpected rather rich variety of raw materials and/or techniques that underlies the visual uniformity of the glazed material in consideration might reflect selection of the best products generated upon experimentation with various contemporary technical alternatives. Finally, the decorative arrangement of the glazed items that we see today might reflect a way to circumventing original objections to the ceramic icon innovation.
Archaeometry, 2015
The grounds of 51 post-Byzantine icons (Eastern Orthodox panel paintings) were studied by means o... more The grounds of 51 post-Byzantine icons (Eastern Orthodox panel paintings) were studied by means of analytical techniques. The artefacts cover the period from the mid-15th to the mid-19th century and originate mainly from western (Epirus and the Ionian Islands) and southern Greece (Crete). The findings are examined in the light of technical recipes from related areas and eras, while special insights are gained from the exploration of a gypsum processing recipe by Dionysius of Fourna. A spectrum of ground fabrication practices that is richer than that reported so far or can be deduced from surviving Greek recipes is documented; three instances of ‘grosso-sottile’ type grounds and a case of ‘inverse grosso-sottile’ ground are among the reported novel, for post-Byzantine icons, findings. Moreover, a case of an early icon restoration intervention is documented.
Archaeometry, 2017
Metal leaves were widely used as decorative materials in post-Byzantine ritual painting. Fiftytwo... more Metal leaves were widely used as decorative materials in post-Byzantine ritual painting. Fiftytwo icons (mid-15th to mid-19th centuries) were studied by means of analytical techniques in order to reveal the materials and techniques encountered in their metal-leaf decorations. High-purity gold leaf was used throughout the studied period. Silver was employed rarely and mostly during the latter part of the period in consideration, while metal powders were mostly used from the mid-18th century onwards. The identification of a gold-silver powder mixture and an 'electrum'-type alloy are among the reported findings, which are novel for post-Byzantine icons. Three micromorphologically distinct highlighting techniques were also documented.
Το παιχνίδι στην Αμβρακία: αθύρματα για παιχνιδίσματα, 2022
Σύντομη έκδοση που συνόδευε ομώνυμη περιοδική έκθεση του Αρχαιολογικού Μουσείου Άρτας, στην οποία... more Σύντομη έκδοση που συνόδευε ομώνυμη περιοδική έκθεση του Αρχαιολογικού Μουσείου Άρτας, στην οποία παρουσιάστηκαν τα παιχνίδια που ήταν δημοφιλή στην αρχαία πόλη, σε διαφορετικές ηλικιακές ομάδες.
The archaeological research of several decades in Arta has brought to light a
significant number of artefacts, which are identified as toys. They originate mainly from the cemeteries, used as grave goods, but also from the private houses of the ancient city. In the permanent exhibition of the Archaeological Museum of Arta one can find various types of toys, of which the most prominent are those associated with children, such as rattles, clay dolls and animal shaped figurines. Furthermore, toys associated with adults are
also exhibited, such as the board game engraved on an ancient house’s inner courtyard limestone slab, the knucklebones and the dice.
This exhibition includes some of the best preserved samples of toys from Ambracia, many of which are exhibited for the first time.
To Μικρό Θέατρο-Βουλευτήριο της Αμβρακίας, 2023
Large sections of Ambracia, one of the most important colonies the Corinthians founded in NW Gree... more Large sections of Ambracia, one of the most important colonies the Corinthians founded in NW Greece in the context of the 2nd Greek colonization, came to light through long-runningrescue excavations that are carried out in the city of Arta.
The city’s neat urban planning served as prototype for quite a few neighbouring ones. Impressive public buildings adorned its administrative-religious centre. Among them stands out the Small Theatre of Ambracia, which was located in an excavation of 1976 in the centre of the modern city of Arta.
The new archaeological data that were uncovered during the last years gave rise to a new approach regarding the use of the edifice as Bouleuterion (Assembly House). The ground plan, the size and its setting at the core of the city’s centre are some of the monument’s special features, which do not seem to comply with the general principles that apply to the erection of the ancient Greek theatres.
