Acient Ägina. Studies in sacral and profane architecture

The Acropolis on the hill of Cape Colonna has been the center for religious and political representation of the polis Aegina and the place for tradition of the mythic past of the island. Since more than 100 years excavations have been conducted here, which were concentrated on the prehistoric settlements on the hill. New investigations concerning the existing remains of the Archaic to the Byzantine sacral and profane architecture have brought to light basic understanding of the historical buildings from Cape Colonna and the history of architecture on Aegina. To the most important results belong the evidence of a Classical phase and a spreading and overlapping concept in planning and building during the Hellenistic period. Concerning the superstructures of the buildings, which have been preserved just in their foundations, only a few statements are possible because of lacking extensive researches in architectural fragments and roof elements. With regard to this desideratum the building blocks as well as the roof-tiles and the architectural terracottas take a central position within the intended investigations. Thereby it will be possible to draw an approximately complete and differential picture of the building activities and several building programs on the Acropolis of Aegina. On the basis of these investigations the results, which have been presented for the historical architecture of the island, could be enriched and defined. A further crucial point of the project forms the examinations in connection with the current excavations at an widespread building structure at the western end of Cape Colonna (`westcomplex`). This building unit shows a fluctuating history in exploitation from the Archaic to the Byzantine period. Here in this structure the most important phases of construction and rebuilding on Colonna hill are also represented. In completion to the results of the current excavations the intended investigations concerning the building techniques could contribute to write an important chapter of the architectural history of Aegina. On Cape Colonna wells and cisterns exist in an unusual great quantity. In addition to these hydrotechnic installations excavations brought to light fountain-houses and drains. They all remained so far completely disregarded by the former architectural research. The investigation of the water supply on the basis of the several building units represents a further important item of the intended project. The scientific results respecting the building blocks, the architectural design, the roofs, the western complex and the water supply could help to close the existing lacks in understanding the architectural history and its development on the ancient Acropolis. The research will contribute to complete the picture of the building activities and different building programs on Cape Colonna. Thus it could be possible to estimate better the complex history of architecture on the island as well as the shifting status of the Acropolis on Cape Colonna and to determine its importance for the polis of Aegina.

The Acropolis on the hill of Cape Colonna has been the center for religious and political representation of the polis Aegina and the place for tradition of the mythic past of the island. Since more than 100 years excavations have been conducted here, which were concentrated on the prehistoric settlements on the hill. New investigations concerning the existing remains of the Archaic to the Byzantine sacral and profane architecture have brought to light basic understanding of the historical buildings from Cape Colonna and the history of architecture on Aegina. To the most important results belong the evidence of a Classical phase and a spreading and overlapping concept in planning and building during the Hellenistic period. Concerning the superstructures of the buildings, which have been preserved just in their foundations, only a few statements are possible because of lacking extensive researches in architectural fragments and roof elements. With regard to this desideratum the building blocks as well as the roof-tiles and the architectural terracottas take a central position within the intended investigations. Thereby it will be possible to draw an approximately complete and differential picture of the building activities and several building programs on the Acropolis of Aegina. On the basis of these investigations the results, which have been presented for the historical architecture of the island, could be enriched and defined. A further crucial point of the project forms the examinations in connection with the current excavations at an widespread building structure at the western end of Cape Colonna (`westcomplex`). This building unit shows a fluctuating history in exploitation from the Archaic to the Byzantine period. Here in this structure the most important phases of construction and rebuilding on Colonna hill are also represented. In completion to the results of the current excavations the intended investigations concerning the building techniques could contribute to write an important chapter of the architectural history of Aegina. On Cape Colonna wells and cisterns exist in an unusual great quantity. In addition to these hydrotechnic installations excavations brought to light fountain-houses and drains. They all remained so far completely disregarded by the former architectural research. The investigation of the water supply on the basis of the several building units represents a further important item of the intended project. The scientific results respecting the building blocks, the architectural design, the roofs, the western complex and the water supply could help to close the existing lacks in understanding the architectural history and its development on the ancient Acropolis. The research will contribute to complete the picture of the building activities and different building programs on Cape Colonna. Thus it could be possible to estimate better the complex history of architecture on the island as well as the shifting status of the Acropolis on Cape Colonna and to determine its importance for the polis of Aegina.