Topography

The ancient city of Epidaurus was developed next to the only natural harbour on the east coast of the Argolid peninsula towards the Saronic Gulf. Due to its location, it turned seawards creating overseas relations.

The most important buildings of the so-called “Sunken City” are dated in Roman times, when the Argolid, after the destruction of Corinth in 146 BC, was included in the Provincia Achaia. As a result of the prestige of the Sanctuary of Asclepius as well as Emperor Hadrian’s visit in 124/5 A.D. Epidaurus expanded from its classical center and flourished anew during the Roman Period.

THE RECENT RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION OF THE SITE

  • 1970: Aerial photography of the submerged remains under the supervision of the archaeologist Ch. Kritzas.
  • 2017: Collaborative research between the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, the Italian Archaeological School at Athens, and the Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione ed il Restauro of Rome in a pilot educational program titled In situ conservation of underwater archaeological sites: methods and case studies.
  • 2018: Continuation of the collaborative research focusing on the localization and photogrammetric recording of all of the visible remains of the villa, underwater excavation and, conservation and restoration works on the walls of the building and the dolia. Marine biologists, members of the Italian team, studied the marine organisms that are damaging the submerged antiquities.
  • 2019: Continuation of collaborative research with underwater excavation and conservation works.
  • 2021: Under the PERIPLOUS project, for the first time on the site, research was conducted for a longer period of time (3 months). During this time, cleaning works of the submerged remains in the villa area and the peninsula “Nissi” were carried out, new features were observed and the remains were recorded using photogrammetry techniques.
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