Kos Town, Kos - The Greco-Roman city

"The city of Kos is not great, but it is much better built than any other city, and it seems wonderful to all who pass her off to their ships."

The April 23, 1933 Kos was struck by a catastrophic earthquake - measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale - which lasted only 27 seconds, but razed the city and claimed the lives of 170 people. This disaster was, however, a positive consequence: it soon appeared that most of the medieval houses of the port district were built directly on the foundations of ancient temples and marketplaces. This led to extensive excavations which was also extended to the outskirts of Kos Italian archaeologists did not have to dig far before identifying two other areas with major remnants of the ancient city.

Other ancient Greco-Roman ruins are in the vicinity of the town of Kos, the famous Asclepieion located atop a hill about 3 km southwest of the city.

The building blocks (insulae) Kos had a width of 31-33 m and a length of about 62 m in the north of the city and 120 m in the south. The streets were 4 and 4.50 m wide, while the middle lane, which led to the Asclepieion and rural area were 33 m wide.

The Romans built an aqueduct from the hills south of Kos to feed the baths of the city: there were at least three bathrooms, one of which was located next to the port. The city was supplied with water by a system of clay pipes, while drainage was performed through gutters dug into the rock beneath the pavement of the streets.

The basic structures of the city of Kos were left as is during the early Christian era (sixth century BC).

After the earthquake of 1933, which destroyed the entire city of Kos , archaeologists resurrected part of the Greco-Roman city. Kos is now dotted with archaeological sites such as cracks opening in the city. Archaeological excavations have been divided into zones: the eastern zone , the central zone and and western area .

According to legend, this is the famous physician Hippocrates (460-370 BC), who himself had planted to teach his disciples in the shade of its foliage. Hippocrates believed in effect, like the Greeks of today, the shadow of the plane is safer than those of all trees this tree would have almost 2400 years old. In reality, this impressive plane is much more recent: 500 years at most, that is - at best - a descendant of the plane of Hippocrates. The "Hippocrates Plane" is however one of the oldest plane trees in Europe.

This is a huge tree - the species Oriental Planetree (Platanus orientalis) - whose hollow trunk has a circumference of 12 m, but the years have tried many and must be supported by a metal frame complex not collapse.

This monumental complex began in the port area, abutting on the fortification wall, and ended at the central artery of the city, which was about 33 meters wide and led to the Asclepion . The site was later occupied by the old medieval town called Lango. During the earthquake of 23 April 1933, the area that suffers the worst damage, including the Italian Archaeological Service carried out excavations depth between 1934 and 1942, revealing much of the ancient city, mainly Hellenistic and Late Antiquity. The harbor area included shrines and public buildings: the double temple of Aphrodite , the temple of Heracles , the shrine of a deity unknown, stoa port , the port basilica with the baptistery, and a large part of the urban fabric of the city and part of the wall with fortified towers.

The study of monuments revealed three phases of construction, covering the period from the late fourth century to the early third century BC until the year 469 or 554 AD, when the agora was destroyed by an earthquake.

The earthquake in the year 142 caused extensive damage to the area of ​​the agora and major repairs and reconstruction work was undertaken immediately after the earthquake. Following the complete destruction of the city wall, the north wall of the complex was remodeled, with the sanctuary of Aphrodite at hand, and to the east, creating an architectural ensemble which aroused the admiration of visitors , especially those who arrived through the port. Following these changes, the northern part of the agora of the second century AD also served as a place of worship.

In Roman times, the stoa was severely damaged at the end of the third century AD, probably due to an earthquake, which required major repairs and alterations. The new building was two floors with arches and Doric columns were replaced by monolithic columns of Corinthian marble cipolin, the use of marble columns cipolin the island of Evia is typical of the period of the Emperor Hadrian.

The stoa was destroyed by another earthquake, the year 469 AD, and on its ruins the port basilica and baptistry were built in the fifth or sixth century. The portico there are eight Corinthian columns.

The front of the room on the courtyard was converted into nymphaeum. Each side of the room were covered entries semi-cylindrical vaults, built in opus caementicium (cement) and plastered with curved meander patterns. The two lateral arches led to the portico of the agora, and the vault of the medium agora. Architectural elements survivors propylaeum are now gathered in the west of the stairs. The remains of the temple of Heracles include some Corinthian columns.

The temple of Hercules was perhaps dedicated to the worship of the emperor, a supposition which is strengthened by the discovery here of a part of a colossal statue - about 3 m - a male character. In this way, the inhabitants of Kos wanted to express their gratitude to the Emperor Antoninus Pius (86-161 AD), who helped to repair the damage caused by the earthquake of 142 AD - C..

