Alexander Mazarakis Ainian, Alexandra Alexandridou
THE “SACRED HOUSE” OF THE ACADEMY REVISITED*
The site of the Academy is situated at a
distance of approximately 1.5 km north of the
Dipylon (fig. 1). The archaeological discover-
ies of the 20th century confirmed the distances
mentioned by ancient authors1. The first exca-
vations were carried out by the architect Pana-
giotis Aristophron, between 1929 and 1940, un-
der the supervision of K. Kourouniotis, and the
auspices of the Academy of Athens (K. Kou-
rouniotis, ΠΑΑ 5, 1930, 420-424; P. Aristoph-
ron, ΠΑΑ 8, 1933, 70ff.; P. Aristophron, – A.
Keramopoullos, ΠΑΑ 8, 1933, 246-248). Af-
ter Aristophron’s death in 1945, excavations
were resumed in 1955, by Phoivos Stavropoul-
los, this time under the auspices of the Greek
Archaeological Society and lasted until 1963
(Stavropoullos 1955, 53-61; 1956, 45-54; 1958,
5-13; 1959, 8-11; 1960, 318-323; 1961, 5-13;
∗
The authors wish to thank Dr N. Valakou, E. Lygk-
ouri and Mrs Ch. Stoupa, as well as the φύλακες for facil-
itating our research at the storerooms of the 3rd Ephorate
at the Academy. A. Alexandridou is grateful to A. Mazara-
kis Ainian for entrusting her the study of the Late Geo-
metric material from the burials and the “Sacred House”
of the Academy, to Olga Prappa, graduate of the Depart-
ment of History, Archaeology and Social Anthropology of
the University of Thessaly for her valuable help, while as-
sessing the ceramic material and to Dr. Vicky Vlachou for
her useful comments. Alexandra Alexandridou is respon-
sible for the study of the material from the Sacred House
and the adjacent pits and graves.
1. According to Cicero (De Finibus V, 1, 1) the dis-
tance from the Dipylon to the entrance of the Academy
was 6 stadia (1068 metres); Titus Livius (XXXI, 24, 10)
notes 1000 paces («mille ferme passus»), i.e. 8 Roman sta-
dia, i.e. 1478 metres, which seems more likely (see Trav-
los 1971, 300). Concerning the “Dromos” which led to the
Academy see Pausanias I, 29, 2 ff.
1962, 5-11; 1963, 5-28; Ph. Stavropoullos, ΑΔ
16, 1960, Χρονικά, 33-35. For a general account
of the excavations at the Academy: Stavropoul-
los s.d; Travlos 1971, 42-51, figs. 52-64; Trav-
los – Petropoulakou – Pentazos 1972, 17, 24, 25,
26, 28, 33).
The first remains of the EIA in the wider
area of the Academy were apparently uncove-
red by K. Kourouniotis in 1932-1933, but the
results of these excavations were never pub-
lished in detail2. Stavropoullos’ EH and EIA dis-
coveries were published in preliminary reports
in the Πρακτικά της εν Αθήναις Αρχαιολογικής
Εταιρείας. In the Kokkinogenis plot he discov-
ered, among others, a large deposit of ca. two
hundred complete kantharoi and cups, which
Coldstream would date from the excavator’s de-
scription in the Early Geometric period (fig. 2:
Coldstream 1977, 347). Some 150 m northeast,
in the area of the main excavation quarter, he
excavated the remains of a mud brick building
of the LG period, known ever since as the “Sa-
cred House” (fig. 3). The building was built on
the NW slopes of a low natural hill. Nearby, es-
pecially at the west side of the hill, he brought to
light a series of pits and deposits. Stavropoul-
los also excavated north of the “Sacred House”
several LG burials, mostly belonging to chil-
2. According to Stavropoullos, two Geometric build-
ings and a necropolis were excavated, 120 m SW of the
Gymnasium. Several vases are mentioned, including an
LG IIb amphora in the manner of the Athens 894 Painter
[Αthens, National Museum, 19627, ΠΑΑ 5, 1930, 420-424;
8, 1933, 423ff. (LG IIb, late, ca. 700 B. C.) Kourou 2002,
56ff., pls. 66-67]. For details concerning the finds from
this excavation, cf. Mazarakis – Livieratou 2010.
166 ALEXANDER MAZARAKIS AINIAN, ALEXANDRA ALEXANDRIDOU
dren. More LG and Archaic burials were found
in the area of the so-called “Teichion”, a stretch
of wall to the NE of the “Sacred House” identi-
fied by Stavropoullos, though not very convinc-
ingly, as «το Ιππάρχου τειχίον», mentioned in
the ancient sources3. Lastly, in the deeper levels
(-4m), also at the NW end of the hill, a tripar-
tite apsidal building and a deposit of the EH ΙΙ-
ΙΙΙ period were found.
THE EARLY GEOMETRIC DEPOSIT
A homogeneous group of over two hun-
dred open vases, kantharoi and cups was dis-
covered ca. 150 m southwest of the “Sacred
House”, in the Kokkinogenis plot (Stavropoul-
los 1958, 8-9) in what was described by the ex-
cavator an extensive sacrificial area (Stavro-
poullos 1958, pl. 6)4. Most of the cups are mono-
chrome, with banded rim or with a reserved
band on the upper edge of the rim (fig. 4a).
Stavropoullos characterized them as Protogeo-
metric, while Coldstream dated them to EG I
on the basis of the picture of the vases in situ
published in the excavation report (Coldstream
1968/2008, 399; 1977, 347; personal commu-
nication- 8/3/2008). The kantharoi, either un-
painted or painted monochrome with a re-
served band on the upper edge of the rim and
one on the lower edge of the foot, offer a better
corpus than the cups for dating the deposit (fig.
4b). The kantharoi with the deepest body and
highest foot can be placed in LPG or the transi-
tion to EG, followed by the rest of the examples
in a sequence within EG I and EG II or even
possibly MG on the basis of the decreasing foot
height and body depth.
The nature of the Academy deposit, al-
3. Suda s.v. «το Ιππάρχου τειχίον». For criticisms
concerning Stavropoullos’ identification: Lynch 1984,
173-179; Balatsos 1991, 145-154, esp. 150, n. 14, 151ff.
4. The deposit was detected between -2.70 and -3.70
m from the surface: Excavation Diary 19.2.1957. For a de-
tailed account of the finds from Kokkinogenis plot, cf.
Mazarakis – Livieratou 2010.
though not entirely clear on the basis of the ex-
cavation reports, could possibly allow for the
accumulation of such vases over a certain peri-
od of time instead of a simultaneous deposition,
pointing to recurrent visits at this site, where a
certain activity, probably related to some kind
of ritual drinking, as indicated by the shape of
the deposited vases, regularly took place. These
shapes might have been produced in rather
large numbers for this particular purpose, but
it is difficult at this point to firmly define the
timeframe within which these vases were pro-
duced and deposited at this particular spot.
THE “SACRED HOUSE”
The mud-brick architectural complex of
the Geometric period is situated on the north-
west slopes of a low hill, at the site of the lat-
er Academy of Plato (figs. 5-6: Mazarakis Ai-
nian 1997, with earlier bibliography; 1999b, 16;
2004, 139; Deoudi 1999, 66ff.; Boehringer 2001,
77). The excavator put forward the idea that this
was a complex, where sacrifices were performed
and dubbed it a “Sacred House”, on the analogy
of the similar “Sacred House” at Eleusis (Maza-
rakis Ainian 1997, 150-154; 1999). He further
argued that the cult was addressed to the local
hero “Akademos”, after whom the area is named
and that the cult was inaugurated, when the EH
apsidal house was accidentally discovered and
was regarded as the hero’s dwelling.
