Greece’s top-10 archaelogical discoveries during the last decade

Α Decrease font Enlarge font
Greece’s top-10 archaelogical discoveries during the last decadeThey have forever changed our understanding of history

Greece has countless ruins to visit and historical sites to explore, all of which are priceless archaeological treasures. However, some discoveries made in the last decade are so spectacular that they have forever changed our understanding of history, greekreporter.com notes in the following article:

Here’s a look at some of the most important archaeological finds in Greece during the last ten years:

1.The magnificent Amphipolis Tomb, discovered in 2012

In 2012 Greek archaeologists unearthed a large tomb deep within Kasta Hill, the largest burial mound in Greece, northeast of Amphipolis.

The tomb is dated back to the late 4th century BC, sometime during the period after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC.

It is not yet known who is buried in the tomb. Initial public speculation that it could be the tomb of Alexander the Great, due to its size and the estimated cost of construction, was dismissed by experts. All known historical records mention Alexandria, Egypt as the final resting place of Alexander the Great, although he died in Baghdad.

It has been suggested that the occupant of the splendidly-decorated Amphipolis tomb could either be a wealthy Macedonian noble or a member of the Macedonian royal family.

There are two sphinxes just outside the entrance to the tomb. Two of the columns supporting the roof in the first section are in the form of Caryatids, in the style of the 4th century BC.

The excavation revealed a breathtakingly beautiful pebble mosaic showing the abduction of Persephone by Hades. The mosaic is directly behind the Caryatids and in front of the Macedonian-marble door leading to the “third” chamber.

2. Thessaloniki treasures, discovered in 2010

A 15-year subway project in Greece’s northern metropolis has shed light on previously-unknown facets of daily life in the history of the 2,300-year-old city.

The excavation has uncovered Thessaloniki’s central sixth-century highway, as well as a marble plaza, a fountain and a headless statue of Aphrodite.

Thousands of priceless ancient finds such as coins, mosaics and statues have also been uncovered.

Most of the finds are from the Byzantine era. However, archaeologists say as excavations continue, new finds from the Roman era are coming to the surface. They hope to discover artifacts or buildings from the time Thessaloniki was founded, in the era of Cassander, sometime around 300 BC.

3. Long-lost city of ancient Tenea resurfaces – 2018 

The discovery of the long-lost city of Ancient Tenea is considered among the fifteen largest art historical discoveries of 2018.

Greek archaeologists discovered jewelry, dozens of coins and remnants of a housing settlement, affirming the location of the ancient city thought to have been founded by survivors of the Trojan War in the 12th or 13th century BCE.

Until last year, the location of Tenea had been based mainly on historical references, and the spectacular find finally proved the existence and exact location of the city.

The most recent excavation unearthed seven graves dating to the Roman era and the Hellenistic period, and, for the first time, remnants of a settlement.

4. Oldest extract of Homer’s Odyssey, found in 2018

A team of Greek and German researchers found what they believe to be the oldest known extract of Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey” on an engraved clay plaque in ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games.

The extract comprises thirteen verses from the Odyssey’s “14th Rhapsody”, where the hero Odysseus addresses his lifelong friend Eumaeus. Preliminary estimates date the finding to the Roman era, probably before the third century AD.

The exact date still needs to be confirmed, but the plaque was still “a great archaeological, epigraphic, literary and historical exhibit,” according to the Greek Ministry of Culture.

“The Odyssey”, 12,109 lines of poetry attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer, tells the epic story of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, who wanders for 10 years trying to get home after the fall of Troy.

5. Oldest intact shipwreck in the world, discovered in 2018

A Greek merchant ship dating back more than 2,400 years was discovered lying upright in the sea off the Bulgarian coast.

The 23m (75 foot) wooden ship, found in the Black Sea by an Anglo-Bulgarian team, was hailed as officially the world’s oldest known intact shipwreck.

Researchers were stunned to find the merchant vessel closely resembled in design a ship which decorated ancient Greek wine vases.

The rudder, rowing benches and even the contents of its hold remain intact. While older shipwrecks have been discovered, what sets this one apart is its incredible state of preservation. This is because the seawater in that area contains almost no oxygen at that depth.

6. Shackled remains, unearthed in 2016

At least 80 skeletons lie in a mass grave in an ancient Greek cemetery, their wrists clamped by iron shackles.They are the victims, say archaeologists, of a mass execution. But who they were, how they got there and why they appear to have been buried with a measure of respect – that all remains a mystery.