The volume entitled Res Gestae. The work of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Arta during the years ... more The volume entitled Res Gestae. The work of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Arta during the years 2014 - 2020, presents the work conducted for the antiquities by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Arta under my supervision. The city of Arta and its surrounding area was the core for the development of considerable urban centres in the past, as demonstrated by the succession of the Corinthian colony of Ambracia in antiquity by the byzantine Arta and the Ottoman Narda.
During the years that followed the foundation of the local Ephorate, in 2014, a number of large-scale projects for the promotion of archaeological sites and monuments was concluded, excavations that brought to light new and largely unidentified to date archaeological sites and finds were executed and the frescoes in numerous Byzantine monuments were conserved, while the closer contact of the Ephorate and the antiquities with the local society was achieved through numerous extroversion activities.
Ο συλλογικός τόμος «Res Gestae. Τα Πεπραγμένα της Εφορείας Αρχαιοτήτων Άρτας κατά τα έτη 2014-2020» περιλαμβάνει το έργο που πραγματοποίησε η Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Άρτας υπό την επίβλεψή μου σε αρχαιολογικούς χώρους και μνημεία της αρμοδιότητάς της. Η Άρτα και η ευρύτερη περιοχή της αποτέλεσαν τον πυρήνα για την ανάπτυξη μεγάλων αστικών κέντρων ανά τους αιώνες, της Αμβρακίας, κορινθιακής αποικίας κατά τους αρχαίους χρόνους, της βυζαντινής Άρτας και της Narda των οθωμανικών χρόνων.
Κατά τη διάρκεια των ετών που ακολούθησαν μετά την ίδρυση της Εφορείας το 2014 ολοκληρώθηκαν μεγάλα έργα ανάδειξης αρχαιολογικών χώρων και μνημείων, πραγματοποιήθηκαν ανασκαφικές έρευνες που έφεραν στο φως νέες, άγνωστες μέχρι σήμερα, αρχαιολογικές θέσεις και ευρήματα, έγινε συντήρηση τοιχογραφιών πολλών βυζαντινών και μεταβυζαντινών μνημείων, ενώ μέσα από τις πολυάριθμες δράσεις εξωστρέφειας πραγματοποιήθηκε μία ουσιαστική προσέγγιση της τοπικής κοινωνίας με την Υπηρεσία και τις αρχαιότητες.
Booklet from the exibition at "Athens University History Museum" ( 24 Oct. - 17 Dec. 2018 ) T... more Booklet from the exibition at "Athens University History Museum" ( 24 Oct. - 17 Dec. 2018 )
The modern ceramic tradition of Arta remained for centuries in obscurity in contrast to the ancient Greek pottery. However, during excavations at the city of Arta and the surrounding area various pottery kilns and pits for the disposal of defective and useless ceramics were unearthed, from which a large number of glazed pottery fragments was collected. These finds, mostly, cups, plates and jugs, demonstrate that during the period following the Ottoman conquest of the region, various ceramic products were used by every household in Arta regardless of their financial status. These ceramics did not meet only the needs of everyday domestic life, but addressed also to customers who purchased ornate ceramics for both table service and decoration, evidenced by their elaborate shapes, their elegant decoration and their color variety. At the same period various imported products circulated in the city from ceramic workshops of western Europe, indicating the close commercial and cultural contacts of Arta and Epirus in general with Italy as well as northern Europe. Through this rich ceramic material the visitor can get acquainted with the refined aesthetics of the local people in Arta, but also with the elaborate the gastronomic habits of Epirus in general, establishing the old capital of the Despotate of Epirus as a major Post Byzantine center and modern ceramic workshop.
