Koan Antiquities

This paper discusses the logic, history and development of lunisolar calendars, including the octaëteris, the Metonic Cycle and Callippic Cycle periods (particularly how the latter two are employed on the Antikythera Mechanism), as well as the years, season, history and events of the Halieia games of Rhodes (which are also attested on the Antikythera Mechanism). It will also discuss the order and seasons of the months and the day-nomenclature of the calendars of Rhodes and Kos as well as their semester systems. Here it will be argued that there were two separate calendars in operation with different starting points at both these city-states -- an Eponymous Calendar-Year and a Bouleutic Calendar-Year. The paper will also discuss the intercalary month Πάναμος δεύτερος at Rhodes along with various theories concerning the Διπανάμια festival there.
Finally, the paper will conclude by analyzing the years in which several Rhodian festivals were celebrated, based upon which several Rhodian inscriptions will be redated.

Η παρούσα μελέτη αποτελεί σύντομη παρουσίαση της
πρόσφατης έρευνάς μας για την εξόρυξη του κωακού
μαρμάρου κατά την αρχαιότητα. Παρουσιάζονται τα μέ-
τωπα εξόρυξης που πρόσφατα εντοπίστηκαν στο όρος
Δίκαιος και εξετάζονται τα ίχνη λατόμησης, οι θέσεις
απόρριψης που διερευνήθηκαν και τα ημίεργα γλυπτά
από την Κω. Ο απώτερος στόχος της έρευνάς μας αφορά
στη συνολική θεώρηση της κωακής μαρμαρογλυπτικής
κατά την αρχαιότητα, μέσα από την επισκόπηση του ο-
γκωδέστατου κατάλογου με τα έργα από κωακό μάρ-
μαρο στην Κω, αλλά και όσα έχουν εξαχθεί στις
απέναντι μικρασιατικές ακτές και στα γύρω νησιά, ο
οποίος εκπονήθηκε στο πλαίσιο της διδακτορικής δια-
τριβής της γράφουσας, που υποβλήθηκε στο Πανεπι-
στήμιο Αθηνών (Τομέας Αρχαιολογίας και Ιστορίας της
Τέχνης), υπό την εποπτεία της καθηγήτριας Γ. Κοκκο-
ρού-Αλευρά. Η έρευνά μας συμπληρώθηκε με την πραγ-
ματοποίηση φυσικοχημικών αναλύσεων σε δείγματα
μαρμάρου από τα γλυπτά και αγγεία που ήρθαν στο φως
κατά την ανασκαφή στο ελληνιστικό ιερό του Απόλ-
λωνα και στον παλαιοχριστιανικό οικισμό της αρχαίας
Αλάσαρνας (σημ. Καρδάμαινας) της Κω, στο εργαστή-
ριο Αρχαιομετρίας του Ε.Κ.Ε.φ.Ε. «Δημόκριτος», υπό τη
δ/νση του καθηγητή Ιω. Μανιάτη και τη συνεργασία του
Δρ. Δημ. Ταμπακόπουλου. Τα αποτελέσματα των εργα-
στηριακών αυτών αναλύσεων θα διαφωτίσουν περισσό-
τερο την έρευνά μας.

The study of the ambos offers features of interest in the context of
early Byzantine architecture, sculpture and liturgy in the Aegean islands. Despite
the difficulties deriving from a heterogeneous and often incomplete documentation,
it is possible to recognize significant differences, but also typological homologation
phenomena, not always dependent on Constantinopolitan models. In particular, the paper examines some examples of Crete and the Dodecanese, which make it possible to understand differences and common tendencies, offering the possibility of comparing these characteristics with those present in adjacent areas

The thorough examination of the rock-types used for Koan buildings dated immediately after the Synoikism of Kos in 366 BC brought to light important evidence about the affinities of the architectural trend of the middle of the 4th century BC between Kos and Karia, which can be detected on the choice of building materials and construction techniques. It is remarkable, that the best-preserved monument of that period, the city wall of Kos, along with the earlier buildings of the town was built in various rocks of local origin, but also imported from the opposite coast. The so called prasinopetra in Koan architecture is likely quarried in Myndos, whereas the reddish poros / poropetra may originate from Halikarnassos. The grey limestone, which is usual in Hellenistic buildings of Kos must be also extracted from the opposite coast, from Halikarnassos or Knidos. The quarrying and building tradition of Karia probably influenced Koans not only in quarrying and carving techniques, but also in stones’ special combinations, to achieve resistance in earthquakes, waterproofing features and the better visual result. Possible movement towards Kos of the builders from the opposite Karian coast, who preferred the well-known building stones of their Motherland, cannot be excluded. The above-mentioned influences on Koan architecture helped Koan quarrymen and stone-carvers / sculptors to improve their skills, to organize as early as in the 3rd cent. B.C. a marble workshop at the slopes of Mount Dikaios and to seek for local rocks in the western part of the island (Kefalos peninsula), aiming mainly to avoid the imports of stone material from the territory of the other Doric cities of the opposite coast or the neighbouring islands.