The enclosure protects the residential area and the agora , and buildings necessary for the operation of the port, as well as temples - which faced the harbor - were outside the wall.

The original square tower, whose foundations had only been preserved, was rebuilt in the 1930s by Italian archaeologists.

The agora was used as a location in a small church of the fifteenth century, the Church of St. Constantine (Agios Konstantinos).

In the island (insula) number 1, five residential phases have been identified, dating from the foundation of the city until the beginning of the Christian era. In its northwestern part, a Hellenistic house was investigated, whose plan is similar houses Hellenistic Priene in Anatolia and Thrace Abdera. This study revealed the trifunctional division of the house into three areas: a residential area, a courtyard and a space dedicated to economic activity. On the north side there was a row of three shops, including the entrance facing the street. Then there was the house itself, organized on two floors and a total area of ​​150 m² (75 m² on each floor). There were three rooms on the ground floor: a meeting room (Andron) with layers, with an anteroom near the entrance, a guest room (Xenonas) with reception area and lounge family (oikos) where there was a fireplace (hestia). The last two pieces shared a covered vestibule (prostas). On the upper floor were the bedrooms and neighborhoods of the hostess (gynaikonites).

In the southernmost part of the island a large door of a house in the early Christian period was found in good condition.

The altar of Dionysus is a good example of an altar shaped Π of the Hellenistic period. The best preserved part is dated second century BC, a period of growth for Kos, as attested by numerous architectural remains. It is believed that the altar was commissioned by the king of Pergamon in Anatolia, a city allied Kos . The monument was destroyed in the massive earthquake of 142 BC. After the earthquake, the locals began gradually to restore the temple and the altar.

Later, during the Byzantine period , the altar was abandoned, and when the Knights of the Order of St. John , conquered the island of Kos , they used certain architectural elements for the construction of the castle Neratzia . The frieze of the altar, dating from the late second century BC, is now kept inside the castle. It depicts scenes of war and a troop of Amazons Dionysos, maenads and with satyrs.

Casa Romana is a Roman residence which was brought to light after the devastating earthquake that struck the island of Kos 23 April 1933. The ruins were excavated between 1934 and 1936 by the Italian archaeologist Luciano Laurenzi, who named the building "Casa Romana", the name by which he is known to this day. After completion of the excavation, the residence was largely reconstructed from 1938 to 1940, according to the standards of the time, with a concrete structure.

Casa Romana had been built on the ruins of earlier buildings of the Hellenistic period. The walls belonging to this prior construction can still be seen on the lower portions of the outer sides of the building. In the second century BC, most likely after the destructive earthquake of 142, Casa Romana acquired the characteristics that we see today all buildings prior periods were collected and reconstructed to form a luxurious residence occupying an entire block building (insula). This residence became the property of a family belonging to the wealthy aristocracy of the island of Kos . It covered a total area of ​​2 300 m² and containing more than 37 parts, which is the largest Roman villa in Greece. Casa Romana gives an idea of spacious elegance that the rich people of Kos could aspire.

What we see today is the villa of the third century AD: a large patrician house - as those of Pompeii - organized around three distinct areas defined by three courtyards or atria:

• the atrium is included a single atrium with a floor covered with mosaics depicting a lion attacking a goat and a lion attacking a deer, an adjacent room had a mosaic of marine animals.
• the atrium of the West was surrounded by a peristyle type Rhodian and had walls covered with marble, it included in its center a basin surrounded by a mosaic depicting dolphins and a sea-nymph riding a sea monster’s head horse.
• the atrium of the north, the largest, had the most magnificent peristyle: a double colonnade colonnade supporting a balcony.

This combination of marble and water basins was that the house remains cool inside even during the hottest days. Rooms for the reception of the guests were arranged around these courses, the floors were covered with slabs of marble or sumptuous mosaics, and the walls were covered with marble slabs, a sign of great wealth.

An important element in the decoration of the residence was a small group of statues, dating from the second to first century BC, and now on display at the Archaeological Museum of Kos . Sculptures, including themes suggested the creation of an artificial world built in the natural (nymphs half naked sitting on a rock, a satyr, Cupid, Aphrodite, et cetera), Were used for the decoration of the peristyle residence; they gave their owner the aura of an art collector, proclaiming his high social status.

