During the installation works of the new unified water supply pipe in Eretria, as part of a project by the Municipality of Eretria titled “Replacement of the Water Supply Network of Eretria (remaining sections of the city)” funded under the OP “Transport Infrastructure, Environment and Sustainable Development 2014-2020” (MIS 500157), which is monitored by specialized staff from the Ephorate of Antiquities of Evia (2nd sub-project), a section of a house from the late classical period (mid-4th century BC) was located in the city of Eretria, which preserves a mosaic floor featuring a central depiction of two Satyrs.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Culture, the mentioned building is situated at the core of the urban fabric of the ancient city, near the sanctuary of the Laurel Apollo, the “Neighborhood of Panathenaic Amphorae,” and the “House of Mosaics,” where houses from the 4th century BC, often adorned with elaborate mosaic floors, have been investigated in the past.
During the archaeological excavation, a quadrilateral room with an almost square floor plan was revealed, with internal dimensions of 3.50m x 3.55m, which is defined to the south and east by walls. On the other sides (north and west), revealing the walls of the room was not possible due to the limited extent of the excavation trench and the existence of the roadway of a municipal road.
Inside the room, a mosaic floor made of small, white natural pebbles was examined, which preserves a central medallion, with a diameter of 1.13m, depicting Satyrs. Two male figures with zoomorphic features (tail, horns, pointed ears) are portrayed. One is young and playing a double flute, while the other is bearded, older, and is likely dancing to the music’s rhythms. Various colored pebbles (white, black, red, yellow) were used to depict facial features or body details, with the most distinctive being the depiction of hair using yellow pebbles, which adds realism and vitality to the figures in the representation.
Along the northern, eastern, and western sides of the room, an elevated floor made of mortar, 0.935m wide and approximately 2-3 cm high, was uncovered, which served as a setting for beds or couches, a feature often found in houses of the same period in Eretria (Western Neighborhood, House of Mosaics) and leads to the identification of the space as a men’s dining room where banquets and symposia took place. In fact, the depiction of the Satyrs in a jovial mood, enjoying themselves to the music, connects thematically to the use of the space, which was intended for the celebrations that took place in the house.
After its abandonment in the early Christian centuries (5th-6th century AD), the area was used as a cemetery, as deduced from the discovery of five (5) tombs (4 covered with tiles and 1 simple pit), which had been opened within the filling of the room and, in some cases, had intruded into and disrupted the floor, as well as another five (5) tombs (4 covered with tiles and 1 simple pit) from the same period to the south (external) of the room.
According to the same statement from the Ministry of Culture, after the completion of the archaeological excavation and the initial assessment of the archaeological data, the house and the pebble mosaic floor are likely dated to after the mid-4th century BC, when luxurious private homes began to appear in ancient Eretria, following the well-known architectural style with a central colonnaded courtyard, around which the private spaces of the family and public spaces for official occasions and symposia develop. Similar pebble floors from the “House of Mosaics” have been dated around 360-350 BC.
Following the unanimous opinion of the local Council of Monuments of Central Greece during its 3/26-6-2024 session, it was decided to temporarily cover the floor for protection reasons and to modify the passage of the water supply pipe, ensuring that it is not disturbed in any way and can be highlighted in the future.
The Ephorate of Antiquities of Evia, taking into account the excellent state of preservation of the pebble mosaic floor and the uniqueness of the central medallion’s depiction, initially carried out immediate stabilization and cleaning works by Conservators of the Service, while also ensuring that this new archaeological complex is included for highlighting in the “Study for the Unification of the Monuments of the Archaeological Site of Eretria,” which was developed with funding from the OP “Central Greece 2014-2020” and is to be examined by the Central Archaeological Council.