7 June 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

Unprecedented necropolis site found in Cappadocia, one of Türkiye’s most important tourism centers

8 July 2024

8 July 2024

In Cappadocia, located in the Central Anatolia Region of Türkiye, known for its unique moon-like landscape, underground cities, cave churches,...

Archeologists discover 2000-year-old Roman coins on the deserted Swedish island of Gotska Sandön

14 April 2023

14 April 2023

Archaeologists found 2,000-year-old Roman coins on the Swedish deserted island of Gotska Sandön. Previously, ancient Roman coins were discovered on...

Urartian graves in eastern Turkey pointing out novel burial traditions

21 September 2021

21 September 2021

The excavations in Cavuştepe castle continue with the excavations in the necropolis this year. Two new tombs from the Urartian...

2,000-year-old Monumental Tomb of Roman Elite discovered in Apollon Smintheus sanctuary in Türkiye

2 January 2024

2 January 2024

A 2,000-year-old monumental tomb from the Roman era has been unearthed at the Apollon Smintheus Sanctuary in the village of...

In Oman, a 4,000-year-old Early Bronze Age settlement was unearthed

25 January 2022

25 January 2022

A large settlement dating back more than 4,000 years has been discovered in Oman. Archaeological excavations in the Wilayat of Rustaq,...

Ancient Herpes DNA Points to Oral Herpes’ Beginnings: First kisses may have helped spread cold sore virus

28 July 2022

28 July 2022

The ancient genomes of the herpes virus, which commonly causes lip sores and currently infects about 3.7 billion people worldwide,...

2,600-year-old Terracotta Pipeline found in India

11 August 2024

11 August 2024

During the 10th phase of archaeological excavations at the Keeladi archaeological site in Tamil Nadu, India, archaeologists uncovered a terracotta...

Central Turkey’s largest Byzantine mosaic structure found

28 October 2021

28 October 2021

A 300-square-meter (3,330 square feet) ​floor mosaic belonging to the Late Roman-Early Byzantine period was discovered during excavation work in...

Giant Prehistoric Rock Engravings Discovered in South America May Be The World’s Largest

5 June 2024

5 June 2024

Researchers made a groundbreaking discovery of what is thought to be the world’s largest prehistoric rock art. Enormous engraved rock...

Archaeologists unearth 6,000-year-old two monumental mounds containing wooden grave chambers in Germany

16 March 2024

16 March 2024

Archaeologists from the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt (LDA) have uncovered a significant Neolithic burial landscape on...

The ‘extraordinary’ Roman mosaic depicting scenes from Homer’s Iliad unearthed in a Rutland farmer’s field is the first of its kind in England

25 November 2021

25 November 2021

The 1,500-year-old mosaic discovered by a farmer was considered Britain’s “most exciting” Roman find. The artwork was discovered on private...

2000-year-old dagger reveals the site of a long-forgotten battle between the Roman Empire and tribal warriors

16 December 2023

16 December 2023

In Switzerland, a volunteer archaeologist and dental student Lucas Schmid discovered in 2019 a 2000-year-old silver and brass dagger. It...

The oldest evidence of human cannibalism as a funerary practice in Europe

7 October 2023

7 October 2023

According to a new study, cannibalism was a common funerary practice in northern Europe around 15,000 years ago, with people...

Ancient shipwreck dating back to the 2nd century BC was discovered off the coast of Croatia

14 September 2021

14 September 2021

A shipwreck dating to the 2nd century BC has been discovered in the shallow waters of the Adriatic Sea near...

The Basilica cistern, which is said to have the sarcophagus of Medusa or the Mysterious Snake Woman, was restored

21 July 2022

21 July 2022

The Basilica Cistern, one of the magnificent ancient structures of Istanbul, was restored. Besides being the greatest work of the...