The complex is composed of at least seven
compartments arranged on either side of a cor-
ridor5. The walls were at places preserved to a
height of 90 cm and composed entirely of mud
bricks, except for two walls of Room β and the
wall of Room δ’, which were provided with a
stone socle. This technique is highly unusual
for southern Greece in the EIA. The building
presents at least three architectural phases (figs.
5. The building’s exterior dimensions are as follows:
N side: 11.60 m; E side: 14.80 m; S side: 17.70 m; W side:
14.60 m.
 THE “SACRED HOUSE” OF THE ACADEMY REVISITED
7-8a-b: for a detailed discussion of the edifice:
Mazarakis Ainian 1997, 140-142).
The exploration of the different rooms
of the edifice led to the discovery of ashes
and charcoal, mixed with fragments of vari-
ous shapes and spindle whorls, in some cases
also including a few calcinated animal bones6,
as well as sea shells7. Stavropoullos interpret-
ed them as “sacrifices” (θυσίαι). Even though a
few clay figurines were found at the accumulat-
ed strata, they are absent from the pyres8. The
remains of each pyre were covered with a thin
layer of clean earth and in most cases by two
or more large unworked stones, often forming
a thin wall9. Pyres were not only detected in the
rooms, but also at the corridor of the edifice (1-
13) and southwest of room δ (21-38). In many
cases, sacrifices are mentioned in the excava-
tion diary as “unimportant” (άνευ σημασίας),
since, although marked with stones, they only
contained ashes. Despite the lack of the mark-
ing stones or any other finds, remains of pyres,
detected especially at the corridor and south-
west of room δ were defined by Stavropoullos
as sacrifices10. The term “sacrifice” applies bet-
ter to some well-defined pyres, which revealed
a number of vessels, which even though found
6. The cases where animal bones are found are very
few. In connection with pyre α1*5: Excavation Diary 16-
18.10.1958, 318, pyre γ2, Excavation Diary 16-18.10.1958,
320, pyre 2 detected at the corridor, Excavation Diary 16-
18.10.1958, 322, pyre 7 at the corridor, Excavation Diary
16-18.10.1958, 323, pyre 12 at the corridor Excavation Dia-
ry 16-18.10.1958, 324, pyre 32 of the corridor, Excavation
Diary 16-18.10.1958, 326.
7. Sea shells are mentioned in connection with the
pyres 13 and 32 of the corridor, Excavation Diary 16-
18.10.1958, 325-326.
8. A bird figurine was found at the excavated area
ν’: Excavation Diary 17.4.1958, 168, while a horse and its
rider come from the excavated area ξ’: Excavation Diary
18.4.1958, 169.
9. ΠΑΕ 1958, 7-8. Pyre α1*3 in room α was marked
with a river stone: Excavation Diary 29.9.1958, 299.
10. In particular “sacrifices” γ3, γ5 (Excavation Dia-
ry 16-18.10.1958, 320), pyre 5 at the corridor Excavation
Diary 16-18.10.1958, 323, pyre 22 (Excavation Diary 16-
18.10.1958, 325), pyre 27 at the corridor (Excavation Dia-
ry 16-18.10.1958, 326).
167
broken, they can be reconstructed, if not entire-
ly, at least to a large extend11. However, many
of the defined by Stavropoullos as sacrifices,
were simply remains of pyres, not specifically
marked, containing non-burnt sherds12, while a
few revealed only sprindle whorls13.
The excavator noted at least five superim-
posed layers of sacrifices inside the building.
The lower one continues in certain places be-
neath the walls, leading Stavropoullos to de-
duce that at the beginning the cult was cele-
brated in the open air. However, this was ob-
served in connection with the walls of rooms
δ and δ’, as well as ζ, which seem to have been
additions to the original unit (Mazarakis Ai-
nian 1997, 141).
A large amount of fragments of a variety of
shapes come from the “Sacred House”. Skyphoi
(fig. 9), followed by one-handled cups are the
dominant shapes from the pyres. Louteria or
kraters (fig. 10), as well as amphorae and oino-
choai are also well represented. In some cases,
the bottom of the vessels is pierced, probably in
order to offer libations14. Many amphorae frag-
ments were found, although it is not certain,
whether they actually come from the pyres15.
They are often followed by wash basins deco-
rated with wavy lines. The majority of the am-
phorae fragments come from the accumulated
11. Pyre α1*2 preserved three complete skyphoi and
pyre α1*3 an almost intact plate.
12. Pyres 1-5 of room ε (Excavation Diary, 16-
18.10.1958), 322, pyres 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 11 detected at the cor-
ridor (Excavation Diary 16-18.10.1958, 322-323), pyres
24, 31, 38, detected southwest of room δ (Excavation Dia-
ry 16-18.10.1958, 325-326).
13. Pyres 33, 34, 35: Excavation Diary 16-18.10.1958,
326-327.
14. Characteristic examples: the plate from pyre
α1*3, as well as a one-handled cup from pyre β*3 (Πμβ30),
also mentioned in the excavation diary (Excavation Diary
16-18.10.1958, 319).
15. Although many of the stored fragments, as in-
dicated by their tags, have been associated by the excava-
tor with specific pyres, according to the diaries they come
from the accumulated layers of the rooms. This is also in-
dicated by their state of preservation; only a single or two
joining fragments of the vessel were recovered.
168 ALEXANDER MAZARAKIS AINIAN, ALEXANDRA ALEXANDRIDOU
layers of the edifice, where a number of kan-
tharoi, as well as very few fragments of pyxides
were found.
Apart from the ‘sacrifices’, Stavropoullos
explored two parallel channels coated with clay,
interpreted as offering trenches (στενά, αύλακες
θυσιών) in room ε, which revealed three pyres,
river stones and pottery16. The collected frag-
ments belong to skyphoi, one-handled cups,
plates and large open vessels, shapes also rep-
resented in the pyres of the other rooms. The
trench revealed two fragments of a pyxis, shape
rare at the pyres (Πγ544). Although Stavro-
poullos believed that these channels received
the blood from the animal sacrifices, accord-
ing to Lauter they represent the drain of a wine-
press (Lauter 1985, 160).
Even though found in layers of ashes, the
vases from the pyres do not preserve any signs
of secondary burning, suggesting that they were
placed there after the fire was put off. The shapes
found in the “well-defined sacrifices”, in their
majority drinking vessels, could have served for
libations and ritual drinking. A similar role can
be deduced for the small jugs and the louteria.
The hole opened at the bottom of the plate from
pyre α1*3 is a clear sign of the vessel’s use for a
libation (fig. 12). The fact that the vessels from
a number of pyres can be almost fully recon-
structed points to intentional breaking. On the
other hand, the discovery only of a few joining
fragments in other cases might indicate clear-
ing of the pyre layers and removal of parts of
the material17. The ritual associated with the
pyres, which, although marked with stones, did
not contain any ceramic or other finds, apart
from ashes, cannot be easily reconstructed. The
fire might have simply burnt perishable goods,
which did not leave any trace.
The excavation of the edifice revealed
