Pheia – Submerged Harbour of Olympia at Agios Andreas
pheia-olympia-harbour-elis
Mycenaean to Late Roman (LH III – 5th c. CE harbour)·Mycenaean / Elean / Olympic· Western Peloponnese, Elis, Katakolo Bay, GR
About
About Pheia – Submerged Harbour of Olympia at Agios Andreas
Elis harbour serving Olympia (28 km inland via Alpheios) – Homeric Pheia and Thuc 2.25 naval base. Mycenaean → Classical harbour with moles, Pontikokastro islet, harbour basin 200×120 m at 4–6 m. Subsidence 5 m due to Elis fault 550 BCE quake. Greek Ephorate surveys mosaic floors underwater.
Why it mattersVerified harbour subsidence/silting marker for Mediterranean sea-level curves.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Harbour mole phasing
Theories
- 01Steady subsidence not quake
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Mycenaean
- Period
- Mycenaean to Late Roman (LH III – 5th c. CE harbour)
- Culture
- Mycenaean / Elean / Olympic
- Builders
- Mycenaean
- Purpose
- Olympia seaport — Homeric Pheia harbour basin and Pontikokastro islet now 4–6 m under Katakolo Bay.
- Abandoned
- Abandoned
- Rediscovered
- Survey
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
Myce
Harbour peak
On the ground
Structures & features
37.6710° N · 21.3290° E · -2 m · 1 mapped feature
pheia-olympia-harbour-elis harbour mole
harbourMole at -2 m
37.6710° N · 21.3290° E