Thessaloniki metro: Ancient mosaics unearthed during construction work

The work on the subway construction in Thessaloniki is constantly bringing new finds, thereby delaying its launch in the northern capital of Greece.

New archaeological finds have been discovered during construction work at the entrance of the Venizelos metro station. The finds cover the period from the proto-Byzantine to the Middle Byzantine era, from the 4th to the 11th century AD.

These artifacts, together with what was discovered during the construction of the station, constitute a palimpsest with evidence of the socio-economic life of the city in the context of the 17th century.

Among the finds are buildings that probably formed the reception and dressing rooms of a public bath, and a brick foundation with a vertical chute was discovered in the same area.

The bath complex with a mosaic floor on which a male figure is depicted, and there is an inscription “OROFOROS”, that dates back to the 2nd-3rd centuries. The ledge on the floor is framed by a pattern and a belt with a geometric ornament.

Areas to the west of the baths, which were used from the 1st century BC until the 2nd century AD, had commercial use until the formation of the Roman road gallery in the 2nd century AD.

Several other architectural structures were also unearthed, believed to be the shops of the city’s Byzantine market and an open area with wells, mosaic-paved floors and fountains. Successive explored layers date from the 8th to the 11th century AD.

The excavations yielded numerous unique finds, including numerous coins, ceramics from the Byzantine period, objects made of glass, marble, iron, copper and bone, and engraved marble slabs for games.

Part of the floor made of marble slabs is a continuation of a rectangular square paved with marble discovered during excavations on the station's territory.

One of the plates can be seen engraved with the letters NFI or IFN, which are probably engravings from previous use. On the other is an engraved circle of a dice-based board game known as “patience games” found in port streets and open spaces.

The metro station “Venizelos” shows the timelessness of the city and its active economic and social life over the centuries.

The issue of preserving new ancient finds was discussed on Wednesday, September 28, during a regular meeting of the Central Archaeological Council.

The metro in Thessaloniki began to be built in 2006, but its launch is constantly delayed due to numerous archaeological finds. Judging by the importance of the finds, the opening of the metro, scheduled for early 2023, will again be postponed.

New archaeological finds have been discovered during construction work at the entrance of the Venizelos metro station. The finds cover the period from the proto-Byzantine to the Middle Byzantine era, from the 4th to the 11th century AD.

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