16. Excavation Diary 28-31.7.1958, 1-2.8.1958, 284;
11.10.1958, 313; 16-18.10.1958, 322.
17. This might be the case of pyre γ6, which revealed
a variety of shapes, of which only a few fragments were
found. The remains of the pyre are extensive, composed
of several layers.
many spindle whorls (fig. 13)18. Most of them
come from the upper layers of the rooms, sug-
gesting domestic debris. A number of examples
were found in the sacrifices. Pyres 33-35 con-
tained only spindle whorls, while in the case of
pyre 12, they are followed by a large number of
fragments of skyphoi and one-handled cups.
Their purpose in the sacrifices is not easily ex-
plained. They could assign a domestic charac-
ter to the pyres and the ritual, while they might
also point to female dedicators. A similar use
might be also possible for the Mycenaean gob-
let stems, probably used as loom weights too
(fig. 14). They were discovered in pyre γ*6 and
the sacrifice layer κ’-κ’-κ’, explored in room δ’19.
Although spindle whorls can be placed as of-
ferings to children’s graves (Kerameikos, Grave
3: Kübler 1954, 212-213; Tsikalario, Naxos: Za-
pheiropoulou 2001, 291), a closer comparison
can be drawn with the examples, discovered in
association with the circular platforms explored
at Mitropolis Square of Naxos, which have been
connected with a form of ancestor cult. They
were found together with animal bones, sea
shells and drinking vessels (Lambrinoudakis
1988, esp. 238). Loom weights are also found in
the pyre pits of the Protocyclopean sanctuary at
Xobourgo (Kourou in this volume).
The vast majority of the securely dated ves-
sels from the pyres of the “Sacred House” be-
long to the last quarter of the eighth centu-
ry or the first quarter of the seventh. Accord-
ing to Stavropoullos, towards the end of the se-
venth century, at least one “sacrifice” was per-
formed “upon the walls”. If this date could be
confirmed, then sacrifices might have still oc-
18. Room α1: Excavation Diary 22-27.9.1958, 296,
Corridor between rooms α and ζ: Excavation Diary
30.9.1958, 301, Corridor: Excavation Diary 1.10.1958,
303, Sacrifice 12: Excavation Diary 3.10.1958, 306, 16-
18.10.1958, 324, Southwest of room δ: Excavation Diary
4.10.1958, 308, Sacrifices 33, 34 and 35, Excavation Dia-
ry 16-18.10.1958, 326-327. An example is also associated
with room ε’, if judging from the finds stored with this in-
dication.
19. Examples were also found at the Agora: Brann
1961, 125, pl. 22, L 66.
 THE “SACRED HOUSE” OF THE ACADEMY REVISITED
casionally been performed throughout the se-
venth century. However, the preliminary study
of the pottery does not support this view, since
no fragments associated with the pyres or the
rooms of the edifice date later than the first
quarter of the seventh century.
The earliest fragments from the studied
material date to the middle of the eighth cen-
tury. In particular, six joining fragments prob-
ably of an amphora from the pyre 38, south-
west of room δ, decorated with a row of dou-
ble axes separated by vertical bands and fol-
lowed by a row of dogtooth date to MGII (fig.
15: Πγ530)20. A group of fragmentary vessels,
found during the construction of the shelter in
close proximity to rooms δ and δ’ (ΠΑΕ 1961,
8-9), belong to LGIb and LGIIa (fig. 16)21. Un-
fortunately, the fragments cannot be associated
with any particular room or pyre, since they are
not accompanied by any details defining their
context. A fragment of a closed shape (pyxis?)
decorated with dogtooth (fig. 17: Πγ568), dates
to the MGII period and was found in associa-
tion with pyre α, when the excavation brought
to light the extension of room δ22. The fragment
was found together with vessels, which could
be also dated early in the eighth century, like
a fragmentary skyphos with a chevron frieze
(Πγ564)23.
20. The frieze with vertical lines separated by dou-
ble axes appears in MGI on the rim or belly of neck-am-
phorae or amphorae with handles on the shoulder: Cold-
stream1968/2008, pl. 3a, d and 3l. This type of decora-
tion still appears on all kinds of MGII amphorae (Cold-
stream1968/2008, pl. 4a) and can be found during LGIa
(eg. Kourou 2002, pl. 22, 1-3). It disappears after the mid-
dle of the century (Coldstream1968/2008, 18-19, 24).
21. In particular a fragmentary plate (Πγ835) dates
to LGIb (fig. 16: for comparable examples: Kübler 1954,
inv.no. 800, grave 66, pl. 103; Brann 1962, pl. 6, 105). The
fragments of two skyphoi with hatched tongues (Πγ839-
840) point to LGIb (cf. Coldstream 1968/2008, pl. 10e). Fi-
nally, two joining fragments possibly of a krater (Πγ834)
seem to belong to the Sub-Dipylon Group (For a krater
decorated with a wheel pattern although without the dou-
ble axes, cf. Kübler 1954, inv.no. 789, grave 91, pl. 24).
22. Excavation Diary 26.8.1961, 7-8.
23. The earliest skyphoi with this type of decoration
169
PIT AND TOMBS
Stavropoullos argued that the sacrifices
encountered within the architectural complex
were celebrated in honour of the local hero
Akademos (Stavropoullos 1958, 9). According
to him, the EH apsidal or oval house, just north
of the LG building, was probably discovered by
chance and would have been considered as the
dwelling of the hero (figs. 3, 5). He based his
theory on the “deposit” of ca. 40 LG intact vas-
es, revealed next to the prehistoric house. The
vessels were found in a very deep pit (1.20 m
in diameter and almost 4 m in depth), which
had partly cut through the NW part of the apse
of the EH building (fig. 18). They were found
usually empty, though some contained earth
(sometimes charcoal fragments) towards the
bottom. On one occasion bones from within
the pit are mentioned24. All vases were carefully
set on the side, in nine layers, each separated by
a thin fill of “clean” earth, ranging 0.10-0.90 m
in thickness. Each layer contained mostly intact
one-piece or neck-amphorae with banded de-
coration (fig. 19)25. In some cases, they are fol-
lowed by oinochoai26 or skyphoi27. Fragments of
skyphoi, one-handled cups, large open vessels
and amphorae are associated with this pit, but
the excavator does not provide particular in-
formation for their exact finding spot. Except
belong to the end of the ninth century (Kübler 1954, pl.91;
Χagorari 2005, inv.no. 125, pl. 120d and inv.no. 110, pl.
121d), but there are examples dating to the two first quar-
ters of the eighth or even later (Young 1939, XVII, 1)
24. Excavation Diary 11.12.1956, 60, where “burnt
bones” are mentioned at a depth of -2.60 m from the
mouth of the pit (-6.55 m from the surface).
25. For examples of banded amphorae, cf. Kübler
1954, pl. 41, inv. 1335 and 1315; Brann 1962, pl. 3, nos. 29-
34. Early Protoattic: Young 1939, 185, C 146, fig. 135. In
general on Attic banded ware: Kourou 2002, 15ff.
26. In depth of -0.55 m, the two amphorae were
found with an oinochoe. A trefoil oinochoe was also
found together with four amphorae in depth of -1.75 m.
In depth of -3.15 m. three amphorae were found together
with an olpe and a one-handled cup.
27. In depth of -1.68 m, the two amphorae were
found together with a skyphos.
170 ALEXANDER MAZARAKIS AINIAN, ALEXANDRA ALEXANDRIDOU
