AIGEIRA - GREECE

Ancient Aigeira (in the province of Achaia) lies on the north

coast of the Peloponnese - roughly opposite Delphi - at the
opening of a valley which leads directly into the Corinthian
gulf; together with Pellene, it represents the easternmost city of
the ancient region of Achaia.
Excavated finds revealing human activity and dating to the
advanced late neolithic period have been found on the
acropolis hill, which lies 416 m. above sea level; while
excavated remains, in the same location, of a late Mycenaean
settlement of the early 12th century B.C. constitute the
beginning of a continuous settlement. The remains of a
mansion and abundant finds point to a settlement structure,
which developed during the period of foreign migrations and
can be situated in the late Mycenaean koin.
In the following period, perhaps already after the 10th century
B.C., an early Greek sanctuary was erected on the acropolis, a
sanctuary which was continually rebuilt and which
continued to be used into the 4th century B.C. A wide spectrum
of votive objects, as well as architectural evidence such as
foundation walls and painted roof tiles, attests to the
development of this sacred centre as the nucleus of the city of
Aigeira, a city which, at least in the early period, is to be
connected with the "Hyperesia" of Homeric tradition.
For an evaluation of Aigeira in its prime, that is, at its greatest
extent measuring ca. 0,5 km and surrounded by a circuit
wall, the excavation results from the theatre terrace in the
north, beneath the acropolis hill, are particularly instructive.
In the course of a thorough new foundation in the hellenistic
period, at about 280 B.C., a monumental, public, sacred civic
centre was achieved through the construction of a theatre and
adjacent small temple; this area was continually rebuilt up
until the early Imperial period with further temples and a cult
building dedicated to Tyche. A period of usage prior to that of
the theatre-complex is not to be ruled out for an additional

sanctuary to the north, from which foundations of two further

temples are preserved.
In addition to the preserved
architectural elements, the sculptural
finds of the 2nd century B.C., amongst
them an over-lifesize head of Zeus by
the sculptor Eukleides, and a draped
female conforming to the figure of
Tyche, as well as the mosaic floors of
the small temples, attest to the high
quality of the fittings of this space and
its buildings.
It is therefore not surprising that even
in the 2nd century A.D. this ensemble
attracted the attention of the travel writer Pausanias, whose
short description absolutely corresponds to the excavated finds.
Two additional public spaces, which currently cannot
adequately be classified, nevertheless at least provide evidence
for the complex urban articulation of the city. Corresponding
to this is an extensive infrastructure, which above all has to do
with structures for the provision of water. An aqueduct system
which can be traced for a number of kilometres and which,
coming from the south, was carried over wide stretches through
rock tunnels, guaranteed the city's water supply. This system
was continually rebuilt and remained in use from the prehellenistic up until the post-antique period.
Complementing the public and sacred centre, remains of a
domestic building were cut into a terrace directly to the northwest of the acropolis. An andron, decorated with pebble
mosaics and fitted with 11 klinai, attests to the representative
pretension of this building, whose foundation date can
provisionally be placed in the 4th century B.C. and which in
any event predates the construction of the complex of buildings

at the theatre. In spite of sporadic evidence, the situation of

Aigeira for the Roman Imperial period and late antiquity is at
the moment not adequately known.
Research at Aigeira
The discovery of the site
and the earliest
archaeological
investigations date back to
Otto Walter, who, with
excavations at the theatre
terrace in 1916 and 1925,
initiated archaeological
research at Aigeira which
would have an impact on the future. As the unstable political
situation in Greece only allowed two short seasons, the research
presence of the OEAI at Aigeira was in this fashion founded.
The excavation campaigns, carried out since 1972 under the
auspices of the central OEAI in Vienna, have brought to light
fundamental evidence concerning the historical development of
this Greek settlement from the late Bronze Age up to the most
recent past, and the appraisal of its material culture.
W. Alzinger led the greatest part of the field research (from
1972-1988), with systematic surface excavations on the
acropolis and on the theatre terrace, turning aside briefly for
excavation in the plain of Palati north of the city. Besides
numerous individual studies on material such as sculpture,
ceramic finds, coins, and the like, as well as the study of the
theatre by S. Gogos, a comprehensive presentation of the
historical development of Aigeira has resulted from these
investigations. The remains from the prehistoric and Bronze
Age periods found on the acropolis are currently the focus of
intensive research by E. Alram-Stern and S. Deger-Jalkotzy
(both Austrian Academy of Scinces, Mycenaean Commission).
Analysis of the ceramic finds from the Greek historical period

from the acropolis excavations is being carried out by G.

