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Modern Description: Built over a junction of the subterranean aqueduct of Peisistratus (early fifth century BC), which brought drinking water from the foot of Mount Hymettus to the city of Athens, the outdoor exhibition area at Syntagma Square houses the finds from two grave enclosures of the fourth century BC. These finds represent a fraction of the important antiquities discovered during the excavation of the Syntagma Metro Station, which testify to this area's continuous occupation from the eleventh century BC until the nineteenth century AD.

Here, two contiguous grave enclosures were revealed during excavations by the Third Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities on Amalias Avenue in 1992. They were part of a cemetery, which developed along the north side of the road leading towards the Mesogeia, and each of them was surrounded by a cluster of pillaged tombs.

The tombs were conserved and sheltered; sign-posts with texts, drawings, and photographs complete the display.
After the completion of the excavations for the Syntagma Metro Station, the two contiguous grave enclosures were reconstructed very close to their original location, together with two sarcophagi. The enclosures, each approximately 24.20 metres long, are made of large conglomerate blocks.

Evidence of the early fifth century aqueduct of Peisistratus is preserved in the same area. It consists of a deep rock-hewn well, which contained terracotta conduits with decorative bands. The conduit joints were sealed with lead, and their walls had semicircular cut-outs for cleaning and maintenance. A T-shaped joint of two aqueduct conduits of different diameter was also discovered here.
[Judith Binder: Foundations: for a small unfinished stoa at the southeast corner of Plateia Syntagmatos: Judeich, W. 1931, plan I H-4 above the nu of Othonos ( pinpointed on Judeichʼs plan by Eugene Vanderpool in September 1957); associated with the Lykeion, Lynch, J. P. 1972, 22; disassociated from the the Lykeion, Ritchie Jr., C. E. 1989, 254-255
Metalworkers' Establishment: with casting pits for bronze statues, late 5th-4th c. B.C., Plateia Syntagmatos extending north underneath the Grande Bretagne Hotel: L. M. Parlama, «Άθήνα 1993-1995: Άπό τις άνασκαφές τού Μητροπολιτικού σιδηροδρόμου,» HOROS 10-12 (1992-1998) 526-52; Metro Excavations 1992-1997,155-156, figs. 6,9 (O. Zacharidou) ]
Wikidata ID: Q38279573
Trismegistos Geo: 364

Info: Odysseus

(Odysseus, Greek Ministry of Culture)

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