Sanctuary of Athena Camiras at Camirus

Athena and Erichthonius from Camirus
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Camirus History

The earliest traces of occupation in Camirus (also Kamiros or Kameiros) go back to the Mycenaean times, as is demonstrated by the cemetery discovered at the village of Kalavarda. Geometric and Archaic Camirus are known manly from cemeteries, located around the ancient city.

Findings from the Geometric period (8th c. BCE) testify the existence of a Temple dedicated to Athena on the Acropolis.

In 700 BCE Camirus was one of six cities of Dorian origin in Caria that gathered in a confederacy. It joined together with Lindus, Cos, Ialysus, Cnidus and Halicarnassus to found the Dorian Hexapolis (in Greek, "the six cities"). Having its common Sanctuary, a Temple to Apollo named the Triopion, on the promontory on which Cnidus is located.

Hexapolis map
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Few remains of the earlier Archaic city have been uncovered. Two headless Archaic kouroi (550-530 BCE) are now on display in the Museum of Rhodes, Greece.

In ca. 407 BCE, Camirus (together with Lindus and Ialysus), while maintaining local autonomy, joined in the foundation of Rhodes City as the new capital of the island and sent citizens to populate it.

The cemetery at Makry Langoni has yielded the grave stele of Krito and Timarista with two standing female figures. Timarista, fullface, in a chiton and peplos embraces Krito, who is dressed in a chiton and himation and has short hair, from ca. 420-410 BCE. This famous piece of Classical sculpture is now on display in the Museum of Rhodes.

The earthquake of 226 BCE destroyed the Classical city and probably the Classical Temple of Athena Camiras.

The Hellenistic city was built on three levels according to the Hippodamian system. On the summit of the hill was the Acropolis with the Temple of Athena and the Stoa. On the middle terrace was the settlement and lower down the Hellenistic Temple, Doric Fountain-house, Agora and Peribolos of the Altars. The area was embellished with numerous votive offerings, stelai and plinths with statues. The earthquake of 142 BC destroyed the city for the second time.

Clickable plan of Camirus
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Camirus from NE
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The Archeological Excavations

The Acropolis and the cemeteries were first excavated by A. Salzmann and A. Biliotti in the last century (1858-1865) and Biliotti continued in 1880. In 1912-1913 and 1928-1930 during the Italian occupation of the island, the Italian Archaeological School began a systematic excavation of the area together with restoration work which continued until the end of the 2nd World War.

Acropolis and Precinct of Athena Camiras

On the Acropolis of Camirus was the sacred precinct of Athena Camiras (also Kamiras or Kameiras). Parts of the enclosure wall are preserved in the south part of the plateau, as well as the foundations of the Temple.

The Doric Temple was probably tetrastyle peripteral (with porticos on all four sides) surrounded by a peribolos (the circular wall that enclosed the entire holy site), dating from the late 3rd - early 2nd cent. BCE. It replaced a previous Classical Temple which was destroyed by the earthquake of 226 BCE.

There is a very impressive cistern to the north of the Temple, dating from the 6th - 5th cent. BCE. This cistern fell into disuse in the late 3rd - early 2nd cent. BCE, when a large stoa was erected along the Acropolis plateau.

The stoa consisted of two rows of Doric columns with 200 m long and shops or lodgings at the rear for the worshippers. The columns at the front supported an architrave with metopes, triglyphs and a cornice (3rd - 2nd cent. BCE).

There was an impressive water supply system under the floor with wells (with covers, according to an inscription), subterranean tanks and terra-cotta water pipes, which replaced the earlier reservoir.

It formed an imposing backdrop dominating the city and offered the inhabitants of ancient Camirus, as it does the modern visitor, a panoramic view over the sea and the surrounding agricultural area.

Clickable plan of the Sanctuary
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Hellenistic Temple

At the north-west edge of the Agora Square stands the restored columns of a distyle Doric Temple made of poros, with two columns in antis, with a pronaos (an entrance-hall), naos (the sacred chamber where the cult statue was kept) and opisthodomus (a porch at the rear), which dates from the late 3rd - early 2nd cent. BCE.

The base of the cult statue is preserved in the naos and behind was the treasury, a pit cut into the floor to hold the money of the Temple. It was probably dedicated to Pythian Apollo.

The Hellenistic Temple
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Altar Enceinte

On the northeast side of the Fountain Square is preserved a Hellenistic Sanctuary dedicated to the Gods and Heroes of Camirus, with altars within an enclosure. This was probably the Hierothyteion of Camirus, known from inscriptions.

The inscribed altars were erected on two levels and dedicated to different deities (Agathos Daemon, Artemis, Zeus, Poseidon and others). There are remains of a large oblong altar dedicated to Helios on the first level.