Schwarz (Institute of Classical Archaeology of the University of
Graz). Preliminary research for the final publication of the
building elements and the remains from the so-called
Tycheion is the work of T. Hagn (Institute of Classical
Archaeology of the University of
Vienna).
Between the years 1990-1997,
A. Bammer pursued a
comprehensive urban survey,
and investigated numerous areas
of the city via intensive survey,
measuring, and cleaning. These
studies incorporate the readdressing of questions
co
nce
rning the water supply, the
orientation of numerous
extensive public areas, the
photographing of architectural
remains from the Byzantine
period, and the study of the
modern remains of the so-called Houses of the Raisin Pickers.
A surface excavation in the plain of Zaoussis led to the partial
exposure of the foundations of two temples north of the theatre
terrace.
The most recent excavations by G. Ladsttter (from 1998)
continue the study of the water supply of Aigeira, in
connection with hydrogeological studies, and concentrate on
the excavation of the domestic buildings in the plain of Solon
to the north-west of the acropolis.
A selection of objects from the excavations is presented in the
Archaeological Museum at Aigion, while the head of Zeus is
displayed in the National Museum at Athens. The impressive
ruins of the theatre with its connected temples, two of which

are protected by a modern shelter, provide an architectural

impression of the hellenistic building ensemble.
Picture Captions
Fig. 1: Aigeira, Head of Zeus ( OEAI)
Fig. 2: Aigeira, Excavations by O. Walter ( OEAI)
Fig. 3: Aigeira, Aerial photograph, construction on the theatre terrace
Fig. 4: Aigeira, Plain of Solon. Representative private house
Bibliography:
Regular reports of the excavation campaigns are found in Jh.
W. Alzinger und Mitarbeiter, Aigeira-Hyperesia und die Siedlung Phello
in Achaia: sterreichische Ausgrabungen auf der Peloponnes 1972-1983,
Teil I, Klio 67, 1985, Heft 2, 389-451.
W. Alzinger und Mitarbeiter, Aigeira-Hyperesia und die Siedlung Phello
in Achaia: sterreichische Ausgrabungen auf der Peloponnes 1972-1983,
Teil II, Klio 68, 1986, Heft 1, 5 - 62.
W. Alzinger und Mitarbeiter, Aigeira-Hyperesia und die Siedlung Phello
in Achaia: sterreichische Ausgrabungen auf der Peloponnes 1972-1983,
Teil III, Klio 68, 1986, Heft 2, 309-347.
S. Deger-Jalkotzy, Fremde Zuwanderer im sptmykenischen Griechenland.
Zu einer Gruppe handgemachter Keramik aus den MYK. III C
Siedlungsschichten von Aigeira, SBWien 326 (1977).
S. Gogos, Das Theater von Aigeira. Ein Beitrag zum antiken Theaterbau,
SoSchrAI 21 (1992).
A. Bammer, Aigeira, in: 100 Jahre sterreichisches Archologisches Institut
1898-1998, SoSchrAI 31 (1998) 179-181.
Th. Hagn, Das Tycheion von Aigeira, in: J.-Y. Marc - J.-Ch. Moretti (ed.),
Constructions publiques et programmes dilitaires en Grce entre le IIe sicle
av. J.-C. et le Ier sicle ap. J.-C., 39. Suppl. BCH (2001) 297-311.
E. Alram-Stern, Prhistorische Keramik aus den sterreichischen
Ausgrabungen auf der Akropolis von Aigeira, in: V. Mitsopoulos-Leon (ed.),
Forschungen in der Peloponnes. Akten des Symposions anllich der Feier
"100 Jahre sterreichisches Archologisches Institut Athen", Athen 5.3.7.3.1998, SoSchrAI 38 (2001) 63-71 Taf. 6.
M. Hainzmann, Hyperesia/Aigeira - eine historische Spurensuche, in: V.
Mitsopoulos-Leon (ed.), Forschungen in der Peloponnes. Akten des
Symposions anllich der Feier "100 Jahre sterreichisches Archologisches
Institut Athen", Athen 5.3.-7.3.1998, SoSchrAI 38 (2001) 73-78.
S. Gogos, Das Theater von Aigeira. Ein Beitrag zur Chronologie des ZeusHeiligtums, in: V. Mitsopoulos-Leon (ed.), Forschungen in der Peloponnes.
Akten des Symposions anllich der Feier "100 Jahre sterreichisches
Archologisches Institut Athen", Athen 5.3.-7.3.1998, SoSchrAI 38 (2001)

79-87 Taf. 7. 8, 1-2.

G. Schwarz, Korinthische und attische Keramik aus Aigeira, in: V.
Mitsopoulos-Leon (ed.), Forschungen in der Peloponnes. Akten des
Symposions anllich der Feier "100 Jahre sterreichisches Archologisches
Institut Athen", Athen 5.3.-7.3.1998, SoSchrAI 38 (2001) 89-93 Taf. 8,
3-8; 9, 1-4.
A. Bammer, Neue Heiligtmer in Aigeira, in: V. Mitsopoulos-Leon (ed.),
Forschungen in der Peloponnes. Akten des Symposions anllich der Feier
"100 Jahre sterreichisches Archologisches Institut Athen", Athen 5.3.7.3.1998, SoSchrAI 38 (2001) 95-105 Taf. 9, 5-6; 10. 11.
E. Alram-Stern - S. Deger-Jalkotzy (ed.), Aigeira I. Die mykenische
Akropolis. Faszikel 3. Vormykenische Keramik. Kleinfunde.
Archozoologische und archobotanische Hinterlassenschaften.
Naturwissenschaftliche Datierung, Verffentlichungen der Mykenischen
Kommission der AW 24 = SoSchrAI 43 (Wien 2006).
Contact:
Georg Ladsttter

June 2007