GREECE ATTICA SARONIC ISLANDS METHANA

Mycenaean sanctuary Agios Konstantinos

In 1990-2000 Eleni Konsolaki-Giannopoulou excavated a large complex of Mycenaean buildings 1.5 km northeast of Methana on a small plateau around the church of Agios Konstantinos. The modern church probably is a conversion of an earlier church of the Early Byzantine period.

Above: View to the church of Agios Konstantinos from the south.

Right: Plan of the sanctuary after an aerial photograph provided by the excavator.

The complex has been identified as a Mycenaean sanctuary with room A as the main cult room because of its furnishings, utensils of devotion, exceptional terracotta figurines and specific zooarchaeological remains. The bones found in rooms A, B and C show the sacrifice of animals, 60% of sheep and goats. In room A, however, more than 50% belonged to pigs, mostly piglets. There are also various indications of libations, also of pigs' blood.

Noteworthy are the numerous terracotta figurines found in the complex, mainly of bovines. These votive offerings probably replaced the sacrifice of real ox which were indispensable for agriculture. In room A alone were found three extremely rare 'bull jumpers' (previously only two complete specimens of this type were known), five horsemen, ten chariots, and seventeen bovines dragging a carriage directed by a male figure. - Very important are the five horsemen of which no complete specimen was known before. The figures found here present a man with helmet clutching with outstretched arms the neck of the horse. Horse-riding was known but not very widespread in the Late Bronze Age. Horses were regarded as status symbols of noblemen and the participation of horsemen in a battle is not documented before historical times. It is thus quite possible that the figures found here represent a male deity as master and guardian of horses.

Above and below left: Room C. - Below right: Two stone bases for wooden columns supporting the roof of the large building G, which was probably used as an assembly hall for officials.

The identity of the deity worshipped here is indicated by the anthropomorphic nature of the representations found in the sanctuary. This points to a male deity associated with the bull and the horse which befits Poseidon. In Mycenaean Oga, just a few kilometers to the north, Poseidon Fytalmios was worshipped. The excavator sees evidence that Poseidon was here accompanied by a female deity. This religious tradition was continued in historic Troizina. Perhaps it is no coincidence that the modern church at the site was dedicated both to Konstantinos and Eleni.