Surveying and Excavation
The key objectives of this project are to determine the extent of the remains of the shipshed complexes and establish a better understanding of the building phases and likely use of the structures found. 7 pictures.
Celebrating 4000 years of Hellenic Maritime History
On the evening of August 11th 2004, the famous reconstruction of the ancient trireme Olympias sailed the Olympic Flame into the main harbour of the Piraeus (ancient Kantharos). Olympias was accompanied by the new reconstruction of a Minoan Bronze Age ship (c. 1550 BC), and the Kyrenia reconstruction, based on a Classical Greek merchantman found off the coast of Cyprus. Earlier in the day, the three ships visited the two other harbours of the Piraeus, Mikrolimano (ancient Mounychia) and Zea (also called Pashalimani). This celebration of 4000 years of Hellenic maritime history culminated with the Olympic Flame arriving in Kantharos. It was an awe-inspiring sight. 14 pictures.
26th Ephorate rescue excavations at Zea spring 2004
In the spring of 2004 the Zea marina underwent major modernisation, and a constructing trench for water and electricity supply was dug into the modern quay in the south-eastern, eastern and north-eastern parts of Zea harbour. The trench ran across all the shipsheds in these areas and offered a unique opportunity to gain information about the buildings in areas that are normally inaccessible because they lie under the modern concrete quay. The very complicated rescue excavation of the shipsheds in the construction trench was directed by Dr. Kornelia Axioti of the 26th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, and the 26th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities has kindly given permission to visualize the demanding fieldwork in the following gallery. 22 pictures.
Column Drums
Investigating the column drums at the Hellenic Maritime Museum. In 1964 thirteen column drums were found in front of the rowing club Nαυτικoς 'Oιμλoς Eρετών in the northern part of the Zea Harbour basin during dredging work for the new marina. The column drums are in all probability from the ship-sheds and in May 2002 we investigated and catalogued the column drums to clarify a number of architectural questions concerning the Zea shipsheds. 6 pictures.