The exhibition "Seven stories on ceramics from Arta" is a continuation of the periodical exhibition "Modern ceramics from Arta, 16th - 20th century", organized by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Arta in the Archaeological Museum of the city from July 2017 to September 2018, in collaboration with the Centre for the Study of Modern Pottery – G. Psaropoulos Foundation. The exhibition presents some of the most important and best preserved samples of local and imported products from a rich ceramic material from Arta. Among these the exhibition presents glazed vases decorated with varied representations, tableware and ceramics for daily use, as well as objects related to marriage, smoking and coffee consumption, in an attempt to acquaint the visitor with the modern ceramic production of the city and the parallel circulation of foreign pottery.
This exhibition is being held in the framework of the 12th International Conference on Medieval and Modern Ceramics in the Mediterranean.
Η νεότερη κεραμική παράδοση της Άρτας παρέμενε για αιώνες στην αφάνεια σε αντίθεση με την αρχαία ελληνική αγγειοπλαστική. Κατά τη διάρκεια ανασκαφών στην πόλη της Άρτας και στην ευρύτερη περιοχή έχουν έρθει στο φως κεραμικοί κλίβανοι και αποθέτες για την απόρριψη άχρηστων κεραμικών, από τα οποία συγκεντρώθηκε πλήθος θραυσμάτων εφυαλωμένων αγγείων. Ο μεγάλος αριθμός από κούπες, πινάκια και κανάτια φανερώνει ότι την περίοδο που ακολούθησε την οθωμανική κατάκτηση, αλλά και πιο πριν, τα πήλινα αντικείμενα αποτελούσαν απαραίτητα χρηστικά αντικείμενα για κάθε αρτινό νοικοκυριό ανεξαρτήτως οικονομικής κατάστασης. Τα κεραμικά αυτά είδη δεν ανταποκρίνονταν μόνο στις ανάγκες της καθημερινής οικιακής ζωής, αλλά απευθυνόταν και σε πελατεία που αγόραζε περίτεχνα κεραμικά τόσο για επιτραπέζια χρήση όσο και για διακόσμηση, όπως τεκμηριώνεται από τα περίτεχνα σχήματα, την καλαίσθητη διακόσμηση και τη χρωματική τους ποικιλία. Παράλληλα στην πόλη κυκλοφορούσαν και εισηγμένα προϊόντα από κεραμικά εργαστήρια της Δυτικής Ευρώπης, που υποδηλώνουν τις στενές εμπορικές και πολιτισμικές επαφές της Άρτας και της Ηπείρου γενικότερα με την Ιταλία και τη Βόρεια Ευρώπη. Μέσω αυτού του πλούσιου κεραμικού υλικού διαφαίνεται η εκλεπτυσμένη αισθητική των κατοίκων της Άρτας, αλλά και οι γαστρονομικές συνήθειες των Ηπειρωτών γενικότερα, καθιερώνοντας την παλαιά πρωτεύουσα του Δεσποτάτου της Ηπείρου κέντρο μεταβυζαντινής και νεότερης κεραμικής τέχνης.
Η έκθεση «Επτά ιστορίες κεραμικής από την Άρτα» αποτελεί συνέχεια της περιοδικής έκθεσης «H νεότερη κεραμική της Άρτας, 16ος – 20ός αιώνας», την οποία διοργάνωσε η Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Άρτας στο Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο της πόλης από τον Ιούλιο του 2017 ως τον Σεπτέμβριο του 2018, σε συνεργασία με το Κέντρο Μελέτης Νεώτερης Κεραμεικής - Ίδρυμα οικ. Γ. Ψαροπούλου. Στην έκθεση παρουσιάζεται ένα μέρος από τα σημαντικότερα και καλύτερα διατηρημένα δείγματα τοπικών και εισηγμένων προϊόντων από ένα πλούσιο κεραμικό υλικό από την Άρτα. Μεταξύ άλλων εκτίθενται εφυαλωμένα αγγεία διακοσμημένα με ποικίλες παραστάσεις, επιτραπέζια αγγεία, αγγεία καθημερινής χρήσης, καθώς επίσης αντικείμενα που σχετίζονταν με τον γάμο, το κάπνισμα και την κατανάλωση καφέ, σε μια προσπάθεια να γνωρίσει ο επισκέπτης τη νεότερη κεραμική παραγωγή της πόλης και την παράλληλη κυκλοφορία ξένων κεραμικών.
