Shepherd’s Graffiti Discovery Reveals Ancient Temple at Parthenon

MILAN – An interesting discovery in Greece suggests the possibility of existence ancient temple at the location of the famous Parthenon today.

The discovery is based on a rock carving found 20 kilometers from Athens, which depicts an unknown temple standing at the same place.

Interestingly, this carving, which is 50 years older than the Parthenon, uses the term “Hekatompedon”, which previously confused archaeologists.

Translated, Hekatompedon means “a building 100 feet (30 meters) high.” This term appears in ancient edicts referring to the period before the Persian attack and the construction of the Parthenon, namely between 480 and 450 BC.

As reported by IFL Science, this Decree mentions a place for storing treasures, so archaeologists debate whether Hekatompedon refers to a temple or an open courtyard for storing treasures on the Acropolis.

This engraving, signed by Mikon, is believed to have been made by a shepherd at Vari, 20 kilometers from Athens. This carving not only shows Mikon’s name and the word Hekatompedon, but also a picture of a temple.

According to Janric van Rookhuijzen, co-author of the discovery from Radboud University, “This newly published graffiti drawing of Mikon is very important. If Mikon called the temple he depicted the Hekatompedon, it is likely that the term Hekatompedon in the edict also refers to the same temple. Indeed, the Parthenon the one standing on the hill today was once called Hekatompedon.”

More than 2,000 graffiti have been discovered at this location, created by shepherds and goat herders.

The research team, led by Merle Langdon of the University of Tennessee, determined that the Mikon shrine image is unlikely to refer to the Parthenon we know today (except for the marbles stolen by the British).

This discovery opens up the interesting possibility of the existence of an ancient temple on the site of the Parthenon before its construction.

Further research is needed to reveal more about this temple and its important role in Athens’ history.

(wbs)