They were found in an area of the Falyron Delta necropolis. This is a large ancient cemetery which was unearthed during the construction of a national opera house and library between downtown Athens and the port of Piraeus.

The cemetery dates from between the eighth and fifth centuries BC.

One of the strongest hypotheses is that the executed men had been supporters of Cylon, an Athenian noble and Olympic champion who staged an attempted coup in Athens in 632 BC with the help of his father-in–law, the tyrant of Megara.

The coup failed, and Cylon hid in a temple of the Acropolis. He managed to escape, but the people who backed him were killed.

7. The ancient Marketplace of Argilos, excavated in 2013

While archaeologists were further excavating the site of the ancient city of Argilos, northern Greece, in 2013, they stumbled upon its “portico”, or a group of shops – something like a modern-day mall.

This ancient marketplace had different qualities than those experts have come across in the past, making it a rare find.

Unlike other porticoes discovered from antiquity, this one was made up of different rooms, suggesting that each shop owner constructed his own place of business.

The ancient marketplace dates back to some 2,500 years ago, making it the oldest portico ever found in northern Greece.

8. Ancient Naval Base at Piraeus Harbor, discovered in 2010

In 2010, a local fisherman guided a group of archaeologists to his favorite fishing spot which he had frequented as a child. He told them he used to sit on ancient columns peeking out from the sea in the northern side of Mounichia in the port of Piraeus.

It turned out that the columns were part of the ruins of an ancient naval base dating back as far as 480 BC.

The ancient Greek naval base played a pivotal role in defeating the Persian Empire in the historical Battle of Salamis, and since its initial discovery in 2010, many new discoveries around the ruins have come to light.

Exploration of the partially-sunken port undertaken by the “Zea Harbor Project” have uncovered ancient boat sheds and other artifacts of ancient Piraeus.

9. 4,000-year-old Pyramid with Plumbing System, 2018

The archaeological site on the Greek island of Keros, consisting of a pyramid-shaped mountain, was already familiar to all; yet no one had any idea what treasures lay inside the pyramid until last year.

High up above the Aegean Sea some 4,000 years ago, the residents of Keros Island carved a cone-shaped mountain along the coast line into terraces resembling a stepped pyramid.

In 2018, researchers looked inside the carved pyramid and were astounded to discover that there was a sophisticated system of drainage tunnels which were one millennium old.

Experts say that the pyramid’s plumbing could have been used to provide fresh water, or may have been used to remove sewage.

10. Underwater treasures of Delos, discovered in 2017

The remains of ancient coastal structures, a port, and a large number of shipwrecks from different eras were found in underwater archaeological excavations conducted by the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities at the island of Delos. Significant smaller finds were also discovered at the dig two years ago.

The discovery confirmed to experts that the island of Delos was an important trading base along a strategic maritime trade route. The island played a crucial role in linking the eastern and western Mediterranean in ancient times.

Other finds included the remains of walls and a fallen colonnade, as well as the remains of a later Hellenistic-era shipwreck carrying amphorae of oil and wine from Italy and the western Mediterranean.

Two additional shipwrecks from the same era were also discovered off the southern tip of Delos and at Rineia, in Fylladi Bay.

RELATED TOPICS: GreeceGreek tourism newsTourism in GreeceGreek islandsHotels in GreeceTravel to GreeceGreek destinations Greek travel marketGreek tourism statisticsGreek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: http://www.theamphipolistomb.com/second-chamber

Tornos
  1. 16/03 13:01

    Greek Deputy Foreign Μinister meets her Slovenian counterpart in Athens

  2. 16/03 12:56

    Greek-Canadian Diaspora to welcome Greek Prime Minister to Toronto

  3. 16/03 11:28

    Greek Migration Minister visits refugee hosting facilities in Kavala, Drama and Serres

  4. 15/03 21:50

    Greek Minister announces conference on defence ecosystem in Athens from Lithuania

  5. 15/03 13:45

    PM: More than 80 hospitals and 156 health centres being upgraded in Greece

  6. 15/03 12:55

    Piraeus Port and Genoa Chambers of Commerce ink memorandum of cooperation

  7. 14/03 23:43

    President of Hellenic Republic meets Prime Minister of Slovakia in Bratislava

  8. 14/03 22:58

    American Express report highlights Global Travel Trends during 2024

  9. 14/03 22:52

    Four hospitals in Attica Region already organizing afternoon surgical procedures

  10. 14/03 22:49

    US Ambassador to Athens: More flights from the United States to Greece and Thessaloniki

