Nicosia, Aug 2 (CNA) - Excavations of the eastern third of the cavea, which is now almost fully exposed, at the ancient theatre of Paphos has indicated that most of the eastern side was constructed on an earthen embankment, where the seating placed over it had largely been robbed out and it becomes clear that the fill over the lower cavea and orchestra derived in the first instance from the wash of soil once the protection of the seating had been removed.
According to the Department of Antiquities, in the lower part of the cavea, between stairways 4 and 5 in the northeast quadrant, excavations showed a roughly-built monument to Eustorgis, a man already known from an inscription from Salamis.
It is in the form of a platform constructed of elements of the earlier seating in that area with, in front of it, a re-used statue base on which the original inscription had been erased and Eustorgis mentioned as ''philoktista''.
The base rested on some 18 cm of fill over the passageway around the orchestra. An opening to it had been created in the containment wall originally constructed for the presentation of water-spectacles in the third and fourth centuries AD, and a granite column incorporated in that wall was at the same time inscribed, recording him as having ''rallied'' Cyprus.
Furthermore, a column in the nearby Basilica of Chrysopolitissa, excavated some years ago, also has an inscription recording him, and it is quite possible that it too, like much other material at that Basilica, came from the area of the theatre.
These inscriptions confirm the form of the name, Eustorgis, which had given successive editors of the Salamis inscription some concern. It must clearly be the same man.
In Salamis he is mentioned as having restored that city. The date of this still awaits confirmation. At the ancient theatre of Paphos, it evidently belongs to a fairly advanced stage in the quarrying phase, but on present evidence one might suppose not so late as the mid-sixth century, as was proposed for the example from Salamis. The function of the monument in a dilapidated, pagan theatre is an intriguing question. Preparation of a preliminary publication is under way.
Not far from it, but well within the former orchestra, appeared the foundations of a sizeable kiln of the earlier phase of medieval at the site, 12-13th centuries. This is a period noted at the site for its industrial activity and when it appears to have acquired the name Fabrika. The nature of the kiln is not yet entirely clear, but it seems likely to have been a lime-kiln, to utilise the fragments of marble still remaining in the area of the theatre.
Parts of a ''charonian'' tunnel extending from the stage under the orchestra had been investigated in earlier seasons. Further work has shown that the exit came just beyond the mid-point of the orchestra. Its date still awaits confirmation from analysis of related pottery, but it now seems quite possible that it was built in the Augustan reconstruction of the theatre, perhaps following the earthquake of 15 BC, which in general now appears to have been one of considerable importance.
It seems likely that the tunnel continued in use through the Antonine phase and then was filled in deliberately when the orchestra was converted for use for water-spectacles, probably in the mid-third century AD. At this time vertical drainage pipes were inserted over the middle of the tunnel with a massive collection of amphora body-sherds below them. These offer interesting scope for further study since they are of somewhat unusual type and many have dipinti on the shoulder-fragments.
Much of the season's work was devoted to study of the finds for final publication. Among all this was analysis of the faunal remains which offer useful contrasts between the post-theatre quarrying phase, with its donkeys and cows, and the medieval phases with their different characters, industrial and then settlement, and different eating habits.
The tenth excavation season at the Ancient Theatre of Pafos was completed by the team from the University of Sydney under the direction of J.R. Green.
CNA/RG/KN/2006
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY
02/08/2006=