Recent excavations of the Acropolis of the ancient city of Kythnos (today’s “Vryokastro”), a joint project of the Department of Archeology of the Faculty of History, Archeology and Social Anthropology of the University of Thessaly and the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades. The Ministry of Antiquities had significant results.

The city of Kythnos has been continuously inhabited since the 12th century BC. to the 7th century AD According to a related announcement, the work of the last period has focused on the excavation of the buildings of the Acropolis, which were discovered in 2021. The southern part of the acropolis was intended for military installations, no doubt also for the Macedonian garrison, which was posted in Kythnos in 201 BC. Philip W. Only some clearing was carried out in the area, which uncovered a number of cisterns that apparently provided water supplies during the siege.

The northern part of the plateau is occupied by a sanctuary, which in 2021 was positively identified as the sanctuary of Demeter and Corey. Here, research continued in three buildings (No. 3, 4 and 6), as well as in open areas.

Initially, research was completed on a two-sided building 4 measuring 7.50 x 5.70 m, which, undoubtedly, is identified with the temple of ancient times. At the western site, three instances of vertical stone slabs were discovered in 2021, partially buried in a layer of ash containing many burnt animal bones. Many bones of small animals also come from the back (eastern) room (“abyto”), but mainly the jaws of pigs, polymix censers, lighting vessels, and also clay female figurines.

Between this temple and the elongated building 3 to the south are inserted two almost square small buildings, 5 and 6, with opposite entrances. During the last period, the survey of the Western building 6 (dimensions 4.85 x 4.25 m) was completed. Its interior is configured on at least three levels. Apparently, this was originally the main stepped entrance to the mosque, which was demolished in Roman times and included in building 6, possibly for the needs of the cult (perhaps as an imitation of the descent into Hades?).

The survey was also completed around Antichrist, the earliest building 5, which is probably identical to the second smaller temple (measures 3.80 x 3.30 m), since, as seen in 2021, various votive offerings were located under its last floor . . A well-maintained paved floor was found in the narrow corridor between buildings 4 and 5, suggesting that the two buildings were in use at the same time.

However, excavations have focused on Building 3, which is 21 meters long and 8.50 meters wide. It is characterized by trapezoidal masonry and a monumental entrance in the middle of the elongated northern wall. Inside the building, two zones of squares were excavated, which made it possible to somewhat refine its layout. It is noteworthy that most of the offerings to the sanctuary come from the abandoned embankments of the building in question. In the eastern part of the building, a series of jagged depressions in the natural rock, bounded by walls, were discovered, which apparently formed spaces and “boxes” for storing and placing votive offerings, since these areas had a strong concentration of finds of all categories.

In this part of the building, a horseshoe-shaped stone grate, dia. about 2.50 x 2 m, complete with ashes and scattered red-hot flints and a few burnt animal bones, as well as a significant accumulation of votive offerings. The whole configuration here casts doubt on whether this part of the building was covered. A large accumulation of votive offerings was also observed in the alley along the rear (south) wall of the western half of the building. Diatonic flat stones protrude inward from this wall at regular intervals and at an equally low height, suggesting the presence of a wooden shelf here, on which votive offerings were to be placed.

Between the two temples (No. 4 and 5) and the elongated building 3, a shaft was formed with an entrance from the east, delimiting at some point during the long use of the sanctuary (7th century BC to 3-4 centuries AD) a vast “vault” that contained countless votives. Research here culminated in the discovery of many hundreds of complete or almost complete finds, mostly clay figurines and multi-mixed lighting vessels.

The exact use and dating of all discovered structures will be determined after the completion of the study of the finds and excavation data. In general, the search for the inside of the buildings led to the discovery of numerous votive offerings. However, the main volume comes from building 3 and from the “depositor”. Many hundreds of clay archaic-Hellenistic figurines (over 2000 intact or almost intact), women and children were collected. fewer male ones, especially actors and sympathizers, Hermean stelae, piglets, turtles, lions, rams, birds, etc. Also collected are the same number of lamps of the Archaic-Roman period and polyhybrid ritual lighting vessels, ring-shaped “horns” with epithets, miniature vases, many epithets of miniature hydria, disconnected from ritual vessels, ceramics of excellent quality, mainly Attic black-figure and red-figure (hydria, kalpis, etc.), but also other laboratory centers (Corinthian, Cycladic and Eastern Aegean).

Votive offerings also include some jewelry made of copper, silver, bone and glass, marble and alabaster vessels (flasks, compasses), etc. Some bronze Roman coins have also been found (for example, the sestertius of Trajan after 106 AD. and coin of Diocletian 285 AD). However, the silver Kythnian coin with the head of Apollo on the obverse and the lyre on the reverse is of particular interest, since all the Kythnian coins of the Hellenistic period known today are made of bronze.

Several drinking vessels, mostly of Roman times, originating both from the interior of the temple (building 4), as well as from various mounds inside building 3 and from the “depositor”, are identified as ritual ones, since inscriptions were carved on them before firing. and are female offerings, confirming that the sanctuary was dedicated to the worship of both Demeter and Kori. Temporarily, we might even assume that building 4 was a temple of Demeter and the neighboring smaller building 5 was a temple of Kori.

A monumental pedestal with inscriptions, moved from its original place, was found in the doors of building 3. 1.43 X 0.47 X 0.21 (thickness), which has an inscription from the late Hellenistic period “Niriis damiourogos”, which probably refers to some official of the sanctuary. The use of Doric once again confirms its parallel use with Ionic on Kythnos.

Many of the above votives also refer directly or indirectly to the worship of two deities, as well as to various individual finds, e.g. one more figurine of a cystophore or several fragments of imported Eleusinian horns.

The five-year excavation program at Vryokastro-Kythnos (2021-2025) is led by Professor of Classical Archeology Alexandros Mazarakis Ainianos and Curator of Antiquities Dr. Dimitris Atanasoulis. The research of the University of Thessaly and EFA Cyclades is also supported by the Director General for Aegean and Islands Policy, the Municipality of Kythnos, the Association of Friends of the Archaeological Museum of Kythnos, the captain of the ship “MARMARI” and a particularly generous sponsor of the excavation program and Thanasis Martinos. An interdisciplinary research team of archaeologists, architects, restorers, zooarchaeologists, archaeologists, and others set up 33 archeology students from the University of Thessaly, as well as two students from France.