New archaeological research conducted at the legendary site of Agios Athanasios - Homer’s School - in northern Ithaca is shedding extraordinary new light on the island's prehistoric, Mycenaean, and Hellenistic history, with potential ties to the cult of Odysseus himself.
According to a release by the Greek Ministry of Culture this week, the study, spearheaded by Emeritus Professor Giannos G. Lolos of the University of Ioannina, builds upon prior excavations at the site from 1994–2011. The current program began in 2018 and is revealing compelling evidence of continuous occupation from the Final Neolithic to the Roman era, with distinct Mycenaean and Hellenistic layers.
A Homeric Site with a Deep Past
The site has been known since the 19th century as the School of Homer, writer of the classic texts Iliad and the Odyssey. This tradition is largely based on local lore, topographical interpretations, and classical references that link the island of Ithaca to Odysseus, the central figure of the Odyssey and king of Ithaca.
It occupies a naturally fortified rocky hill on the eastern slope of Exogi, surrounded by ancient springs. At its summit lies the Upper Andiros, dominated by a 3rd-century BC Hellenistic tower, while the Lower Andiros hosts a monumental rectangular building and evidence of intensive cult activity.
- The Fall of a Civilization: The Mysterious Collapse of the Mycenaean Bronze Age
- Greek Marines Prove Mycenaean Suit of Armor Was Fit for Battle
Left; View of the constructed underground fountain, from the northeast, Right; View of the upper wing of the southern carved staircase, from the south. (Chr. Marampea/Greek Ministry of Culture)
New excavations have now pushed the site’s earliest occupation back to the late 5th or 4th millennium BC, evidenced by flint tools and Neolithic pottery. But it is the Mycenaean period (14th–13th century BC) that offers the most tantalizing links to Homeric legend.
A Mycenaean Sanctuary Overseeing Odysseus’ Realm?
The discovery of Mycenaean pottery, including fragments from kylixes and storage jars, and an underground cistern with Late Mycenaean elements, suggest the site was part of a regional network of fortified settlements managing the rich water resources of northwestern Ithaca. This offers credibility to longstanding theories that Ithaca's center lay here during the palatial Mycenaean era.
Samples of pottery from the late Mycenaean period. (Chr. Marampea/Greek Ministry of Culture)
The identification of seven to eight contemporaneous Mycenaean sites in the region implies a coordinated settlement system, potentially supporting a centralized authority, perhaps a “King of Ithaca” archetype.
Inscriptions Point to a Cult of Odysseus
Among the most remarkable discoveries are two inscribed ceramic fragments:
- One bearing the name [Οδ]ΥCCEOC (genitive case: "of Odysseus")
- Another with the dedication ΟδΥC[CEI] (possibly in the dative: "to Odysseus")
These inscriptions support the identification of the site with the “Odysseia of Ithaca”, a cult center dedicated to Odysseus that is mentioned in a 2nd-century BC inscription from Magnesia (IG IX 1 2 4, 1729).
Fragment of a stamped tile, with part of the name of Odysseus, Hellenistic period. (Chr. Marampea/Greek Ministry of Culture)
This Hellenistic complex may have hosted games and rituals in honor of the hero, forming a major regional pilgrimage hub.
- Ten years in the Med? The Hunt for the Real Odyssey Locations!
- Homer in the Baltic: Odysseus a Fair-Haired Dane?
Votive Offerings, Jewelry, and Coins Reveal Rich Cultic Activity
The excavation also yielded:
- 34 fragments of terracotta figurines
- A small treasure of gold and bronze jewelry
- Over 100 coins from cities across the Greek world (3rd century BC–2nd century AD)
- Numerous votive vessels, including large periranteria (ritual basins)
Fourteen roof tiles bear Greek and Latin inscriptions, some referencing Apollo Aghieos, indicating a local religious tradition intertwined with pan-Hellenic worship.
A Site of Lasting Importance
The Hellenistic to early Roman phases (3rd century BC–2nd century AD) saw the site's monumental buildings and sanctuaries at full use. Architectural features such as carved terraces, ceremonial stairways, niches for offerings, and sculptural fragments suggest a significant public religious complex that served both political and spiritual functions in the life of ancient Ithacans.
The Ongoing Work
The research – supported by the University of Ioannina, the Ephorate of Antiquities of Kefalonia and Ithaca, and private donors – is part of a long-term scholarly and cultural initiative to preserve and interpret Ithaca’s ancient past. Key contributors include Dr. Christina Marampea, Dr. St. Economides, and an interdisciplinary team of archaeologists, conservators, chemists, and philologists.
With evidence now mounting from both inscriptions and architecture, scholars believe that Homer’s School may truly mark the cultic heart of ancient Odysseus’ Ithaca, a sacred site with roots reaching back into Bronze Age legend and classical memory alike.
Top image: Ithaca, St. Athanasios-Homeric School. View of the tower-like structure of the Hellenistic period at Ano Andiros, from the north. Source: Chr. Marampea/Greek Ministry of Culture
By Gary Manners
