Ancient Oropos - Archaeological site Amfiareia
The archaeological site of Amfiareia, Located in the northeast. Attica, in place Mafrodilesi, 6 km SE. Oropos. Within a landscape full of pines, trees and oleander preserved ancient Sanctuary Amphiaraos and a source that is suspected of being the Sacred Source.
The Oracle-Infirmary, which was dedicated to the chthonic god and hero of Argos, Amphiaraos, It was the largest of the ancient Holy era. According to legend, God was not born from a union but sprang from a source that was on ancient Oropos, near Temple. As god of the Underworld was quite popular for its healing and prophetic qualities. The Sacred Source gushing water in which the cured patients threw coins at source to please God to cure.
Aeschylus in "Seven Against Thebes" tragedy refers to the king of Argos, Amphiaraos.
ANCIENT OROPOS
The ancient Oropos was the current location Skala Oropou and was a port of particular strategic importance, opposite Euboea. The particular location city led to claims of sovereignty from Eretria, the Boeotians and Athenians and the long allegiance to them.
Big event for the city was the foundation of Amfiareia, at the end of 5th B.C. century. The 367 A.D. when nbspOropos became independent erected the great temple, the Altar, The Grand Lodge, the eastern retaining wall, Behind the portico and the Baths. At that time, built the stone proscenium and the stage of the Theater.
Since early 4th B.C. and as the 338 B.C., at the Battle of Chaeronea, when the Athenians were again Oropos holders, the Amfiareia reputation spread throughout Greece.
The dedicatory inscriptions found in Amfiareio show that the Athenians were interested in the Sanctuary, as they added new buildings, offered tributes to Amphiaraos (small human limbs Dummies, coins etc.) and reorganized the festivities in honor of.
By 3The B.C. up early 2th B.C. and particularly to 145 B.C., when Oropos was a member of 'Joint Boeotian ", the Amfiareio showed the greatest flourishing of, as care of the "Common" was the religious cult and the organization of major festivals. The Sanctuary of Amphiaraos began to attract large crowds, many areas, who offered monetary donations mainly for reasons conclude good relations with the city of Oropos.
Due to the high reputation he had acquired the Amfiareio, residents of Oropos began to publish this important decisions, is public announcements, resolutions, notices, which was inscribed on columns or pedestals of statues.
After the Achaean war (146 B.C.) the "Representation of Viotia" permanently dissolved and Greece was conquered by the Romans who created the "Joint Roman". In Amfiareio pedestals erected by Roman officials statues, such as general-dictator Sulla and Metellus his wife. The "Representation of Viotia" regrouped again, Much later, perhaps during the Mithridatic Wars, the decade 80-70 B.C., but already Amfiareio had fallen into decline. With the advent of Christianity (1th A.D.), The cult of Amphiaraos slowly began to decline and gradually abandoned Sanctuary.
AMFIARIO-ARCHAEOLOGICAL
The Amfiareio was built on the banks of the torrent of "gorge" as it was called then. The systematic excavation of the sanctuary began in 1884 until the 1929, the Archaeological Society. The excavations at the archaeological site, They showed that there were the following:
- Altar, large 4,60CH8,90 m. wherein Today, only the bottom and some traces of 2 Altars older era
- sacred Source, N. altar from which emerged the god Amphiaraos.
- temple Amphiaraos, (4th B.C.), SW. the altar, Doric rhythm, with dimensions 38,00 x 14,00m. The Temple had Pronaos, with 6 Doric columns between pilasters, Prodromos, with marble benches for visitors to sit, alcove, with 2 rows of Ionic columns which divided the church into 3 aisles. In nave, It was the marble statue of the god Amphiaraos, upright. Today the statue is preserved amputated. On the back wall of the nave there was a door that led into a small room that probably served as a vault or had some connection with the worship. Today survives opening and the threshold of this door.
- statuary, there are a number of eminent persons statues, along the road leading to the Temple. Today only the pedestals preserved, ie the bases of statues, which are engraved inscriptions.
- baths Sanctuary,(4th B.C.), a square building, near the Sacred Source, from which only survived a tank, two large basins, the floor and the bottom of wall.
- Grand Lodge, (4th B.C.) in D.. baths. The building was about 110 m. at both ends there were two rooms in which the "slumbers were". Like the Holy Asclepius, the patient falling asleep and waiting for the oracle god will give to treat.
- Ancient theater, (4th B.C.), Doric destined for spectators of the sacrifices made on the altar.
Today ruins of the theater, like the five thrones-official positions that existed around the stage. It is made of white marble with embossed decorative representations and inscriptions. also, to B. side of the altar, you will see the remains of the three semicircular stairs.
- small Temple (4th B.C.) to the point where the last standing statue pedestal was a small temple where now preserved only the walls.
SMALL AND LARGE Amfiareia or AMFIARAEIA Romans
the Oropos, They had established celebrations in honor of the god Amphiaraos, the small Amfiareia, which were held every year and large Amfiareia, every five years.
The Large Amfiareia comprised musical, sporting and equestrian events which took place athletes and actors from Greece, Italy and Asia Minor.
LADDER OROPOU
Skala Oropou is now a seaside resort town, part of the settlement Oropou. Here you are going to swim, sit in the numerous coffee or eat fresh fish in one of the taverns of the area.
ACCESS TO OROPOS
Access is from the National Road. Athens Lamia, turn right to Oropo (about 52 km). If you do not have your own car then you can take the bus heading to Oropos or direction Holy Apostles. From where they will leave the bus the Archaeological Site of Amfiareia is about 3 km.
USEFUL ADDRESSES
bus Attica, Patissia 68 (28th October) & Kotsika 2, Athena,
tel. : 210 8808000, 210 8808080, 210 8808117, www.ktelattikis.gr
Station Staff Oropou, tel. : 2295032216