for clay vessels, a sizeable truncated iron object
was found towards the bottom of the pit28, while
an iron “fibula” (?)29 and an iron sharp object
(knife ?)30 are also reported.
This deep pit was cut through an earlier
wider and less deep pit (3.20 m in diameter, and
2 m deep), which contained the neck of a large-
sized amphora of the Sub-Dipylon Group, dat-
ing to LG IIa (fig. 20: ΠΑΕ 1956, pl. 3β-γ)31. It
was found together with an intact amphora in
the manner of the Athens 894 workshop, with
a grazing horse on either side of its neck (fig.
21: Rombos 1988, 441, cat. no. 160)32. A krater,
possibly standed, decorated on both sides with
a cross within a circle with white paint, yet uni-
dentified in the storerooms of the Academy, also
comes from this pit. Its shape points to LGIIb
(fig. 22)33. The sides of the pit were burnt, and
it was covered by a burnt layer 25-30 cm thick.
A child burial seems to have been placed in the
bottom of this pit (Tomb 1), but one wonders
whether this burial is related to it or not34.
28. Excavation Diary 19.12.1956, 74-75.
29. Excavation Diary 9.1.1957, 90-91. Τhe fibula is
said to have a length of 0.32 m, which seems unlikely for
such an item.
30. Excavation Diary 7.1.1957, 86.
31. For a comparable circle motif albeit with short
rays around the circle, cf. Brann 1962, pl. 16, 286 (third
quarter), pl. 21, 352 (late 8th). Neck-handled amphorae
with circle patterns on the neck are characteristic of the
Sub-Dipylon Group. The particular example belongs to
the late development with a decoration of one pair of cir-
cle metopes. For the Group, cf. Coldstream 1968/2008, 55-
57; Davison 1961, 22; Rombos 1988, 426-432.
32. ΠΑΕ 1956, pl. 3β-γ.The horse and the geomet-
ric ornaments can be compared to those on two oinochoai
from the Agora: Davison 1961, figs. 118 and 120 and an
amphora: Brann 1962, pl. 21, 344.
33. Diam. of mouth 0.60 m; pr. h. 0.72 m. Stavro-
poullos 1956, 52; Excavation Diary 28.12.1956, 82 f., 85,
87, 89. Although with a lower and less vertical rim, com-
pare the shape to: Kübler 1954, grave 6, inv.no.1143, pl.
24, dated to 730 B.C. Compare also to the krater from the
Agora, Brann 1961, pl. 17, I19, albeit with handles of dif-
ferent shape placed higher on the body. For comparable
decoration, cf. Kübler 1954, inv.no. 789, grave 91, pl. 24.
34. The banded amphora, the two cups placed inside
it and the coarse jug could not be detected in the stor-
age room.
Despite the fact that such simple banded
amphorae were only sporadically used for bur-
ials during the Late Geometric and Early Ar-
chaic period (Young 1939, 185; Brann 1962,
34; Kourou 2002, 15), the number of ampho-
rae found in the deep pit and the way of their
deposition on the side, suggest burials. The suc-
cessive layers do not follow a chronological se-
quence. The first layer contained an amphora
(AK 57/A14666) and a trefoil oinochoe (AK
50), which can be placed in the third quarter of
the eighth century35. The lower layers preserved
amphorae of the late eighth or even seventh
century B.C., while the deepest layer, in depth
of 3.65 m, contained a one-piece banded am-
phora (AK 60) of the last quarter of the eighth
century36. Although the vessels from each lay-
er are mostly contemporary, there are cases,
where a chronological difference is noted. At
the depth of 1.75 m, at the third successive lay-
er, a trefoil oenochoe of the early seventh centu-
ry (AK 58)37 was found together with an LGIIb
amphora, which can be securely dated to 720-
710 B.C., due to its neck decoration with loz-
enges and geometric ornaments38.
The chronological differences of the ves-
sels found in the same layers and the lack of
sequence between them suggests that the ves-
sels were deposited at the same time, possibly
at some point early in the seventh century, as
indicated by the latest vessels. The uniformity
of this group of vessels could thus be explained
as a communal grave for children. The extreme
depth of the Academy pit, the bottom of which
35. Compare the amphora to: Kübler 1954, inv.no.
1315, grave 51, pl. 41. For a comparable oinochoe, cf.
Brann 1962, pl. 4, 49.
36. The shape stands in the transition from the one-
piece rim-handled amphorae and those with the handles
attached just below the rim. Compare to the examples
from the Agora: Brann 1961, pl. 13, L6 and N1.
37. For the shape compare to: Βurr 1933, fig. 59, 211.
It seems to be a further development with a more oblong
body of the examples from the Agora and the Kerameikos:
Young 1939, fig. 127, C123; Kübler 1954, pl. 81, 786.
38. For a comparable arrangement of the decoration
on the neck: Geroulanos 1973, pl. 10, Τr80.
 THE “SACRED HOUSE” OF THE ACADEMY REVISITED
was the natural bed rock, may be explained by
the large number of burials that it contained.
Comparable deep pits are known from Oro-
pos, and despite the fact that bones were ab-
sent from most of them, the majority served
as child burials (Vlachou 2007). Moreover, the
large depth and small diameter of this pit can be
explained by assuming that it was a well under
construction (or a well which had to be aban-
doned as the bed rock was reached during its
construction), which was turned into a com-
munal burial. A number of burials in wells are
known and are associated with the disposal of
socially excluded individuals. Only one belongs
to the Early Iron Age39.
A second pit (5.25 m in depth and 2.20 m
in diameter) was excavated 47 m southwest of
the Early Helladic edifice, but it has not been
published (Excavation Diary 11 and 13.4.1957,
157-162; Stavropoullos 1958, 8, n. 1). The ex-
cavator notes the similarities with the depo-
sit with the amphorae next to the EH house40,
which might have served the same purpose: a
communal grave of children. The excavation
revealed 12 vessels in different depths, mostly
plain one-piece or neck-amphorae with band-
ed decoration. They were almost intact and did
not contain earth. Stavropoullos refers to an
unburnt bone, charcoal, a spindle whorl and a
bronze tool (?)41. Fragments of skyphoi, as well
as fragments of a large krater with rich decora-
tion, are also mentioned. Most of the amphorae,
mentioned in the diary, could not be detected
in the storage room. The examples that could
be dated based on their shape point to the same
chronological range of the amphorae from the
other pit, extending from the third quarter of
the eighth to the early seventh century B.C.
Immediately on top of the Early Hellad-
ic house, seven “cremation” burials were ex-
cavated in close proximity to each other (fig.
23: Tombs 2-8). The tombs consisted of a bur-
39. Little – Papadopoulos 1998; Papadopoulos 2000.
40. Excavation Diary 13.4.1957, 161-162.
41. Excavation Diary 12 and 13.4.1957, 159, 161.
171
ial amphora, set on its side and oriented to the
north or south. With the exception of tomb
2, in all the other cases a coarse jug had been
placed in an upright position at the foot of the
funerary amphora, a custom attested in Athens
during the Late Geometric period (fig. 24)42.
One amphora had a lid, but the rest were sealed