Η έκθεση αυτή διοργανώνεται στο πλαίσιο του 12ου Διεθνούς Συνεδρίου Μεσαιωνικής και Νεότερης Κεραμικής της Μεσογείου.
Booklet from the exibition at "Athens University History Museum" ( 24 Oct. - 17 Dec. 2018 )
Post Byzantine monuments of Klimatia. Ioannina 2014, Greece (author and ed.)
41 Συμπόσιο Βυζαντινής και Μεταβυζαντινής Αρχαιολογίας και Τέχνης. Περιλήψεις σ. 101-102., 2022
Paregoretissa Arta
Η Παρηγορήτισσα, ένα από τα σημαντικότερα μνημεία του Δεσποτάτου της Ηπείρου, υπήρξε καθολικό άλλ... more Η Παρηγορήτισσα, ένα από τα σημαντικότερα μνημεία του Δεσποτάτου
της Ηπείρου, υπήρξε καθολικό άλλοτε βυζαντινής μονής η ανέγερση και η
ανακαίνιση της οποίας συνδέεται με τον Μιχαήλ Β΄ και το Νικηφόρο Α, ηγεμόνες
του Κράτους της Ηπείρου και επιφανή μέλη της οικογένειας των
Κομνηνοδουκάδων.
Στον σπάνιο αρχιτεκτονικό τύπο του καθολικού έχουν χρησιμοποιηθεί για
τη στήριξη του τρούλου ένας μεγάλος αριθμός κιόνων, διαφορετικών
διαστάσεων, που προέρχονται από ρωμαϊκά ή παλαιοχριστιανικά κτίρια, η
προέλευση των οποίων δεν είναι γνωστή. Οι κάθετα τοποθετημένοι κίονες
φέρουν κιονόκρανα, επίσης διαφόρων τύπων (κορινθιακά ρωμαϊκών και
παλαιοχριστιανικών χρόνων, κορινθιακά τύπου V και VII, κιονόκρανα σύνθετα
κορινθιακά, με μετάλλια κ.ά.). Μερικά από τα παλαιοχριστιανικά κιονόκρανα
του ναού έχουν επαναλαξευθεί, πιθανότατα κατά την υστεροβυζαντινή εποχή,
ενώ άλλα έχουν χρησιμοποιηθεί ως βάσεις των κιόνων, τα περισσότερα από τα
οποία είναι ιωνικά ή ιωνικά με συμφυές επίθημα.
Τα αρχιτεκτονικά γλυπτά της Παρηγορήτισσας δεν στοιχειοθετούν μια
χρονολογική ενότητα, παρουσιάζουν όμως εξαιρετικό ενδιαφέρον, καθώς
αντιπροσωπεύονται πολλοί τύποι ρωμαϊκών και κυρίως παλαιοχριστιανικών
κιονοκράνων. Τα περισσότερα πιθανολογούμε ότι προέρχονται από ένα εμπόριο
σπολίων, το οποίο ανθούσε στην περιοχή της Άρτας κατά τους βυζαντινούς
χρόνους, άποψη που τεκμηριώνεται και από τα επαναχρησιμοποιημένα
ανάλογα αρχιτεκτονικά μέλη που συναντώνται και σε άλλους βυζαντινούς ναούς
της Άρτας (Κάτω Παναγιά, Αγία θεοδώρα κ.α.).
Στην ανακοίνωσή μας αυτή εξετάζονται αρκετά από τα παραπάνω
ανάγλυφα αρχιτεκτονικά μέλη, διατυπώνονται απόψεις σχετικά με την αρχική
προέλευσή τους και σημειώνονται οι ομοιότητες που αυτά παρουσιάζουν με
άλλα που έχουν βρεθεί στην ευρύτερη περιοχή της Ηπείρου.
