A Roman-era monumental complex uncovered during redevelopment works on Vasilissis Olgas Avenue in central Athens is being restored and preserved, the Culture Ministry said Wednesday.
The excavation, near the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Ilissos River, revealed a large Roman building complex with a semicircular courtyard, colonnades, organized spaces and an extensive drainage system. The complex underwent several construction phases between the third and fifth centuries AD.
The site also contains a rock-cut trench associated with the Themistoclean Wall, the ancient fortification of Athens, which is the oldest surviving feature uncovered at the site.
The area north of the Temple of Olympian Zeus was an important part of ancient Athens and saw continuous human activity from prehistoric times through the early Byzantine period, the ministry said.
Restoration work will include the conservation and repair of masonry, a mosaic floor and architectural elements, the removal of incompatible later interventions, and improvements to drainage to protect the archaeological remains.
