Aigeira 3. Research in the area of the theatre 2011-2018

The theatre terrace of Aigeira is one of the most interesting building ensembles of the Hellenistic period in the Peloponnese. Its investigation is a focal point of the long-standing activities of the Austrian Archaeological Institute in Aigeira. The FWF-funded volume "Aigeira 3" presents a summary of the theatre area and presents findings from the earlier excavations by Wilhelm Alzinger, as well as new results from the research carried out in this area under the direction of the editor. Of particular interest is the clarification of the chronological classification of the individual buildings, their phases of use and the question of whether a uniform planning concept existed. Furthermore, the as yet unresolved question of the function of the various buildings - public, sacral or multifunctional - is investigated. During W. Alzinger`s many years of activity, between 1972 and 1988, several small buildings framing the theatre were uncovered, the so-called Naiskoi D, E and F. In addition to numerous small finds, the famous over-life-sized head of a marble statue of Zeus, which is now exhibited in the National Museum in Athens, and a mosaic depicting an eagle were found in these buildings. A large building immediately to the east of the theatre was identified by Alzinger on the basis of the statue fragments found in it as the "building of Tyche" mentioned by Pausanias in middle of the 2nd century AD in his description of Greece as one of the sights of Aigeira. After the end of Alzinger`s excavation work in the theatre area, some results had remained unpublished and many questions unanswered, so research was resumed between 2011 and 2018. In addition to the study of pottery and other small finds a detailed documentation of the architecture of the `Naiskoi` was undertaken. In the course of new excavations three buildings (A, B and C) were also identified w hic h had been partially uncovered by Otto Walter in 1925 and subsequently filled in again without precise documentation. Comprehensive publications on the historical periods of the ancient city of Aigeira have been largely lacking up to now. The volume "Aigeira 3", therefore, significantly expands the current state of knowledge on the ancient city of Aigeira by presenting primary material and its holistic analys is . T he results presented here also enrich our knowledge beyond Aigeira concerning the historical periods of eastern Achaia and the north-western Peloponnese in general.