with a cup or the broken lower part of another
vase. The hole on the belly of the amphora of
burial 2 was covered with a large plate. Smaller
vases were placed inside the urn. In the cases of
the burials 4 and 7, offerings were also found
outside the amphora. Small vessels were discov-
ered between burials 7 and 8. According to the
excavator, all the amphorae contained remains
of burnt bones of children, except for burial 2,
which appears to have contained the cremation
remains of an adult43.
With the exception of the amphorae of
burials 2 and 3, the rest have banded decora-
tion. The amphora of burial 2 is of the SOS type
in the transition from LG IIb to Early Archa-
ic, dating at around 700 B.C.44. The neck of the
amphora of the third burial is decorated with a
central horse protome flanked by pairs of con-
centric circles with a central dot (fig. 25: ΑΚ
84/Α 14618). On the shoulder, a frieze of lo-
zenge and concentric circles appear in a metope.
The shape of the body and the thick torus of the
mouth point to the transition from the eighth
to the seventh century45, while the horse pro-
tomes, unknown decorative element of geomet-
ric vases, to the early seventh. A LGIIb tank-
42. For the graves at the Agora, cf. Young 1939, 17
(graves VI-X). According to Young, the vessels were used
for liquid offerings of milk or honey. For the cemetery ex-
cavated at Peiraios street, cf. Brückner-Pernice 1893, 120
(grave X). The custom is also attested at the South and
West Cemeteries of Eleusis: Skias 1912, 34; Papangeli
2001, 407. At Phaleron, coarse-ware jug were used in two
cases as lids of the urns: Pelekidis 1916, 31.
43. ΠΑΕ 1956, 51. Burial 2 is not described in detail
in the excavation diaries.
44. For parallels, cf. Brann 1962, pl. 2, 23 και 25;
Young 1942, fig. 2, 47.6; Kübler 1954, 1298, pl. 38.
45. Compare to: CVA Frankfurt am Main 1, pl. 10,
5-6; Mussche et al. 1984, TC 71.1421, fig. 40, 5.
172 ALEXANDER MAZARAKIS AINIAN, ALEXANDRA ALEXANDRIDOU
ard with a male figure, probably ploughing was
found inside the urn46.
Dating the banded amphorae is difficult
and can be based on the vases found together.
On this basis, the amphora of the fifth burial
is the earliest, dating around 730 B.C.47, as also
verified by the one-handled cup with vertical
bands formed by dots, found inside it (fig. 26:
AK 118/A 14887)48. The amphora of the sixth
burial is later and its shape points to the tran-
sition from the eighth to the seventh century49.
The shape of the banded amphora of the sev-
enth burial is reminiscent of that of the ampho-
ra with the horse protomes. Despite its taller
neck, the ovoid body tapering to a narrow base
can be compared with an example from the
Agora50. It was sealed with a LGIIa kotyle (fig.
27: ΑΚ 84α/Α 14602)51. A secure dating can
be provided by the LGIIb skyphos, sealing the
banded amphora of burial 8 (fig. 28: ΑΚ 105/
Α 14653)52.
Stavropoullos repeatedly states that the
small bones, found inside the vases were burnt
or partly burnt. According to him, the “pyres”
detected in close proximity to the burials are
the cremation remains, which probably took
46. ΑΚ111, ΠΑΕ 1956, pl. 1β. For a comparable
scene, although the male figure rather seems as a shep-
herd: Athens National Museum, 18518.
47. Compare to Kübler 1954, pl. 41, 1315.
48. For the shape, compare to Kübler 1943, inv.
no.1337, grave 46, pl. 107; Xagorari-Gleissner 2005, inv.
no. 231, fig. 28c, pl. 20a. It can be dated at around 730 B.C.
49. Compare to: Young 1939, 25, ΙV 1, fig. 12. The
suggested date cannot be verified by other finds of the bur-
ial, since the cups that according to the diary followed the
burial were not found in the storage room.
50. Brann 1961, pl. 13, Q1.
51. The round shape of its body points to early dat-
ing. The kotyle seems to be the slightly later development
of an example from the Kerameikos: Kübler 1954, inv.no.
1355, pl. 132. For comparable shapes, albeit with different
decoration, cf. Young 1939, 99-100, ΧΧΙΙΙ 1, fig. 69.
52. Albeit with different decoration, compare the
shape to: Coldstream 1968, pl.15f (LG ΙΙa); AΔ 29, 1973-
1974, pl. 83δ and ζ; Kübler 1954, inv.no. 1300, grave 50,
pl. 96 (third quarter of the eighth century); Mussche et al.
1984, grave 122, ΤC 71.1464, fig. 47, although with rib-
bon handles.
place next to the burials53. Since the bones of
these burials were not found, it is difficult to
verify, whether the children were actually cre-
mated. However, the published photograph of
tomb 8, where the intact scull of a child is clear-
ly visible, despite Stavropoullos’ characteriza-
tion as «ημικεκαυμένον»54, raises further ques-
tions on the validity of the excavator’s conclu-
sions on the cremation (fig. 29).
The common burial practice for infants
and young children during the Late Geomet-
ric period is inhumation inside an urn. In the
Early Iron Age, and even later, cremation was
confined to adults. The cases of cremated chil-
dren in graves are rare and cremations inside
urns even more unusual. Children are only cre-
mated, when they reach the age, at which they
are considered actual members of the society,
age which varies from region to region55. Some
Early Iron Age cases are reported from the area
of the Agora56. Two cases of burnt bones of cre-
mated children placed in urns are known from
the West Cemetery of Eleusis, dating to the end
of the ninth and the middle of the eighth cen-
tury B.C.57. At the necropolis of Trachones, mo-
dern Alimos, the burials, grouped under “Typus
II”, dating to the last two decades of the eighth
century are urns containing remains of ashes
and bones, followed by miniature vessels. Al-
though the miniature vases point to children,
there is no reference to the age group of the cre-
mated deceased (Geroulanos 1973). Cremated
53. Stavropoullos 1956, 51.
54. Stavropoullos 1956, 51, pl. 2β; Excavation Diary
27.11.1956, 44; Morris 1987, 20.
55. Kurtz – Boardman 1971, 55, 71-72; Morris 1987,
20; Pomadère 2005.
56. The fetus of the burial H16:6, belonging to the
rich Athenian Lady. Cremated remains of a small child of
2-3 years old in tomb deposit F 16:4: Papadopoulos-Liston
2004, 26, n. 71. Although not in Attika, the Late Geomet-
ric cases of cremated fetuses or neonates found together
with the skeletons of young adult females at Vronda (Lis-
ton 1993, 137-140) and Torone (Papadopoulos 2005, 227-
228) should be noted.
57. Burials Γζ and Γ15: Mylonas 1975, 108-110, 136-
138, 259-260.
 THE “SACRED HOUSE” OF THE ACADEMY REVISITED
bones inside an amphora urn are mentioned to
have been found at the cemetery of Palaia Kok-
kinia, but the age of the deceased is not given
(Theocharis 1951, 123). According to Morris,
children cremations are also known from Ana-
vyssos (Morris 1987, 20), but the information is
not verified by the relevant excavation reports
(ΑΔ 29, 1973/1974, 108-110). If the possibility
of cremation is accepted for the burials of the
Academy, then it might have been dictated by
the particular circumstances of the children’s
death, such as an epidemic disease58; theory
which cannot be sustained by the chronologi-
