6 September 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

An Ancient Building and Gold Artifacts Found in the Ancient Greek City of Rypes in Achaea

Recent excavations on the Trapezá plateau, eight kilometers southwest of the city of Aigio in the Peloponnese, have uncovered an ancient building and numerous gold artifacts that archaeologists believe were part of the town of Rypes, referred to by the ancient Greek geographer Pausanias.

The site is identified with the ancient city of Rypes, a prosperous city in the Achaea region during the early historical period, known for its role in founding the colony of Croton in Magna Graecia.

Rypes was founded by the Pelasgians, an ancient people mentioned in Greek history and mythology. They are regarded as one of the first inhabitants of the Aegean region and parts of the Greek mainland, appearing in ancient texts and legends as pre-Greek settlers who occupied the land prior to the arrival of Hellenic tribes. The seaside town was later inhabited by Ionians before it was destroyed and abandoned at around 30 BC by the Romans.

Lions sculpted in Pentelic marble found in Rypes. Photo: Greek Ministry of Culture
Lions sculpted in Pentelic marble found in Rypes. Photo: Greek Ministry of Culture

Studying the structure known as “Building Γ” (Gamma), which is southeast of the temple terrace and connected to the city’s public activities, was the main goal of this year’s campaign. Once hidden beneath a dilapidated limestone and conglomerate block structure, this structure uncovered a 16.80-meter-long crepidoma and a stylobate that predates 300 BCE.

The discovered architectural features point to a monumental structure in the Corinthian style, which is distinguished by columns of unusual proportions, Peloponnesian bases, and capitals with elaborate decorations reminiscent of the Temple of Apollo at Bassae.

A marble funerary stele of a youthful male figure was uncovered. Photo: Greek Ministry of Culture
A marble funerary stele of a youthful male figure was uncovered. Photo: Greek Ministry of Culture

The most remarkable finds were sculptures of lions made of Pentelic marble that had once been incorporated into separate stone bases. Also found were pieces of a large funerary stele that showed a young man. These findings substantiate the notion that Building Γ was a heroon, a funerary monument honoring important ancient Ripes figures.

The excavations inside the heroon turned up intact tombs with priceless burial offerings, including some shaped like sarcophaguses. Gold rings, a pendant of winged Eros, a necklace with lion-bust ends, gold earrings adorned with lion heads, and historically significant funerary coins were among the items found. These results attest to the buried individuals’ high social standing and wealth.

One of the jewelry discovered in the tombs of Heroon. Photo: Greek Ministry of Culture
One of the jewelry discovered in the tombs of Heroon. Photo: Greek Ministry of Culture

Pottery and architectural remnants from the eighth century BCE were discovered during a minor excavation near the monument, indicating the site’s lengthy history of habitation.

Under the direction of Dr. Andreas G. Bordos of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Achaea, the study will go on as part of a new five-year program funded by Olympia Odos S.A. and the A.G. Leventis Foundation.

Some of the jewelry discovered in the tombs of Heroon. Photo: Greek Ministry of Culture
Some of the jewelry discovered in the tombs of Heroon. Photo: Greek Ministry of Culture

Greek Ministry of Culture

Cover Image Credit: Photo: Greek Ministry of Culture

Related Articles

Roman camp of 10,000 people discovered in northern Portugal

2 July 2021

2 July 2021

A camp used by 10,000 Roman soldiers sent to conquer northwestern Iberia has been discovered in the Portuguese city of...

Hussar Armor From The 17th Century Found By Metal Detectorist In Poland

8 April 2024

8 April 2024

A 17th-century Hussar armor was found in a field in the village of Mikułowice in the Opatów region in southeastern...

China’s construction of the first archaeological museum which will house the famous Terracotta Warriors has been completed

19 April 2022

19 April 2022

Construction of the first archaeological museum in China’s northwestern province of Shaanxi, which will house the famous Terracotta Warriors, was...

2,700-year-old Unique Rock Tombs Disappear

18 July 2023

18 July 2023

The 2,700-year-old rock tombs, unique in Turkey, in the Taşköprü district of Kastamonu are in danger of extinction due to...

Bronze Age Treasure Found in Swedish Forests

30 April 2021

30 April 2021

A man who studied the forest to make a map for the orienteering club in western Sweden made an incredible...

A 5,000-year-old large house has been discovered in China’s Yangshao Village

7 December 2022

7 December 2022

Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology archaeologists have excavated the ruins of house foundations dating back more than...

The World’s oldest and first swords ever discovered

11 March 2023

11 March 2023

The 5,000-year-old swords found 43 years ago during the excavations in the old mud-brick palace structure in Malatya Arslantepe Mound...

Archaeologists Discover 40,000-Year-Old Evidence of Neanderthal Habitation in Ghamari Cave, Iran

13 March 2025

13 March 2025

Iranian archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery in Ghamari Cave (also known as Qamari Cave), located near Khorramabad in Lorestan...

3,000-Year-Old Eyeliner Innovative Formula Discovered in Iran: A Unique Iron Age Kohl Without Lead

17 July 2025

17 July 2025

Ancient black eyeliner found in Iron Age graves reveals a previously unknown cosmetic recipe using graphite and manganese oxide, predating...

The place where John the Baptist was martyred

4 February 2022

4 February 2022

The infamous birthday banquet of Herod Antipas, which culminated in the beheading of St John the Baptist — a preacher...

Japan’s Oldest Multiplication Table Discovered in Nara, Dating Back 1,300 Years

7 September 2024

7 September 2024

A strip of wood discovered in the ruins of Fujiwara Palace in Nara Prefecture turned out to be part of...

New Type of Amphora Found in 5th-Century Roman Shipwreck

28 April 2024

28 April 2024

The first in-depth analysis of the cargo of a 4th-century Roman shipwreck found off the coast of Mallorca in 2019...

‘4,200-year-old Zombie grave’ discovered in Germany

22 April 2024

22 April 2024

Archaeologists excavating in East Germany have found a 4,200-year-old grave near Oppin in Saxony-Anhalt containing the skeleton of a man...

The excavations in ancient city of Aizanoi discovered the statue heads of Dionysus and Aphrodite

11 December 2023

11 December 2023

The heads of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, and Dionysus, the god of wine, were found in Aizanoi,...

700-Year-Old Church Becomes a Museum

31 January 2021

31 January 2021

It was learned that the 7-century-old church in Akçaabat, Trabzon will serve as a museum from now on. St. The...