Private spaces are not frills, although their design does not take into account the elements of a flamboyant ostentation. These are the areas west of the peristyle, around a hall that opened onto the porch, it was private rooms decorated with plant motifs murals, or, in the case of another room, representation of Cupid. Finally, the residence has other parts to service function, like the play, in the north-east corner of the house, which was the laundry tubs with marble and carved into a drainage system, or parts the west coast, which were equipped with an oven.

"Casa Romana" was destroyed by a powerful earthquake, perhaps that of 465 AD, which marked the end of the ancient world, it was never inhabited again, except for its southern part - which was not included in the building restored by the Italians. This part of the residence included areas of modest dimensions that had not any luxurious character, reflecting the social changes that had occurred.

During World War II, Casa Romana was used as a hospital by the Italians could still see the red crosses painted on the outside to deter Anglo-American bombing.

The restoration of the 1930s had already begun to deteriorate and the Casa Romana was closed to the public from 2005 to 2009 for major renovations.

Opening hours: daily except Mondays, from 8 h 30 to 15 h.

Entry Fee: € 3.

Phone: 00 30 22420 23234

Casa Romana is signposted as "House restored Kos, third century AD".

This vast area includes the remains of most of the buildings that were found in a Roman city: public latrines reconstructed by archaeologists - that we first took a Nymphaeum - of Roman houses which were adorned with sumptuous mosaics and murals, Roman baths , an odeon , a gymnasium and a stadium . Under the two main tracks was a complex system of drainage ensuring sanitation of the city.

To the right of Nymphaeum is - under a protective roof - a mosaic representing the "Judgment of Paris" Pâris had to decide which of the three goddesses Athena, Hera and Aphrodite was the most beautiful: Pâris thought it was Aphrodite.

The ruins of a baptistery of the Byzantine period is also located in this area, south of Avenue Gregory V, near the Odeon .

When this building was discovered, its elegance led archaeologists to the conclusion that it was a Nymphaeum, that is to say, a shrine dedicated to the nymphs. A Nymphaeum, in Greek antiquities (νυμφαιον) and Roman (nymphaeum), was a monument dedicated to the nymphs, especially nymphs sources. These monuments were originally natural grottoes, which tradition considered the home of the local nymphs, these caves were sometimes constructed as to provide a water supply. Artificial caves later replaced natural caves.

We now consider that the building was actually a luxury public urinal or latrine.

Many statues were found in the ruins of this house whose original construction dates back to the late third century and early second century BC, that among these statuettes those of Aesculapius / Asklepios (Ασκληπιός) of Diana / Artemis (Άρτεμις) and Salus / Hygieia (Hygieia,Υγιεία), as can be seen in the Archaeological Museum of Kos .

Odeons were the musical theater which was used for performances of music and poetry. The Odeon of Kos date of the Roman period, it was built in the second century AD. It is small but very beautiful.

The Odeon is oriented north-south, with the auditorium (the "koilon" Greeks or the "cavea" Romans) located to the south and the orchestra and the stage in the north. The "koilon" could accommodate an audience of 750 people: it included a lower diazoma fourteen rows of marble seats - of which only nine were restored in 1999 - for the notables, and diazoma top five steps for granite stone spectators ordinary diazoma two were separated by a landing, four stairs divided the lower diazoma.

The "koilon" was covered by a vaulted roof supported by four walls and reinforced by pillars. Under the bleachers were two semicircular galleries and several smaller rooms - perhaps workshops - where was discovered the famous statue of Hippocrates, who is now at the Archaeological Museum of Kos .

The scene was irregular pentagonal shape with a proscenium (proscenium) and wings, and behind the scene rectangle. The orchestra was circular, with a diameter of 5 m, and decorated with marble inlay. Two entrances, decorated with beautiful mosaic floors were discovered at the ends of the stage. Several statues, located in niches, decorated arches.

The Odeon was also the seat of gerousia (gerousia,Γερουσία), or the Senate, the public authority Kos, who had no political power, but who watched the awarding honors to prominent citizens of the island of Kos.

The earthquake of the year 142 caused significant damage to the Odeon, the roof collapsed, repairs were made during the reign of Antoninus Pius (138-161 AD - C.). The ruins of the Odeon were unearthed in the excavations conducted in 1929 by Italian archaeologists. The theater has been restored by the Italians in 1934.

The entrance to the Odeon is free.

The gym was known as the "Xysto"(Ξυστό) due to the habit of scraping athletes (xisoun) their bodies to clean oil smeared before they drive or departure of races. There was a pool of water in the middle of the gymnasium where athletes could wash, the baths were adjacent to the north for the same reason.

Go to page History Kos under the Roman Empire .