cal range of the burials, covering four or more
decades.
BURIALS ALONGSIDE THE “TEICHION”
A second group of burials was found fur-
ther to the E-NE, in the area of the “teichion”.
In 1957 two tombs were found northeast of the
EH house (at a distance between 38 and 32.60
m from it, respectively). A LG IIb amphora,
decorated with a warrior with a Dipylon shield
on either side of its neck (fig. 30a-b)59, as well
as amphora of the SOS type with a double trian-
gle with St. Andrew’s cross on the neck (fig. 31)
served as funerary urns60.
Two tombs were excavated in 195861, while
58. An amphora with the remains of a cremated
child of 2-3 years old comes from the Archaic necropo-
lis of Abdera. According to the excavator, the rate of in-
fant mortality was high and the osteological material from
the burials point to epidemic diseases, connected with the
marshlands of the area. Skarlatidou1985; 2001.
59. Excavation Diary 19.8.1957, 217. For examples
with the same decorative themes, cf. Charitonidis 1973, pl.
6, ΓΜ 25; Geroulanos 1973, pl. 26.1 (Grab K42).
60. Excavation Diary 18.9.1957, 218. For the motif of
the double triangle with St. Andrew’s cross on the neck of
amphorae: Pelekidis 1916, 28, fig. 12 (T. 61); Young 1939,
29, VI 1, fig. 16 and 179, C137, fig. 128; Kübler 1954, inv.
no. 337, grave 59, pl. 38; Brann 1952, pl. 17, no. 300. The
triangle with St. Andrew’s cross can be flanked by circles:
Kourou 2002, pl.72, 1-3, with more parallels.
61. Excavation Diary 31.1.1958, 220ff. One con-
tained a krater, the other an amphora.
173
between 1959-1960 twelve more were found
on either side of the “teichion”. Tombs 4 and 6
belong to the LG period (Stavropoullos 1959,
9-10; 1960, 318, 320). Tomb 12 dates to the se-
venth century (ΠΑΕ 1961, 4, pl. 1α), while few-
er the sixth. According to the excavation diary,
inhumation 4 contained a cup and two glazed
skyphoi as grave offerings62. However, in Prak-
tika of 1960, three miniature fenestrated kraters
with support, a trefoil oenochoe and a tank-
ard are published in association with the grave.
Only one of the fenestrated kraters, dated to
LGIIb (fig. 32: ΑΚ264/Α14576)63 and a cup
(fig. 33: AK 270/A14570)64 could be identified
in the storage room.
CONCLUSIONS
It has been suggested that the “Sacred
House” served for sacrifices and perhaps rit-
ual meals, celebrated in the honour of the de-
ceased (Mazarakis Ainian 1997, 143). Fager-
ström denies any sacred character of the edi-
fice and identifies it as a farmstead or a “patri-
cian’s house” (Fagerström 1988, 47). However,
he does not discuss the pyres associated with it.
According to Lauter, the building served for a
burial association, which gathered here to hon-
our a common hero (Lauter 1985, 159-162).
Whitley rightly expresses doubts that the cult
was directed towards the local hero Akademos
(Whitley 1994, 221).
62. Τ4-1960. Excavation Diary, 26.9.1960, 32-33.
ΠΑΕ 1959, 10; ΠΑΕ 1960, 320, pl. 255α.
63. For the shape compare to: Young 1939, 58-59,
XII3, XII4, fig. 39 and Kübler 1954, inv. 1354, pl. 134, al-
though the example from the Academy seems to be slight-
ly earlier than those from the Agora and the Kerameikos.
For comparable decoration on the body and the support:
Kübler 1954, inv. 1357 and inv. 1359, Opferrinne I, pl. 136.
In contrast to these examples, the Academy vessel lacks
the plastic snakes attached around the rim.
64. For comparable arrangement of the decoration,
as well as decorative patterns, with slight variations, cf.
Borell 1978, pl. 17, fig. D4 (LGIIa). The example from the
Academy is taller with rounder walls.
174 ALEXANDER MAZARAKIS AINIAN, ALEXANDRA ALEXANDRIDOU
The custom of burying children close to
habitations in Athens and Attika during the Geo-
metric period (Mazarakis Ainian 2007-2008;
2010) and the overall impression gained by the
first assessment of the ceramic evidence in com-
bination with the information provided by the
excavation diaries questions the sacred charac-
ter of the edifice. A plausible hypothesis is that
originally, in its earlier phase or phases, it was a
dwelling, which has been abandoned possibly
after its destruction and filled with debris from
the area nearby65. The shapes, mostly amphorae
and drinking vessels, as well as hydriai, wash
basins and spindle whorls, found in the layers
above and below the pyres can be easily con-
nected with everyday uses. At some point af-
ter its abandonment, probably in the transition
from LGIIa to LGIIb, as indicated by the exam-
ined pottery, it may have begun to serve for rit-
uals involving drinking, libations and perhaps
animal sacrifices66. This explanation fits also
with the observation that most of the recorded
“sacrifices”, as well as the excavated trenches of
room ε were detected higher than the floor of
the rooms, close to the upper level of the sur-
viving walls of the mud-brick complex (figs.
6 & 34)67. In some cases they were even found
in layers that extend higher than the preserved
height of the walls68. The chronological proxi-
mity of the finds from the accumulated layers
65. The filling of the edifice with material from the
area is also implied by the fact that in at least one case join-
ing fragments of vessels were found in different rooms. In
particular two joining fragments of the same lid come
from room β, in particular the upper layers of pyre β*5,
and from room δ.
66. This is only deduced by the references of Stav-
ropoullos to animal bones, which are not however nume-
rous and they do not definitely point to animal sacrifices.
Moreover, the material has not been found in the storage
room to be examined.
67. The floor of room α2 was found in depth of -0.75
cm from the preserved height of the wall, while sacrifice
α*2 in depth of -0.27 cm.
68. Pyre β*1, composed of three layers, was detect-
ed 30 cm higher than the surface of the wall of the room
(Εxcavation Diary 4.10.1958, 306). That is also the case
of the pyre that Stavropoullos placed in the sixth centu-
and the pyres suggest that the ritual practices
began almost immediately after the abandon-
ment of the edifice. The LGIb and LGIIa sherds,
dating earlier than the vast majority of the ex-
cavated material were found in association with
the filling over rooms δ and δ’ and they cannot
form a reliable basis for dating the edifice ear-
lier than the last quarter of the eighth century.
The burials of children, but also of a few
adults, scattered in the surroundings suggest
that this is not a formal “reserved” cemetery, but
several “unreserved” ones, closely associated
with habitation areas. Indeed, the ruins of an-
other Geometric rectangular building, Build-
ing V, some 30 m east of the “Sacred House”
were found (fig. 35: Stavropoullos 1961, 321).
The apparent presence of further stone-built
buildings in the surroundings and other clus-
ters of burials of the Geometric period (Stav-
ropoullos 1958, 8, n. 1) could pinpoint towards
a loosely inhabited area, in the form of small
family clusters.
The practices associated with the “sacri-
fices” seem to have been addressed towards the
deceased of the surroundings, mostly children.
