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An ancient deme in northeast
Attica, on the Euboian gulf. Excavations have brought to light the sanctuary of
Nemesis - the most important sanctuary of that divinity in ancient Greece - the
fortress, public buildings, remains of houses and many grave enclosures. Human
activity in the area is evident as early as Neolithic times. Archaeological
evidence shows that there was a sanctuary here from the beginning of the 6th
century B.C. The archaic temple was destroyed by the Persians in the attack of
480-479 B.C., as were many other buildings in Attica. This was followed by a
period of prosperity during the 5th century B.C., when the temple received its
definitive architectural form. Herodes Atticus took an interest in the sanctuary
and he may well have repaired the big temple. This is followed by a period of
decline ending in the dominance of the Christian religion.
The first excavations in the area were carried out by the Dilettanti in 1813 and by D. Philios in 1880. This was followed by the excavations of V. Stais during the years 1890-1892 which exposed the temple, the fortress and many grave enclosures. A short exploration of the area was made by E. Mastrocostas in 1958. From 1975 to now, systematic excavation and research has been carried out by the Archaeological Society under the direction of V. Petrakos.
The main monuments of the archaeological zone are as follows:
The Sanctuary of Nemesis. The site of the temple was
prepared with the construction of heavy isodomic retaining
walls along the northern and eastern sides. Prior to this, there was a small
temple of the early 6th century B.C., the existence of which is known only from
the remaining Laconian roof tiles and the Doric poros temple that was destroyed
by the Persians. These preceded the terrace, but they had already been destroyed
when that was built during the 5th century B.C. The two temples visible today
were constructed after this.
The smaller temple was built at the beginning of the
5th century B.C., with polygonal wall construction. It measured 10 x 6 m. Within
it were found a number of important statues.
The larger temple was built after the middle of the
5th century B.C., to the north of the first temple and very close to it. It is a
Doric peripteral building measuring 21,40 x 10,05 m., with 6 x 12 columns,
pronaos and opisthodomos with two columns in antis. Earlier it was considered to
be the work of the architect of the Temple of Poseidon at
Sounion, the so-called "Theseion" in the
Athenian Agora and the Temple of Ares at Acharnai. At some places the work
appears to be unfinished and neither metopes nor pediments were
decorated.
The famous statue of the goddess, a work of
Pheidias’ student, Agorakritos, stood within the temple. It was made of Parian
marble and the base - decorated in relief - of marble from Dionysos. The base
has been reconstructed from the mass of fragments that were found scattered
about. The scene shows the presentation of Helen to her mother Nemesis by Leda.
It is dated around 420 B.C.
Preserved to the north of the temple are the foundations of the altar, measuring 3,25 x 7,80 m. A stoa along the north side of the temenos with a little fountain in front of it, completes the sanctuary.
The Fortress. It comprises an outer system 800 m.
long and a smaller interior circuit enclosing the top of the hill. The main
entrance of the outer system is at the south and it is protected by square
towers at each side of the gate. Within the circuit private and public buildings
have been found, notable among which are the theatre and the
gymnasium. Within this same area is also the agora of the deme. Military
establishments stood at the top of the hill - within the interior circuit of the
fortification. On the coast below two small harbours - the eastern and the
western - served the ships that patrolled the Euboian channel. The Fortress of
Rhamnous, as that of Sounion at the southern tip of Attica, is thought to have
been constructed during the Peloponnesian War in order to control the ships
bringing grain to Athens.
Road and Grave Monuments. Part of the ancient road
leading to the deme of Rhamnous was found during the excavations. It passed in
front of the sanctuary of Nemesis and ended at the fortress. Along the road were
found many splendid grave
enclosures of classical times with fine grave monuments in
relief, funerary
naiskoi and stelai. A
considerable number of these enclosures have been restored.
| Address | Rhamnous |
|---|---|
| Perfecture | Attica |
| District | Attica |
| Ephorate | 2nd Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities |
| Opening hours Tickets |
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| Telephone | +30-210-2940 - 63.477 |
