During the first excavation period of the five-year research program (2022-2026), remains of buildings were discovered in the Samikos vein that can be attributed to the sanctuary of Poseidon.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Culture and Sports, “The location of Klidis, where the ancient temple-like structure was found, has been proposed by previous researchers as a possible location for the famous ancient sanctuary, as it is located in the foothills of the ancient acropolis of Samikos, which dominates the area north of the Caiaphas lagoon on west coast of the Peloponnese. It was preceded – in 2017, 2018 and 2021 – by geoarchaeological and geophysical studies by the Ephorate of Elijah Antiquities and the Austrian Archaeological Institute. According to Strabo (“Geography”, 8th book), the sanctuary of Poseidon was an important cult center of the amphiktyony of the cities of Triphylia and was located by the sea, under the acropolis of Samikos.

The excavations, completed at the end of September, uncovered part of the foundation of a large building 9.40 m wide, the walls of which are 0.80 m wide. A dense layer of tiles was found inside. Based on the testimony of geophysical surveys and excavation data, it is possible to reconstruct a building with a length of at least 28 m, which had two internal rooms, as well as a pronaos and a utility room or shelter. The building, elongated in the form of a temple, probably belonged to the sanctuary of Poseidon and can be identified with the temple of the god.

In combination with keramose, a laconic type, the discovery of part of the marble enclosure leads to the original dating of the building to the Archaic period. The marble bowl imitating a copper bowl is a characteristic vessel with a cult purpose characteristic of the sanctuary.

This discovery provides new perspectives for the study of the political and economic significance of the Amphictyony of the triphyletic cities in the 6th century BC, since the sanctuary of Poseidon was the center of their religious and national identity.

The research program aimed at studying the topography of the area and locating the Sanctuary of Poseidon and the Port of Samikos is carried out in cooperation with the Ephorate of Antiquities of Elijah under the direction of Dr. G. Erofilis Kollia, with the Austrian Archaeological School in Greece, under the direction of Dr. Birgitta Eder. The research, funded by the Gerda Henckel Foundation and the Austrian Archaeological Institute, will continue in the coming years to further study the Poseidon sanctuary and the archaic temple.”