Altar of Dionysus

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The Altar of Dionysus ( Greek Βωμός Διονύσου Vomós Dionýsou ) is an important archaeological site in the city ​​of Kos on the Greek island of Kos . The altar was dedicated to the bearded god Dionysus , the Greek god of wine , joy , grapes , fertility , madness and ecstasy, and theater .

location

The Altar of Dionysus is located on the Boulevard Leoforos Patriarchou Gregoriou E ' ( Λεωφόρος Πατριάρχου Γρηγορίου Ε' ), around 400 meters northeast of the Odeon or 100 meters from the Casa Romana . Seen from the port of Kos , the altar of Dionysus is to the south, around 400 meters away.

The surrounding level is about 11 meters above sea level, the Altar of Dionysus about 2 meters lower at a historical level.

investment

The altar is a typical example of a Hellenistic altar . The part of the structure that is still visible today dates from the 2nd century BC. It is believed that the construction of the altar was paid for by a ruler from Pergamon in Asia Minor . The altar was damaged and repaired in the earthquake in 142 AD. The altar was abandoned in Byzantine times . After the conquest of the island of Kos by the Order of St. John , parts of the altar were used for other purposes. For example, corner stones with a relief or two on one side were used to build the Neratzia fortress . These corner stones were removed from the fortress in 1958. The excavations and construction work on this historical site and the finds were completed by the Italian occupying forces in the 1930s ( Italian occupation of the island from 1912 to 1943).

The frieze of the altar shows scenes with Amazons as well as a group of Dionysian maenads , satyrs and Silenus . The frieze is kept in the Neratzia fortress.

Of the altar itself, only a rectangular part of the foundation, the inclined ramp and a transverse stone wall are visible today. Also in the area of ​​the Altar of Dionysus is a Doric order temple , probably dedicated to Dionysus, and two rectangular structures, one of which is considered a pedestal for a statue and the second as another pedestal or an older altar.

Access to the archaeological site is free.

literature

  • Ν.Χρ. Σταμπολίδης (NC Stambolidis): O βωμός του Διονύσου στην Κω. (German: The Altar of Dionysus in Kos ), 1987, αρ. δημ. 34, p. 374.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Altar of Dionysos , website: kos.gr.
  2. ↑ Περιγραφή , website: odysseus.culture.gr.

Coordinates: 36 ° 53 ′ 27 "  N , 27 ° 17 ′ 22.8"  E