  11. 14/03 22:43

    Greek archaeologists discover ten ancient shipwrecks off Aegean island of Kasos

  12. 14/03 19:32

    No new intubations for Covid-19 recorded in Greece for the first time

  13. 14/03 18:36

    Extra road safety measures adopted for Greek pre-lent carnival and Clean Monday

  14. 14/03 14:48

    HRADF eyes bidders for Lavrio Port majority share

  15. 14/03 12:54

    Electric buses to be deployed on the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki by May

  16. 13/03 22:23

    Chairman: 2023 was an exceptional one for AEGEAN Airlines

  17. 13/03 20:11

    Prices of basic lenten products either lower or equal to last year's in Greece

  18. 13/03 19:15

    US Ambassador to Athens: Greece secures NATO readiness via Alexandroupolis

  19. 13/03 17:19

    Greece shines at 1st European Cruise Exhibition

  20. 13/03 12:26

    Greece shows new costumes for revamped Olympic Flame-lighting ceremony

  21. 12/03 22:46

    Epirotes Society of Philadelphia ‘Omonia’ organized 16th Annual ‘Tsipourovradia’

  22. 12/03 21:38

    The President of the Hellenic Republic to visit Slovakia on March 13-15

  23. 12/03 20:29

    First afternoon surgeries in Greece kick off at Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki

  24. 11/03 23:58

    Greek Foreign Minister: We stand behind Montenegro's European perspective

  25. 11/03 23:47

    Visa Express for Turkish citizens to commence on five Greek islands in March

  26. 11/03 19:40

    Amadeus acquires travel payments expert Voxel

  27. 11/03 18:49

    Microsoft Data Center construction kicks off in Spata next to Athens Airport

  28. 11/03 17:53

    Dodecanese Federation marked 76th Anniversary of Unification with Greece

  29. 09/03 22:23

    The future of travel planning is multimodal and interactive

  30. 08/03 14:27

    Prime Minister: Radical change in Greek education and a brave reform for growth

  31. 08/03 14:24

    Traffic restrictions expected in Athens mid-morning to evening on Friday due to protests

  32. 08/03 14:24

    Applications to out-of-court settlement more than doubled in Greece in February

  33. 08/03 13:18

    Metro station 'Maniatika' near Piraeus Port to be closed on Saturday and Sunday

  34. 07/03 14:12

    Athens wins World Travel Award 2024 as the top city-break destination in Europe

  35. 06/03 22:51

    WTTC data show Greece and Portugal lead league for growth in tourist arrivals

  36. 06/03 20:28

    Greek Tourism Minister at ITB: 2024 will be another excellent year for sector

  37. 06/03 19:47

    Greek Foreign Minister to meet UAE Minister of Industry and Technology on Friday

  38. 06/03 18:43

    European Union actions of 274m euros to support cultural heritage in Greece

  39. 06/03 16:37

    'Odontotos' rack railway temporarily stopped until landslides issue is resolved

  40. 06/03 14:40

    Minister: Bringing about the return of Greeks abroad 'a moral duty'

  41. 05/03 14:28

    Archdiocese of America Eparchial Synod to meet on March 14-17 in Florida

  42. 05/03 14:21

    The 'Lent Basket' to be launched in Greece on March 13

  43. 05/03 14:11

    ITB BERLIN 2024 opens with excellent bookings after global rise in travel in 2023

  44. 05/03 12:24

    Greek PM at Athens supermarket: Consumers 'can already see lower prices on the shelf'

  45. 04/03 22:02

    Greek Health Minister: Afternoon surgeries at state hospitals to begin shortly

  46. 04/03 21:47

    Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Whitestone Community marks 49th Anniversary

  47. 04/03 20:27

    Labor chief: Greece to train 500,000 workers in digital, green skills by 2025

  48. 04/03 19:44

    Foreign Ministry to organize event on 'Women, Peace, and Security' on Friday

  49. 04/03 15:12

    Athens Riviera | The summer experience with Athens as a background

  50. 29/02 22:54

    Consumers to see price cuts up to 18.1% in 3,000 Greek supermarket products as of Friday

  51. 29/02 21:44

    Greece and Germany set up Working Group on shipping cooperation

  52. 29/02 21:30

    Wyndham Rewards’ Member Month offers 5 weeks of deals, discounts, and bonus points

  53. 29/02 21:03

    Temple of Poseidon at Sounion near Athens to get new lighting system

  54. 29/02 21:02

    Greek Tourism Minister meets with Ambassador of Qatar

  55. 29/02 20:47

    Greece is represented by 60 firms at GULFOOD 2024 exhibition

  56. 29/02 19:58

    Greek government gives 1+1 month extension for cash register-integrated POS terminals

