News - Weeks 9-12: Excavations of the ancient Munichia Harbour

Fig. 1 The modern harbour of Mikrolimano – the ancient harbour of Mounichia

Fig. 2 Chryssanthi excavating parts of the fortified quay next to the round tower on the northern side of the harbour mouth.

Fig. 3 None shall pass - artistic reconstruction of the fortified harbour entrance at Mounichia (Y. Nakas)

Author: Bjørn Loven and Mads M. Nielsen

We have now been excavating for four weeks at Mounichia (fig. 1; modern Mikrolimano) and although fieldwork at this site is extremely difficult because of modern structures and waste covering the ancient ruins we have discovered substantial and well preserved remains of the northern monumental fortified quay that protected the naval base towards the sea (fig. 2).

Parts of the harbour fortifications at Mounichia are some of the best preserved, not only in Greece, but in the whole Mediterranean, and two massive ancient towers are clearly visible in the modern harbour today. The first thing that would have met the eye of the ancient traveller approaching Mounichia, or any of the harbours, from the sea would have been the impressive harbour fortifications (fig. 3). And what an awe-inspiring sight it must have been. Like other fortifications, those of the ancient Piraeus were important, not only as an active defencesystem protecting the naval bases in the three harbours in Piraeus – Zea, Mounichia and Kantharos – thus ensuring continued control over the sea. It was also a symbol of the city – or rather cities! For the fortifications around the Piraeus were not only considered Piraean, as they protected Athens as much as they protected the Piraeus.

In the northern part of the harbour mouth a round tower is preserved to an amazing height of 9 m above the seabed, and 35 m to the north of here we have found a well preserved 12+ m long section of the fortified quay under the modern jetty. This part of the fortified quay is very important for our work as it offers clues to the ancient harbour fortifications surrounding the harbour, and it will help us reconstruct the layout of the ancient harbour, which is an important step in understanding how and why the ancient harbour was built as it was. Further, we have discovered undisturbed layers related to the construction of the ancient quay, and we hope that the abundant ceramic material found here will enable us to date the construction of the ancient fortified quay.

On a different note, Bjørn Loven has returned from a short lecture tour to the USA, where he guest lectured at Yale University, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (MIT) and at Louisville University. Bjørn wishes to thank Dr. John Hale for the invitation and long time American Friends of the Zea Harbour Project, Anne and Phil Bergan for their fantastic hospitality.