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Modern Description: The cemetery at Rodia (or Bouga), lies ca. 30 km. southeast of Patra and 6km. from the village of Katarraktis. The location is remote and difficult to get to, having, though, great view to the semi-mountainous area and part of the plains of the so-called “Dymaian” land (after Dyme, the main city of the region in ancient times), where a series of important Mycenaean sites have been located.
Excavations here by the archaeologist N. Zapheiropoulos in 1956 – 1957, have revealed two tholos (vaulted) tombs (tombs A and B), with remarkable finds. The tombs are built with the local brown limestone and comprise a short dromos or causeway (Tomb A : 2.9m., Tomb B : 4m.), facing west and southeast respectively, which, through a stomion or entrance, leads to the thalamos or chamber of each tomb. The chambers are circular and not particularly large (Tomb A diameter: 3.9m., Tomb B diameter: 5.2m.), but well built, especially considering the fact that they are “peripheral” monuments. The tombs have been dated to the Late Helladic ΙΙΙ Β period (13th cent. B.C.)
In the area surrounding the two tholoi, a number of smaller, cist tombs have been found. These tombs are probably later in date than the tholoi.
Among the finds, the ones that stand out are a bronze dagger with inlay gold/silver decoration and a silver bowl with reppusé decoration. Βοth objects antedate the tombs, a fact which indicates the presence in the region of an older significant settlement.
A number of other prehistoric sites have been located in the region of Katarraktis (remains of houses dating to the Middle and Late Helladic periods, ca. 15th - 12th centuries B.C.) in the localities Pyrgaki, Andreousi, Drakotrypa, Ag. Athanasios, Ag. Georgios. This dense settlement, combined with the existence of the two tholos tombs, which surely belonged to a powerful elite, reveals the importance of the area to the Myceneans, both as a center of rural production, as well as a control point for the roads which, even to the present day, connect the coastal plains and the mountainous inland Achaia.
Wikidata ID: Q38280751

Info: Patras University

(Monuments of Aitoloakarnania and Achaia, 2003, University of Patras)

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