Discovery links the Roman Greek empires
ATHENS: Greek archaeologists discovered a Roman tomb filled with glass, copper and gold artefacts and an amphitheatre on the island of Cephalonia, which they say must have been an important link between ancient Greece and Italy.
"It is the first time such a monument is discovered, not only in Cephalonia but in all the Ionian Sea islands," the culture ministry said in a statement last Wednesday.
The tomb, which included more than one grave, measures about 8 by 6 meters and included glass jars, clay pots, gold jewelry, copper items and coins, it said.
"It is a touching detail that the (stone) door still opens and closes to this day just as in antiquity," the ministry said.
The finds were revealed during digging for construction in the town of Fiscardo and the theater, which extends underground beyond the lot, appears to be in excellent condition, the ministry added. "From the finds so far, we see that Fiscardo was an important naval station between Greece and Italy in antiquity," it said.
In the past, archaeologists have found near the site a group of Roman urban dwellings a paved open-air space surrounded by houses, a bath and a cemetery.
Agencies
(China Daily 04/11/2007 page19)
