Incredible in beauty and detail, the 2.27-meter-tall statues of the Caryatids at Amphipolis have been fully uncovered.
With the removal of three layers of porous stone from the sealing wall, located in front of the second partition wall, the Caryatids were revealed in all their splendor. They wear clinging chitons and long, fringed garments with rich pleating. The statues are adorned with kothorni, decorated in shades of red and yellow, and their toes are depicted with exceptional detail.
The figures stand upon marble pedestals, each 1.33 meters long and 0.68 meters wide, with the exposed height currently around 0.30 meters. The appearance of the pedestals features crowns and orthostates, following the style of marble wall cladding used throughout all the chambers. The distance between the two pedestals is 1.68 meters, the same width as the doorway of the first partition wall featuring the Sphinxes. Notably, the surface of the eastern Caryatid’s pedestal shows traces of red color. During the removal of the sandy fill near the Caryatids, parts of their hands were also found.
Geotechnical Analysis and Excavation Progress
In the third chamber, geotechnical sampling was carried out using a manual drill at pre-selected locations, leading to the discovery of a marble doorway, with an opening of 0.96 meters, on the northern wall.
In the same area, measurements of the air content inside the chamber were taken, revealing that levels of oxygen and carbon monoxide are within normal ranges. The only anomaly is the relative humidity (87%), while the temperature remains steady between 21.5°C and 22.7°C.
These microclimatic conditions do not pose any issues for the workers inside the chamber.
Ongoing Technical Work
Access to the third chamber of the monument for support installation and the continuation of excavation work is being systematically prepared with parallel ongoing actions.
The interdisciplinary team has decided not to enter the third chamber through the hole at the upper western part of the third partition wall, but through the ancient entrance. Therefore, before any other work begins, the fill in the second chamber will be removed, the fallen part of the lintel will be cleared, and the doorway between the second and third chambers will be supported using wooden elements.
Additionally, the support structures in the second chamber will be reinforced at a lower level to bear the additional external earth pressures following the removal of the fill. A working floor will be prepared by removing earth from the second chamber to facilitate the entry of large metal support structures for the third chamber. Furthermore, extra stones will be removed from the sealing wall in front of the Caryatids to make way for the conveyor belt used to remove soil and a crane to transport stones from the third chamber.
In the first chamber, soil will be removed up to a depth of 1 meter (almost down to the floor), and the support structure will be extended due to changes in the internal fill level.
Future Work and Planning
Work to lower the fill around and directly above the monument will take place after the first phase of temporary support installation in the third chamber. The full removal of the fill will follow after this initial phase.
A study is underway to define the support and propping measures for the third chamber, determining the quantities and placement of the support elements as well as the phases of their installation, coordinated with the ongoing excavation process.
To address the rainwater runoff around the monument, a drainage pipe is planned to be placed along the large trench outside the enclosure.
A geotechnical survey is also being conducted in the area to assess the composition and geotechnical properties of the surrounding materials. This survey will include a sufficient number of boreholes and laboratory tests.
