Gortina IX.1-2. Il teatro di Pithion. Scavi e ricerche 2001-2013

Technical Information

This work constitutes the systematic edition of the excavations and researches conducted between 2001 and 2013 at the Pythion Theater in Gortina of Crete by Scuola archeologica italiana di Atene and from the University of Padua with the precious collaboration of the 23 ^ Eforia for prehistoric, classical and Byzantine antiquities of Iraklio. The work of which the results are presented here originated in the climate of profound renewal that characterized the scientific life of the centuries-old Italian institution in Greece when E. Greco took over the direction in 2000. The entire excavation was carried out descending from the superficial levels towards the maximum depth to understand the entire stratigraphic and evolutionary sequence of this area of ​​the city. The strategy proved useful in reconstructing the history of the building from its construction to the abandonment of the area. But it could not provide results on another crucial question relating to pre-existing realities; in fact, due to the structural masses of the building for shows, the excavation tests were unable to highlight the levels of attendance prior to the second century. AD and give indications on the possible presence of other buildings (theatrical of another nature) in the grounds of the theater of the imperial age. It was through these long reflections that the idea was thus reached of proposing the outcome of the research through an extensively analytical presentation of the work carried out and the data acquired. The entirety of the stratigraphic evidences is therefore exposed in the two volumes, through their textual narration and graphic presentation (volume I, part II, chapters 1-10), and an exhaustive reference is given to all the movable finds both through their assembly by lay-up contexts and through their typological classification (tome II, part III). Although the work is divided into large parts of synthesis and historical interpretation of the data (volume I, part II, chap. 11), it has thus remained faithful to the logic of the integral presentation of the data which, we believe, is the only one that can allow to all scholars interested in our research not only to judge the conclusive historical readings, perhaps transitory and questionable, but also to re-examine the same knowledge bases to propose or support historical considerations other than those advanced.