Her Ancient Teneanot only Hellenistic and Roman, but now also Classical, was discovered in 2022 as a result of systematic archaeological research that has been carried out over the past ten years or so in ancient city of Corinthnext to today’s Chiliomodi.

In particular, recent excavations in Ancient Tenea (where, according to mythology, Oedipus was raised by Polybus and Agamemnon allowed the captives from Troy to settle) revealed, among other things, a large public building of the early classical period, with an area of ​​145 sq.m., in which ceramics were found , coins and predominantly archaic votive figurines, as well as a strong retaining wall of the same era, 18 meters long, which, apparently, was interrupted in Roman times to build a large water tank. These two finds outline for the first time the area where the city was inhabited in classical times.

“This is a public building right in the middle of the city with archaic figurines that refer to cults found in other parts of the center of Ancient Tenea,” says Dr. Elena Korka, who led the study. As he explains, figurines depicting deities, spouses, birds and other animals could possibly be associated with the goddess Aphrodite, whose cult was strong in the region at various times. The building itself is a large, solid and public structure that has been associated with a cult, and it is expected that its full area – perhaps well over 145 m2 – will be discovered in the next period of excavation.

“Tenea definitely had big buildings. Only Roman baths reach 1,000 square meters,” says Ms Korka. “But to find a building that is definitely associated with the cult of classical times is something special, wonderful. Because now the classic Tenea is coming to light, which through the figurines also refers to the archaic.

Pottery from the early classical period has been found in excavations of the retaining wall, while about 2,100 coins found in the city’s Roman shops are also of interest and are probably identified with the residence of a later local official. Of particular importance is the oversized water supply tank (about 130 sq. m.), which supports the hypothesis that during the time of the Roman Empire, Tenea was so vast that large projects were required for its water supply.

The Ancient Tenea Research Program led by Ms. Korkas is carried out by the executive body of the Department of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities of the Ministry of Culture and is supported by an interdisciplinary team led by P. Evangeloglu and K. Lagos, S. Papageorgopoulou and A. Georgopoulos. The support of sponsors, local authorities and residents is also important.