  57. 29/02 19:49

    Archangel Michael Church Dance Program shines at Folk Dance Festival in SF

  58. 29/02 15:39

    'Renovate-rent' programme to be launched, Minister tells Greek Parliament

  59. 29/02 12:39

    Rio-Antirrio ferry line in central Greece closed due to strong winds

  60. 28/02 21:34

    Weather with heavy rain and storms in Greece as of Sunday night

  61. 28/02 17:31

    CEO: The goal is for PPC to become a leading player in Southeast Europe

  62. 28/02 17:04

    New Wyndham Hotels Market Managing Director of Central and Eastern Europe

  63. 28/02 12:21

    Minister: Transactions with the Greek State will be further simplified in 2024

  64. 28/02 11:57

    24-hour strikes halt trains and ferries in Greece

  65. 27/02 17:25

    UN Tourism hails Saudi Arabia's historic milestone of 100 million tourists

  66. 27/02 15:00

    Greek Prime Minister: Relations with Armenia can become even more productive

  67. 27/02 14:26

    Wyndham: New growth cycle in Greece for the largest hotel chain franchise in the world

  68. 27/02 13:15

    Price cuts of up to 15% in important product categories in Greece after March 1

  69. 27/02 12:46

    Athens taxi drivers' protest rally in progress from Athinon avenue to Messogion

  70. 26/02 18:30

    Annual Summit of Women Political Leaders (WPL) to be held in Athens in April

  71. 26/02 18:27

    Culture Ministry: Schwartz Mansion in Ampelakia near Larisa to get new lighting

  72. 26/02 17:25

    Greek president organizes reception for diplomats at Presidential Mansion

  73. 26/02 16:33

    Trapped rack-railway passengers returned safely to Diakopto in Peloponnese

  74. 26/02 16:21

    Public transport, ferry and taxi strikes in Athens on Wednesday

  75. 25/02 12:30

    Greek island of Ikaria among the Blue Zones for Health Eating and Longevity

  76. 24/02 20:39

    Greek PM meets Qatar Emir: Focus on bilateral cooperation and investments

  77. 24/02 18:25

    Prescription cannabis for medicinal use legally available in Greece for the first time

  78. 24/02 17:19

    MInister: The aim is to make fishing and fish-farming a key pillar of the economy

  79. 23/02 23:36

    Greek Prime Minister arrives in Doha to be received by Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi

  80. 23/02 23:26

    The Festival of Greek Dances takes place in the Metropolis of San Francisco

  81. 23/02 21:32

    Revealing "70 Years of Friendship: Greece's photo journey through the Korean War"

  82. 23/02 17:15

    16 Greek firms showcase at international fashion exhibitions in London

  83. 23/02 14:09

    Flights to and from Heraklion airport in Crete resume on Saturday

  84. 22/02 18:15

    Bill for non-state, non-profit universities being tabled in Greek Parliament on Thursday

  85. 22/02 18:13

    Temporary residence for displaced Ukrainians extended in Greece to March 2025

  86. 22/02 18:10

    American Hellenic Institute Golden Jubilee celebration Includes concert on April 12

  87. 22/02 18:09

    Tourism Minister stresses importance of strong relationship of Greece with Serbia

  88. 22/02 17:58

    Education protest rally ends and traffic resumes in Athens city center

  89. 21/02 19:47

    Twistic and WeavAIR startups clinch the UN Tourism Hospitality Challenge

  90. 21/02 18:34

    Greece's key aim is enhancing relations with India

  91. 21/02 18:13

    Traffic in Athens returning to normal after tractors depart from the Greek capital

  92. 21/02 13:01

    Greek Tourism Minister in Belgrade for International Exhibition

  93. 21/02 00:55

    Resilience through diversity and investments the aim of UN Tourism visit to Jamaica

  94. 20/02 23:38

    Rally concludes with farmer tractors leaving Athens on Wednesday morning

  95. 20/02 20:43

    Greek Prime Minister on official visit to India as of Wednesday

  96. 20/02 16:51

    Minister: Greece wants to become India's gateway to the European Union

  97. 19/02 21:19

    DEFEA Conference to be held at Stavros Niarchos Foundation in Athens on May 15

  98. 19/02 19:06

    Traffic restrictions for farmers' rally in central Athens on Tuesday

  99. 19/02 18:11

    Greece wins top tourist destination award at Grand Travel Awards in Sweden

  100. 19/02 14:23

    Health Minister: Option of afternoon surgeries at public hospitals start in Greece