The presence of louteria strengthens the asso-
ciation of the pyres with a cult addressed to the
dead69. The earliest finds from the pyres are con-
temporary with the earliest children burials, ex-
cavated next to the edifice, as well as the earliest
amphorae from the deep pit. Yet the bulk of the
ry, found higher than the wall of room ζ (Excavation Dia-
ry 23.5.1962, 8-9).
69. The shape has been connected with the funer-
ary bath, the “chtonia loutra” brought to the dead and had
the form of a libation: Callipolitis-Feytmans 1965, 42-43.
Louteria are found in association with cult activities ad-
dressed to ancestors or recently deceased recognised as
ancestors. The shape predominates among the finds from
the dromos of the Menidi tholos tomb (Wolters 1899, 103-
135; Hägg 1987, 96), in the trench associated with Tu-
mulus I at Vari (mostly unpublished). Hägg interprets as
louteria the kraters from the Geometric house of the Ago-
ra, in particular cat.no. 145 (Burr 1933, 578; Hägg 1987,
96). The discovery of a louterion in the doorway between
buildings XXVI and III at Thorikos led to the suggestion
that the edifices were related to the cult of dead (Mazara-
kis Ainian 1997, 147 with detailed bibliography)
 THE “SACRED HOUSE” OF THE ACADEMY REVISITED
material from the sacrifices, as well as the ma-
jority of the vessels from the pits date to LGIIb
and the last quarter of the eighth century.
The question is what might have initiated
this cult, since it is highly unusual for children
to attract such attention. The circumstances of
their death in large numbers within a small time
span, possibly due to an epidemic disease, are
a possible explanation70. In that case, the liba-
tions or the ritual drinking over the pyres might
have had a purifying character. However, this
theory can be sustained, only if we accept that
the burial amphorae were removed from their
original context and then placed into the deep
pits excavated in close proximity to the edi-
fice71. And this is due to the fact that, according
to the ceramic evidence, the pits were opened at
some point early in the seventh century, there-
fore much later than the initiation of the cult in
the edifice. What might have led to the removal
of the amphorae and their deposition in the pit
at that particular point cannot be deduced. It is
interesting that by that time, the ritual activities
over the pyres has faded out.
If, on the other hand, the deposition of
these amphorae in the pits point to a communal
burial of the early in the seventh century, with
the use even of earlier vessels, then the sacri-
fices cannot be associated with the pits and the
massive deaths of infants. In this case, the pyres
in the Sacred House seem more closely rela-
70. The remains of some 450 foetuses, neonates or
infants, an adult male and an eleven year-old child were
found in a Hellenistic well (Well G 5:3) in the Athenian
Agora. They have been associated with animal sacrifi-
ces, infanticide or epidemy, famine and siege, although it
seems that this way of deposition was destined for mem-
bers of the society considered unsuitable for receiving
normal burial, like stillborn children,. The deposition of
the amphorae from the Academy has a different character.
Moreover, the cult which is possibly linked to the children
burials is an indication that they were not considered ‘so-
cial outcasts’. For well G 5:3: Little 1999; Rotroff et al. 1999;
Papadopoulos 2000, 110-111.
71. Although much later, a well, excavated next to
the temple of the Agora at Messene, revealed the bones of
a large number of infants together with the burial ampho-
rae: Έργον 2004, 24-32; Τhemelis 2004.
175
ted to the earliest of the echytrismoi, excavat-
ed next to the edifice. These burials could be-
long to one or more family groups sharing the
same social status and do not seem to infer to
unusual death circumstances, as the pit burials.
As discussed above, the theory of the cremation
of the bodies, which could indicate an extraor-
dinary situation, cannot be securely sustained.
If this scenario is accepted, then the sacrifices,
which begin during the early last quarter of the
eighth century or slightly earlier, predate the
communal burials and point to a cult associat-
ed with the echytrismoi, possibly belonging to
members of important families.
The random deposition of the ampho-
rae in the pits, without any chronological se-
quence among the different layers or the ves-
sels of the same layers, and more importantly
the lack of any offerings or contents, like small
bones, rather supports the theory of the remo-
val of the burial amphorae and the initiation of
a cult with purifying character. The chronolog-
ical span of the finds from the pyres is short,
mainly covering the last quarter of the eighth
century. Only very few vessels can be dated to
the early seventh. Therefore, the hypothesis that
the “Sacred House” was a long-living cult place
or that it developed in a formal area of cult in
honour of the local mythical hero Akademos is
excluded. It is rather difficult to argue that the
apsidal house of the EH period (if ever recog-
nized by the people of the LG period to have
been such) played a part in the initiation of
this cult. The fact that the lowest stratum of the
sacrifices lay upon a sterile layer, 0,60-0,90 m
thick, immediately followed by the EH stratum,
indicates that the site had been abandoned dur-
ing the intervening period. As for the LPG-EG
deposit found nearby, in the Kokkinogenis plot,
its nature and relation to the origins of the cult
in the area of the Sacred House, cannot be as-
sessed at the moment.
The case of the Academy cult shares some
common elements with the evidence from the
so-called Sacred House of Eleusis, where mul-
tiple pyres of comparable character have been
176 ALEXANDER MAZARAKIS AINIAN, ALEXANDRA ALEXANDRIDOU
associated with an inhumation grave. The edi-
fice there was built immediately after the death
of the male deceased and was devoted from the
beginning to these cult practices, in contrast
to the evidence from the Academy (Mazarakis
Ainian 1999a; 1999b, with further bibliogra-
phy). The evidence from Grotta and Mitropolis
Square at Naxos, where veneration of ancestors
from the ninth century B.C. onwards has been
attested can be also compared to that from the
Academy. There, however, the funerary rituals
seem to have gradually evolved by the LG peri-
od into an abstract (?) hero cult. It is worth no-
ting that the LPG burials, dating before the in-
auguration of the cult, belonged mostly to chil-
dren too (Lambrinoudakis 1988).
Despite a number of problems, such as the
inaccuracies in the excavation diaries and the
lack of detailed indications following the stored
material, a number of thoughts have been al-
ready put forward, attempting to clarify the
connection between the burials, the edifice and
its use for cult activities. Further study of the
excavated material and a detailed publication
will further clarify these complex issues.
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 THE “SACRED HOUSE” OF THE ACADEMY REVISITED 179