Η ΠΑΡΗΓΟΡΗΤΙΣΣΑ ΤΗΣ ΑΡΤΑΣ, 2014
The church of the Panayia Parigoritissa, dedicated to the Annunciation, was built at the end of t... more The church of the Panayia Parigoritissa, dedicated to the Annunciation, was built at the end of the 13th century by the despot of Epirus Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas and his wife Anna Palaiologina. It was formerly the Katholikon of a large monastery, of which 16 cells and the Refectory are also preserved.
Η εκκλησία της Παναγίας Παρηγορήτισσας είναι αφιερωμένη στον Ευαγγελισμό της Θεοτόκου και χτίστηκε στα τέλη του 13ου αιώνα, από τον δεσπότη της Ηπείρου Νικηφόρο Α' Κομνηνό Δούκα και τη σύζυγό του Άννα Παλαιολογίνα. Παλαιότερα αποτελούσε καθολικό μεγάλου μοναστηριού, από το οποίο σώζονται επίσης 16 κελιά και η Τράπεζα, δηλαδή το εστιατόριο της μονής.
The contribution of the innovative research program APOIKIA to the study the phenomenon of Corint... more The contribution of the innovative research program APOIKIA to the study the phenomenon of Corinthian Colonization in the area of the modern city of Arta (V. Papadopoulou, Ar. Vasios, D. Papakosta and K. Xanthopoulos) 10:20-10:40 O2. WEaning Age FiNder (WEAN): A tool for estimating weaning age from isotopic data of dentine microsections (E. Ganiatsou, A. Souleles and C. Papageorgopoulou) 10:40-11:00 O3. Geometric morphometric analysis of human skeletal material from ancient Thessaloniki. Reconstructing the population history of an urban center (A.
The contribution of the innovative research program APOIKIA to the study the phenomenon of Corint... more The contribution of the innovative research program APOIKIA to the study the phenomenon of Corinthian Colonization in the area of the modern city of Arta (V. Papadopoulou, Ar. Vasios, D. Papakosta and K. Xanthopoulos) 10:20-10:40 O2. WEaning Age FiNder (WEAN): A tool for estimating weaning age from isotopic data of dentine microsections (E. Ganiatsou, A. Souleles and C. Papageorgopoulou) 10:40-11:00 O3. Geometric morphometric analysis of human skeletal material from ancient Thessaloniki. Reconstructing the population history of an urban center (A.
by Paschalis Androudis, Mustafa Çağhan Keskin, Lilyana Yordanova, Maximilian Hartmuth, Efthymios Rizos, Melina Perdikopoulou, Katerina Kousoula, Androniki Batzikosta, Sonia Gkounta, Dimitris P. Drakoulis, Nikolaos Vryzidis, Georgia Graikou, Dimitris Liakos, Aineias Oikonomou, Varvara Papadopoulou, Tenia Anastasiadou, Ρούλα Σδρόλια, Kostas Kamburidis, Ayşe KAYAPINAR, Χρύσα Μελκίδη, ELEFTHERIA TSAKANIKA, Emre Kolay, Eleni Faka, Marina Petkakis, and Eleftheria Konstantinidou
Machiel Kiel is a pioneering and prominent figure in the study of Ottoman architecture in the Bal... more Machiel Kiel is a pioneering and prominent figure in the study of Ottoman architecture in the Balkans. He has traveled and researched the area extensively since the late 1960s.The Ottoman monuments in Greece are studied by him beginning with an article on Thessaloniki, which was published in the Balkan Studies journal in 1970. Nowadays,
more than half a century later, it is worthy to revisit the topic with the organization of an international conference in orde r to trace the current condition of fields such as the research and conservation of Ottoman architecture , urban formation, the history of the city, as well as both Ottoman and Christian art with a focus in Greece