Caryatids wearing finely-carved chitons at Ancient Amphipolis tomb

Caryatids wearing finely-carved chitons at Ancient Amphipolis tomb

 

[caption id="attachment_18387" align="alignnone" width="218"] (Photo - Athens News Agency)[/caption]

 

ANA-MPA - The two caryatids discovered at the Kasta tomb in Ancient Amphipolis, northern Greece, are wearing finely-carved chitons with sleeves, the ministry of Culture said on Thursday, adding that more of the statues' surface was revealed.

 

The two figures do not appear to be supporting the entablature above, as caryatids usually do.

 

"The caryatids apparently would have been lightly lifting their chitons with the hand on the external side," the ministry said, based on evidence from the wall behind them; the arms have not been found yet.

 

It added that parts of the easternmost caryatid's face and polos (resembling a cylindrical "hat" between the head and the architrave) were found by the excavators and matched with the statue.

 

Meanwhile, work continued on removing the fill from the dividing wall the caryatids stand against.

 

Up to the marble ceiling, the two side walls are dressed in blocks of stone that resemble the peribolos, or the artificial mound's retaining wall.

 

Work to support the monuments continues as more pieces come to light, while the part of the perivolos discovered this year is recorded by satellite and 3D digital scanning equipment.

 

A lightning rod has also been placed on the top of the mound, or tumulus.

 

(Athens News Agency, 11 Thursday September 2014 The Roman)