Excavations confirm location of storied city

ATHENS: Greek archaeologists have discovered jewellery, coins and remnants of a settlement affirming the location of a city thought to have been founded by survivors of the Trojan War in the 12th or 13th century BC.

Excavations near Chiliomodi, in Greece’s southern Peloponnese, indicated the presence of the wealthy ancient city of Tenea, the Culture Ministry said.

Tenea’s location had been based mainly on historical references and the find was proof it existed, the ministry said.

The most recent excavation unearthed seven graves dating to the Roman and Hellenistic periods, and, for the first time, remnants of a settlement.

According to ancient Greek traveller and geographer Pausanias, Tenea may have been founded by Trojans who were taken prisoner by Agamemnon, king of nearby Mycenae.

Archaeologists discovered clay, stone and marble floors and some carefully constructed walls, the ministry said. They also found 200 rare coins, evidence that the city was very wealthy, said Eleni Korka, who is in charge of the dig.

The graves unearthed were rich in vases and jewellery. One contained the skeletons of a woman and a child.

Among the findings was a golden coin to pay for the journey to the afterlife and an iron ring with a seal depicting the god Serapis sitting on a throne, with Cerberus, the threeheaded mythical dog that guards the gates of Hades, beside him.

‘‘We’ve found evidence of life and death . . . and all this is just a small part of the history of the place,’’ said Korka. ‘‘The coming years will allow us to evaluate where we stand.’’ — Reuters