Fig. 1. Topographical plan of the area of the Academy (Travlos 1971, 50, fig. 62).

Fig. 2. Kokkinogenis plot: deposit of PrG kantharoi and cups (ΠΑΕ 1958, pl. 6α).
180 ALEXANDER MAZARAKIS AINIAN, ALEXANDRA ALEXANDRIDOU

Fig. 3. Plan of the excavated area including the “Sacred House’ (Mazarakis Ainian 1997, fig. 130).
 THE “SACRED HOUSE” OF THE ACADEMY REVISITED 181

Fig. 4a-b. Cups (4a) and Kantharoi (4b) from the Early Geometric Deposit.
182 ALEXANDER MAZARAKIS AINIAN, ALEXANDRA ALEXANDRIDOU

Fig. 5. View of the ‘Sacred House’ and the Early Helladic house, from the North (ΠΑΕ 1958, pl. 2β).

Fig. 6. View of the “Sacred House” from the West (Photo: Archives of the Archaeological Society).
 THE “SACRED HOUSE” OF THE ACADEMY REVISITED 183

Fig. 7. Plan of the ‘Sacred House’. Mazarakis Ainian 1997, fig. 132 (based on ΠΑΕ 1958, 6, fig. 2 and ΠΑΕ 1961, 9, fig. 4).

Fig. 8a-b. Plan and isometric reconstruction of the two first successive phases of the ‘Sacred House’ (drawings A.
Mazarakis Ainian).
184 ALEXANDER MAZARAKIS AINIAN, ALEXANDRA ALEXANDRIDOU

Fig. 9. Fragmentary skyphos from a pyre. Fig. 10. Rim fragment of a krater or a louterion from a pyre.

Fig. 11. Oenochoe from a pyre. Fig. 12. Plate with pierced bottom from pyre a1*3.

Fig. 13. Spindle whorls. Fig. 14. A Mycenaean goblet stem.

Fig. 15. Six joining fragments of Fig. 16. Fragmentary plate of the Fig. 17. Fragment of a pyxis decorated
an amphora from pyre 38 (MGII third quarter of the eighth century. with dogtooth (LGI).
or LGIa).
 THE “SACRED HOUSE” OF THE ACADEMY REVISITED 185

Fig. 18. Section through tombs and pits at the North of the “Sacred House” (ΠΑΕ 1956, 48, fig. 3).

Fig. 19. LG banded amphora from the amphorae-deposit, Fig. 20. Neck of an amphora of the Sub-Dipylon Group
north of the ‘Sacred House’. from the pit above the deep pit north of the ‘Sacred
House’ (ΠΑΕ 1956, pl. 3β).
186 ALEXANDER MAZARAKIS AINIAN, ALEXANDRA ALEXANDRIDOU

Fig. 21. LG amphora in the manner of the Athens 894 Fig. 22. A standed krater decorated on both sides
workshop, North of the ‘Sacred House’ (ΠΑΕ 1956, pl. 3γ). with a cross within a circle. (Photo: Archives of the
Archaeological Society).

Fig. 23. Child burial north of the ‘Sacred House’ (ΠΑΕ 1956, pl. 1γ (right). Photo: Archives of the Archaeological Society).
 THE “SACRED HOUSE” OF THE ACADEMY REVISITED 187

Fig. 24a-b. Coarse jugs, placed at the foot of the urn-amphorae (b: drawing: J.-S. Gros).

Fig. 25. Urn-amphora of burial 3 decorated with a horse Fig. 26. One-handled cup (AK 118/A 14887).
protome at the centre of its neck (ΑΚ 84/Α 14618).

Fig. 27. LGIIa kotyle (ΑΚ 84α/Α 14602). Fig. 28. LGIIb skyphos (ΑΚ 105?/ Α 14653).
188 ALEXANDER MAZARAKIS AINIAN, ALEXANDRA ALEXANDRIDOU

Fig. 29. Tomb 8 with intact scull of a child (ΠΑΕ 1956, pl. 2β).

Fig. 30a-b. A LG IIb amphora, decorated with a warrior with a Dipylon shield (ΠΑΕ 1958, pl. 10α).
 THE “SACRED HOUSE” OF THE ACADEMY REVISITED 189

Fig. 32. An LGIIb fenestrated krater (ΑΚ264/Α14576).

Fig. 31. Amphora of the SOS type.

Fig. 33. LG cup (AK 270/A14570).

Fig. 34. Early Archaic ‘sacrifice’ upon the North wall of Fig. 35. Building V and its relation to the ‘Sacred House’,
the “Sacred House” (ΠΑΕ 1962, pl. 3α). from the NE (Photo: Archaeological Society Archives).