Archaeology and Heritage — Ithacan Historical Society

Archaeology and Heritage

The Homeric legacy has been deeply important for the local identity of Ithacans since antiquity, but Ithaca’s ancient, mediaeval and modern history, and the archaeological heritage it has left behind, goes far beyond the Odyssey.

The IHS is committed to help preserve and to promote significant Ithacan heritage from antiquity to the recent past.

Cultural Heritage Plan

The IHS has recently formed a team led by expert archaeologists and conservators, to form a plan to preserve and promote Ithaca’s cultural heritage.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Explore some of the most historically and culturally significant sites on Ithaca, encompassing both ancient and early modern heritage.

The selection below has been made by professional archaeologists and heritage experts. We will grow it over time to cover even more of Ithaca’s rich built heritage.

Highlights from Ithaca’s ancient and modern heritage

Ancient

View of the fortification walls at Aetos, Classical period

View of the fortification walls at Aetos, Classical period

Partial view of the square tower at Aetos, Classical period

A sally port in the fortifications at Aetos, Classical period

'Study of a gold rings and earrings from a tomb on Mount Aetos on Ithaca' (Drawn by Charles Robert Cockerell, 1814) [British Museum no. 2012,5001.730]

Walls on Acropolis at Aetos, Classical period

Walls on Acropolis at Aetos, Classical period

View from the Acropolis (peak) at Aetos

Water cistern on Acropolis at Aetos, Classical period

Water cistern on Acropolis at Aetos, Classical period

Watercolour of the 'School of Homer' (Agios Athanasios) (Edward Lear, 1863)

Drawing of the 'School of Homer' (Agios Athanasios) (Drawn by William Page, 1828) [British Museum no. 1975,0621.25]

Walls of tower at Agios Athanasios ('School of Homer'), Late Classical/Hellenistic period

Walls of tower at Agios Athanasios ('School of Homer'), Late Classical/Hellenistic period, repurposed for construction of chapel (18-19th C.)

Staircase at Agios Athanasios ('School of Homer'), Hellenistic period

House of Vrettos family at Aetos (19th C.), partially built using Hellenistic material from ancient site

Walls of tower at Agios Athanasios ('School of Homer'), Late Classical/Hellenistic period, crowned by construction of modern chapel (18-19th C.)

Fragment of female clay mask, inscribed with dedication to Odysseus, from British excavations in cave at Polis Bay, Hellenistic period [Benton, S. (1938). Excavations in Ithaca, III; The Cave at Polis, II. Annual of the British School at Athens, 39, — Fragment of female clay mask, inscribed with dedication to Odysseus, from British excavations in cave at Polis Bay, Hellenistic period [Benton, S. (1938). Excavations in Ithaca, III; The Cave at Polis, II. Annual of the British School at Athens, 39, 1–51, 55]

Reconstructed tripod-cauldron, from British excavations in cave at Polis Bay, Geometric period [Benton, S. (1938). Excavations in Ithaca, III; The Cave at Polis, II. Annual of the British School at Athens, 39, 1–51, 67]

Venetian

Interior of 'Spilaiotissa' church (Palaiochora, likely 18th C.)

Stone iconostasis with frescos, Church of St John the Theologian (Petalata, Palaiochora, likely 18th C.)

Apse frescos, Church of St John the Theologian (Petalata, Palaiochora, likely 18th C.)

Carved graffito depicting galley ship, in wall of chapel of St Paraskevi at Kounouvato (likely 18th C.)

Stone iconostasis with frescos, chapel of St Paraskevi at Kounouvato (likely 18th C.)

Sketch of belfry and monastery at Kathara (Drawn by William Gell, before 1807) [British Museum no. 1853,0307.438]

Belfry at Anogi (likely 17th C.)

Belfry (likely 17th C.) and Church of the Dormition, Anogi

Detail of carved stone mouldings belfry at Anogi (likely 17th C.)

Side entrance with carved stone arches and pilasters (17th C.), Church of the Dormition, Anogi

Interior of the Church of the Dormition at Anogi (wall frescos 17th C., iconostasis 18th C.)

Detail of painted wooden iconostasis, Church of the Dormition, Anogi (iconostasis 18th C.)

Detail of wall frescos (17th C.), Church of the Dormition, Anogi

Detail of wall frescos (17th C.), Church of the Dormition, Anogi

Apse frescos (before 17th C, possibly late-Byzantine), Church of the Dormition, Anogi

'Moros' (carved stone architectural ornament) from ruined church of St Nicholas (1696), re-used in construction of feature in courtyard of the Church of the Dormition, Anogi.

Ruins of Venetian-period housing, abandoned village of Old Anogi (Παλαιά Ανωγή)

Ruins of Venetian-period housing with view towards Lefkada, abandoned village of Old Anogi (Παλαιά Ανωγή)

Chapel of St George at Pilikata (17th C.) with decorative keystone

The 'Moros' of Exogi (carved architectural ornament, likely 18th century).

Ancient stele repurposed as lintel, with dedicatory inscription dated 1746 in house at Exogi.

Venetian cannon (Carlo Camozzi, 1732/43) installed at fortifications at Loutsa guarding the bay of Vathy

British cannon (Hamsell Furnace, 1706) installed at fortifications at Loutsa guarding the bay of Vathy

19th century

Belfry of Church of Saint Mary of Blachernae at 'Mantzarata', with view of bay of Vathy.

Neoclassical mansion of the Drakoulis family (Mέγαρον Δρακούλη), early 20th C.

Neoclassical mansion of the Drakoulis family (Mέγαρον Δρακούλη), early 20th C.

House on quay at Vathy, 19th C.

Belfry-gate and Church of St George at 'Gianiskari', Vathy (19th C.)

Church of St George at 'Gianiskari', Vathy (19th C.)

Monastery of Kathara (reconstructed after earthquake of 1953)

Monastery of Kathara (inner courtyard)

Prison at Anogi, British period.

Prison at Anogi, British period.

Quay at Kioni with 19th-C. houses.

Ithacan Businesses in Australia

Ithacan Archive Fund