Toponyme

KEA

Kea is the first Cyclades from Athens or the southern Attica. This proximity and the existence of many natural harbors have made the islands a shelter milestone at all times.
The oldest site is Kephala north of the island. This settlement together with its cemetery date to the Late Neolithic period. Despite an occupation that did not last more than 100 years, the site is of a major archaeological importance mainly because it belongs to the transition from Bronze Age.
It is precisely this period that establishes one of the most famous sites in Greece, namely Agia Irini. The first occupation contemporary with those of Kephala but there were several periods of prosperity. The first was in the Early Cycladic but the Middle Bronze Age even more impressive because a fortification was built at the same time as the so called " temple ". During the Late Cycladic an extensive building program is realized. It includes an extensive network of streets as well as sewers. One can mention the central building "A" with many rooms with some of which were decorated with frescoes. It is likely that this was a building with administrative function. From this period date back large votive terracotta figurines, an exceptional discovery for the Creto – mycenaean world. The site is virtually abandoned after an earthquake around 1450 BC.

At Kea as elsewhere in the Aegean world, the EIA is a poorly represented period. However, the Agia Irini site still stood of a great interest since the temple seems to have been reused, maybe for worshiping the ancestor.
Even if the first archaeological phase at Karthaia dated to the LG it was during the Archaic period that the four cities of Kea are based, Karthaia, Koressia, Poieessa and Ioulis the only inland city. They were all fortified and a dense network of towers completed the defensive system. The rural landscape was also dotted with farms or mines, the main resources of the island mainly in the Classic period .
Karthaia is located south east of the island in the Bay of Poles. Unoccupied since ancient times, archaeological findings are significant. The theater of the city was found but regarding the religious life the presence of archaic temples on the heights of Aspro Vigla emphasized. The first is known as a temple to Athena because of the sculptures of the pediment. The second is probably attributable to Apollo and date of 530 BC. The site was abandoned Karthaia in late antiquity to the seventh century AD.

At Ioulis one can still distinguish the double walls of the city, whose smaller, restricted to the acropolis, was later reused by the medieval Kastro. Apart from these fortifications and an impressive sculpture archaic lion archaeological evidence is scarce. In fact, the lack of systematic archaeological research at Ioulis makes difficult to restore the religious landscape. Written sources mention a temple to Apollo and Aphrodite and that Athena, Artemis, Hermes and Dionysus where worshiped.
The third city of Koresia is located above the modern village of Livadi, North East of the island. This city has the peculiarity of having two citadels. Again, that is the fortifications that have left the most impressive remains. Also, archaeological survey has uncovered a temple on the higher acropolis. Unfortunately the divinity is not known, maybe the temple was dedicated to Apollo Sminthios mentioned at Koresia by Strabo .

Poieessa is located south west of the island on the edge of a fertile valley. Inside the ancient fortifications are still visible some buildings remain as well as retaining walls. In fact very little can be said of the topography but south of the bay was probably located the ancient harbor as some construction that may be identified as neosoikoi have been discovered.

Concerning the sanctuaries of the towns of Koressos, Ioulis and Poioessa on Kea, the basics have not changed since the 1990ies (see T. M. Whitelaw, J. L. Davis, The Polis Center of Koressos, in J. F. Cherry, J.L. Davis, E. Mantzourani (eds.), Landscape Archeology as Long-Term History, Northen Keos in the Cycladic Islands, Los Angeles 1991; and various articles in L. Mendoni & A. Mazarakis Ainian (eds.), Kea-Kythnos: History and Archaeology, Athens 1998). On Karthaia on the other hand, at the sites of the sanctuaries of Apollo and "Athena", the restoration works, conducted under the consecutive direction of V. Lambrinoudakis and E. Simantoni-Bournia between 2001-2009, have not only changed the appearance of the site but have also led to significant results allowing a better understanding of the history of the two urban sanctuaries. These have been published in a lavishly illustrated small book, written in three languages (Greek, English and French) (E. Simantoni-Bournia, L.G. Mendoni, T.-M. Panagou, Καρθαία ... ἐλαχύνωτον στέρνον χθονός..., Athens 2009). The restoration work within the Doric peripteral temple of "Athena" led to a better understanding of the three phases of the temenos and the edifice, from the late 6th century to the early 5th. Evidence beneath the pteron and the cella has proven that cult activities and a first retaining wall, date to at least the middle of the 6th century B.C. The Classical Doric propylon and Building D (a prostyle Doric building) were also restored. The latter presents two phases, dated in the 5th ("proto-D") and late 4th/early 3rd centuries B.C. The edifice may have been either a Prytaneion or a Bouleuterion. The restoration work at the temple of Apollo Pythios, also led to some interesting results. There were six columns in antis in the prostasis, and the order would have been Doric. A small side doorway was found at the end of the long North wall. The date of construction of the temple, ca. 530 B.C., based until know on the architectural details, was confirmed by the discovery of pottery in its foundation trenches.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Caskey, M. E. 1986. The temple at Ayia Irini : the statues, Princeton (Keos : results of excavations conducted by the University of Cincinnati 2).

