Афина археологиялық қоғамы: тарих және зерттеулер

Greek learned society

The Archaeological Society of Athens (Εν Αθήναις Αρχαιολογική Εταιρεία) is an independent learned society. Also termed the Greek Archaeological Society, it was founded in 1837 by Konstantinos Bellios, just a few years after the establishment of the modern Greek State, with the aim of encouraging archaeological excavations, maintenance, care and exhibition of antiquities in Greece. The independent society was assisted the state through the acceptance of donations in money and archaeological publications. and Thorikos.

The society helped discover new epigraphical evidence associated with the sanctuary and cult of the goddess Demeter within Eleusis. Academics published re editions of 686 documents in chronological order. Thus, allowing a base for future studies of Eleusis' socioeconomic history and its polytheist religion. Historian Kevin Clinton worked in collaboration since 1966 with the Archaeological Society of Athens to transcribe and archive the stone Eleusinian Inscriptions. Professor of Greek history Michael B. Cosmopoulos employed the prior systematic excavations conducted by the Archaeological Society of Athens in the late 19th century and early 20th century, in conjunction with contemporary archaeological methods to provide an assessment of the architecture, stratigraphy, and ceramics of the Bronze Age settlement in Eleusis. Cosmopoulos' close reading into the society's past works, such as those done by Kevin Clinton, stimulated new discussion on the archaeology of mystery cults and the formation stages of Greek sanctuaries.

The Archaeological Society of Athens provided plans for the prehistoric settlement of Thorikos, enabling historians and scholars to excavate new findings in the city. By working with archaeologists whilst in partnership with other organisations they helped uncover ancient ceramic material. The prior excavation in Thorikos was by the director of the National Archaeological society in 1887, and a member of the Archaeological Society of Athens, Valerios Stais. Aided by the funding of the Archaeologist Society of Athens in 1893, Greek archaeologist Stais explored the tholos tombs III, as well as the habitation site that he noted to be on Velatouri Hill. Stais' excavation led to the creation of two reports on the artefacts such as pottery in the tombs, and the two phases of occupation in Thorikos pre Mycenaean and Mycenaean in the inhabited site. Derived from this, Nikolas Papadimitriou's exploration of Stais' prehistoric pottery assessed the periods of occupation in Thorikos to theorise on Thorikos' connections in trade as well as their prehistoric culture. By documenting the chronological distributions and material, he proved the increasing Aegean connections and integration into trade that Thorikos experienced during the Mycenaean occupation. Thus, through the prior excavation and documentation of Thorikos by society member Valeios Stais, future exploration of Thorikos was allowed.