April 12th: Megalopolis and Lykosoura

Week 3 Map

Before rosy-fingered Dawn had stretched her fingers across the Kyparissian sky, we shared a wonderful feast of the Grecian variety. We began our journey towards the illustrious Megalopolis, the city of wonder. Zeus’ storm-filled skies did not deter our enthusiasm for this beautiful ancient city, now the lignite capital of Greece. Megalopolis was, like Messene, a buffer state created by the Thebans to protect against Spartan military invasion. It became the capital of the Arcadian League, but unfortunately its exiguous remains are surrounded by a massive pit mine, complimented by power plant smoke stacks. The Temple of Zeus Soter, however, does remain – although part of it has fallen into the huge (actually, rather small) river nearby. There is another large structure, the mega-stoa, perhaps commissioned by Phillip II of Macedon. After filming a somewhat spontaneous music video, our mega-fun morning came to a close.

As Helios brought the sun past its highest hour, we found ourselves lost in piles of limestone. This stop: Lykosoura. First we were all inducted into the mysterious cult of Despoina. All the rites were observed, with minor adjustments. Instead of traditional spargamos (rending apart) of a sacrificial victim, we feasted on apples, pears, sandwiches and any other form of lunch.

Since we all left our animal masks back in Athens, we adjusted the ritual dance with a better game: find the module. For those of you at home, the module is a standard that an architect uses to build a temple (or any other building for that matter). Usually, the Doric foot (Module) is 32 cm. However, it appears that the module for this temple was closer to 42cm. How do you find the module, you ask? Just measure a triglyph! But how do you measure a triglyph if it’s supposed to be meters above the ground? Not to worry, the super structure of the temple was mud brick, and after centuries of not so careful maintenance the temple collapsed! Those triglyphs are on the ground, ready and waiting to be measured. But what do you do with this module, you say? Re-construct the temple, of course! After scurrying about the remains of the Temple of Despoina, measuring and catalouging, we then had to make our very own floor and elevation plan of the temple. Damaphon, Iktinos, and Menistikles would all be proud. By four in the afternoon, we were on our way home.

Arriving at the Apollo Art Hotel, we rushed to finish our methodology descriptions and reconstructions, printing only minutes before our follow-up discussion on the Iliad. In the manner of the Iliad, we feasted and slept.

Day 17 Photos

Starting off the day with a lecture at Megalopolis....IT WAS HUUUUUUGE!

Population: A LOT!!!!

Scenic lignite processing vistas at the GIGANTIC stoa of the Megalopolis agora.

Joyce is too fast for the camera in the Megalopolis agora.

Chloe faces down the foreboding smog clouds hovering about the Megalopolitan superstate.

Megalopolis from above.

The group files down the hill toward the temple of Despoina at Lykosoura.

Lizzie, Emma, and Katelyn get to work on their temple reconstruction.

Ping and Blake ponder the module.

Matt checks for a sharper arris.

Archaeology in action.

Anna Leah

Katelyn

Sarah

Ping

Chloe

Tara

Liz

Alfonso

Jenna (and Tara)

Prof. Christesen

Chloe, leader and bon vivant, gathers a bouquet of wildflowers for the indulgent guard at Lykosoura.