Mysteria
Thorikos Theatre and Laurion Mines

Thorikos Theatre and Laurion Mines

Late Neolithic to Roman·Athenian·🇬🇷 Attica, Greece

About

About Thorikos Theatre and Laurion Mines

Thorikos Theatre and Laurion Mines in Attica, Greece is a Late Neolithic to Roman ancient-city attributed to Athenian. Earliest rectilinear theatre (525 BCE) above silver mines that financed Athens. Mining washhouses and ore galleries with theatre cut into hillside; American School excavation 1886.

Why it mattersType-site for Athenian ancient-city studies

Open questions

Mysteries & theories

Mysteries

  1. 01Phasing sequence
  2. 02Function and cult identity

Theories

  1. 01Panhellenic competition centre
  2. 02Colonial foundation model

Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.

History

How it came to be

Built
c. 525 BCE theatre, mines 3200 BCE
Period
Late Neolithic to Roman
Culture
Athenian
Purpose
Earliest rectilinear theatre (525 BCE) above silver mines that financed Athens
Excavation
Excavated
  1. c. 525 BCE theatre, mines 3200 BCE

    Initial construction

  2. c. 1880 CE

    Systematic excavation

On the ground

Structures & features

37.7380° N · 24.0570° E · 110 m · 3 mapped features

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