A semicircular dais in front of the Peribolos of the Altars carried a votive offering.

Altar Enceinte (Hierothyteion)
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GALLERY

Hexapolis map.
The Dorian Hexapolis (six cities) in Caria embraced the cities of Camirus, Lindus, Ialysus, Cos, Cnidus and Halicarnassus.

  • The cult center of the league was the Temple of Triopian Apollo at Deveboynu near Cnidus.
  • Meeting here periodically, the league discussed matters concerning economy and politics.
  • Festivals were also held in honor of Apollo.

Clickable Plan of Camirus.

City (right) and Hellenistic Stoa (left) from NE.
Camirus was divided into three unequal parts:

  1. the lowest level which formed a kind of agora (market), with a religious character
  2. an area with private dwellings on the side of the hill
  3. the Acropolis on the summit

The Hellenistic Stoa from NE.
The stoa consisted of two rows of Doric columns with 200m long.

  • The columns at the front supported an architrave with metopes, triglyphs and a cornice.

The city (center) and the Hellenistic Stoa (top) from N.
Settlement of the Hellenistic and Roman periods, built according to the Hippodamian system (with a grid of parallel streets and residential blocks of the same size, called insulae), it spread over the middle terrace of the hill.


The main street of Camirus (center) and the Hellenistic Stoa (top) from N.
A main feature of the houses was the interior colonnaded courtyard with one side usually higher than the others (Rhodian peristyle).

  • They were adorned with mosaic floors and facades with architraves and painted decoration on plaster.

The Cistern (left), the Hellenistic Stoa (center) and the Temple (top) from NW.
The cistern has a capacity of approximately 600 cubic meters. This cistern is constructed of a substance that is hard, impermeable and waterproof.

  • The result of the analysis show that this is an inactive substance, and is a type of cement that is very similar to that used today.

The Hellenistic Stoa (center) and the Temple (top) from NW.
There was an impressive water supply system under the floor of the Stoa with wells (with covers, according to an inscription), subterranean tanks and terra-cotta water pipes, which replaced the earlier reservoir.


Clickable plan of the Sanctuary.

The Hellenistic Stoa from E.
The Hellenistic Stoa had shops or lodgings at the rear (left) for the worshippers.


The Pronaos of the Temple of Athena Camiras from E.
Here was the pronaos, the entrance-hall to the Temple.


The Naos of the Temple of Athena Camiras from E.
Here we are in the Naos, the sacred chamber where the cult statue was kept.


The North wall of the Temple of Athena Camiras from NE.

The North wall of the Temple of Athena Camiras from N.

The North wall of the Temple of Athena Camiras from NW.

The West wall of the Temple of Athena Camiras from NW.
The raised platform on the top left was the place where the cult statue of Athena Camiras was kept.


The Opisthodomus of the Temple of Athena Camiras from W.
Here was the Opisthodomus, the porch at the rear. The raised platform on the top was the place where the cult statue of Athena Camiras was kept.


Athena and her adopted son Erichthonius.
At left, Athena stands in profile to the right. She holds a spear in her right hand, and a helmet in her left. Her hair is wrapped in a scarf, and she wears a chiton fastened at the shoulders. On the right is a pile of rocks, on which sits a basket. The wicker lid, decorated with olive wreaths, has been thrown off and is lying on the rocks. Two snakes emerge from the rocks, near the base of the basket. A small child, Erichthonius, dressed in a cloak thrown over his shoulder, is seen from the waist up in the box. He looks towards Athena and waves with his right hand.

  • Attic Red Figure Pelike, H. 0.265 m, ca. 440 - 430 BCE. Erichthonius Painter, From Camirus. London, British Museum, London E 372.

The Hellenistic Temple from E.
The base of the cult statue is preserved in the naos (center) and behind was the treasury, a pit cut into the floor to hold the money of the Temple (to the right).

  • It was probably dedicated to Pythian Apollo.

Hellenistic Temple N.

Altars Enceinte SW 2.


The Altars Enceinte from SW.
This Hellenistic Sanctuary is dedicated to the Gods and Heroes of Camirus, with altars within the enclosure.


Tourist Information

The site of ancient Camirus (also Kamiros or Kameiros) is 36 km southwest of Rhodes city, Rhodes island, Greece. The district of Kameiros stretches along the northwest coast of the island close to Cape Agios Minas (ancient Mylantion) in the foothills of Mt Akramytis.

Bus, car and taxi services bring most of the towns and villages within easy reach of the capital.

The nearby fishing harbour of Skala Kameirou makes a good place for lunch. Try the Symi shrimp or the octopus.

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