Cherry, J. F. 1991. Landscape archaeology as long-term history : Northern Keos in the Cycladic Islands from earliest settlement until modern, Los Angeles (Monumenta archaeologica 16).

Choremi, A., C. Vlassopoulou & G. Venieri. 2002. Κέα. Ιστορία και Αρχαιότητες, Athina.

Galani, G., L. Mendoni & C. Papageorgiadou. 1982. Επιφανειακή έρευνα της Κέας, Αρχαιογνωσία 3: 237-244.

Georgiou, H. & N. Faraklas. 1985. Ancient Habitation patterns in Keos. Locations and Nature of sites on the Northwest Part of the Island, Αριάδνη 3: 207-266.

Graindor, P. 1905. Fouilles de Karthaia (Ile de Keos), BCH 29: 329-361.

Manthos, K. 1991. Αρχαιολογία και Ιστορία της νήσου Κέας, Εισαγωγή – Μεταγραφή – Σχόλια, Mendoni, L. (ed.), Athènes.

Mendoni, L. G. & A. Mazarakis Ainian. 1998. Κέα - Κύθνος : ιστορία και αρχαιολογία : πρακτικά του Διεθνούς Συμποσίου, Κέα - Κύθνος, 22-25 Ιουνίου 1994 = Kea- Kythnos : history and archaeology : proceedingsof an international Symposium, Kea - Kythnos, 22-25 June 1994, Athena Paris (Μελετήματα (Kentron Hellēnikēs kai Rōmaikēs Archaiotētos) 27).

Psyllas, I. 1921. Ιστορία της νήσου Κέας, Athina.

Nisos Kea, Keos, Zea, Céos, Tzia

<h2>KEA</h2>
Kea is the first Cyclades from Athens or the southern Attica. This proximity and the existence of many natural harbors have made the islands a shelter milestone at all times. The oldest site is Kephala north of the island. This settlement together with its cemetery date to the Late Neolithic period. Despite an occupation that did not last more than 100 years, the site is of a major archaeological importance mainly because it belongs to the transition from Bronze Age. It is precisely this period that establishes one of the most famous sites in Greece, namely Agia Irini. The first occupation contemporary with those of Kephala but there were several periods of prosperity. The first was in the Early Cycladic but the Middle Bronze Age even more  impressive because a fortification was built at the same time as the so called " temple ". During the Late Cycladic an extensive building program is realized. It includes an extensive network of streets as well as sewers. One can mention the central building "A" with many rooms with some of which were decorated with frescoes. It is likely that this was a building with administrative function. From this period date back large votive terracotta figurines, an exceptional discovery for the Creto – mycenaean world. The site is virtually abandoned after an earthquake around 1450 BC. At Kea as elsewhere in the Aegean world, the EIA is a poorly represented period. However, the Agia Irini site still stood of a great interest since the temple seems to have been reused, maybe for worshiping the ancestor. Even if the first archaeological phase at Karthaia dated to the LG it was during the Archaic period that the four cities of Kea are based, Karthaia, Koressia, Poieessa and Ioulis the only inland city. They were all fortified and a dense network of towers completed the defensive system. The rural landscape was also dotted with farms or mines, the main resources of the island mainly in the Classic period . Karthaia is located south east of the island in the Bay of Poles. Unoccupied since ancient times, archaeological findings are significant. The theater of the city was found but regarding the religious life the presence of archaic temples on the heights of Aspro Vigla emphasized. The first is known as a temple to Athena because of the sculptures of the pediment. The second is probably attributable to Apollo and date of 530 BC. The site was abandoned Karthaia in late antiquity to the seventh century AD. At Ioulis one can still distinguish the double walls of the city, whose smaller, restricted to the acropolis, was later reused by the medieval Kastro. Apart from these fortifications and an impressive sculpture archaic lion archaeological evidence is scarce. In fact, the lack of systematic archaeological research at Ioulis makes difficult to restore the religious landscape. Written sources mention a temple to Apollo and Aphrodite and that Athena, Artemis, Hermes and Dionysus where worshiped. The third city of Koresia is located above the modern village of Livadi, North East of the island. This city has the peculiarity of having two citadels. Again, that is the fortifications that have left the most impressive remains. Also, archaeological survey has uncovered a temple on the higher acropolis. Unfortunately the divinity is not known, maybe the temple was dedicated to Apollo Sminthios mentioned at Koresia by Strabo . Poieessa is located south west of the island on the edge of a fertile valley. Inside the ancient fortifications are still visible some buildings remain as well as retaining walls. In fact very little can be said of the topography but south of the bay was probably located the ancient harbor as some construction that may be identified as neosoikoi have been discovered. 
Concerning the sanctuaries of the towns of Koressos, Ioulis and Poioessa on Kea, the basics have not changed since the 1990ies (see T. M. Whitelaw, J. L. Davis, The Polis Center of Koressos, in J. F. Cherry, J.L. Davis, E. Mantzourani (eds.), Landscape Archeology as Long-Term History, Northen Keos in the Cycladic Islands, Los Angeles 1991; and various articles in L. Mendoni & A. Mazarakis Ainian (eds.), Kea-Kythnos: History and Archaeology, Athens 1998). On Karthaia on the other hand, at the sites of the sanctuaries of Apollo and "Athena", the restoration works, conducted under the consecutive direction of V. Lambrinoudakis and E. Simantoni-Bournia between 2001-2009, have not only changed the appearance of the site but have also led to significant results allowing a better understanding of the history of the two urban sanctuaries. These have been published in a lavishly illustrated small book, written in three languages (Greek, English and French) (E. Simantoni-Bournia, L.G. Mendoni, T.-M. Panagou, Καρθαία ... ἐλαχύνωτον στέρνον χθονός..., Athens 2009). The restoration work within the Doric peripteral temple of "Athena" led to a better understanding of the three phases of the temenos and the edifice, from the late 6th century to the early 5th. Evidence beneath the pteron and the cella has proven that cult activities and a first retaining wall, date to at least the middle of the 6th century B.C. The Classical Doric propylon and Building D (a prostyle Doric building) were also restored. The latter presents two phases, dated in the 5th ("proto-D") and late 4th/early 3rd centuries B.C. The edifice may have been either a Prytaneion or a Bouleuterion. The restoration work at the temple of Apollo Pythios, also led to some interesting results. There were six columns in antis in the prostasis, and the order would have been Doric. A small side doorway was found at the end of the long North wall. The date of construction of the temple, ca. 530 B.C., based until know on the architectural details, was confirmed by the discovery of pottery in its foundation trenches.
<h2>BIBLIOGRAPHY</h2>
Caskey, M. E. 1986. The temple at Ayia Irini : the statues, Princeton (Keos : results of excavations conducted by the University of Cincinnati 2). 
Cherry, J. F. 1991. Landscape archaeology as long-term history : Northern Keos in the Cycladic Islands from earliest settlement until modern, Los Angeles (Monumenta archaeologica 16). 
Choremi, A., C. Vlassopoulou & G. Venieri. 2002. Κέα. Ιστορία και Αρχαιότητες, Athina. 
Galani, G., L. Mendoni & C. Papageorgiadou. 1982. Επιφανειακή έρευνα της Κέας, Αρχαιογνωσία 3: 237-244. 
Georgiou, H. & N. Faraklas. 1985. Ancient Habitation patterns in Keos. Locations and Nature of sites on the Northwest Part of the Island, Αριάδνη 3: 207-266.
Graindor, P. 1905. Fouilles de Karthaia (Ile de Keos), BCH 29: 329-361.
Manthos, K. 1991. Αρχαιολογία και Ιστορία της νήσου Κέας, Εισαγωγή – Μεταγραφή – Σχόλια, Mendoni, L. (ed.), Athènes. 
Mendoni, L. G. & A. Mazarakis Ainian. 1998. Κέα - Κύθνος : ιστορία και αρχαιολογία : πρακτικά του Διεθνούς Συμποσίου, Κέα - Κύθνος, 22-25 Ιουνίου 1994 = Kea- Kythnos : history and archaeology : proceedingsof an international Symposium, Kea - Kythnos, 22-25 June 1994, Athena Paris (Μελετήματα (Kentron Hellēnikēs kai Rōmaikēs Archaiotētos) 27). 
Psyllas, I. 1921. Ιστορία της νήσου Κέας, Athina.