Ancient Sculpture Workshop Unearthed on Paros Reveals Secrets of Hellenistic Art!
A recent archaeological dig on the Greek island of Paros has offered a fascinating glimpse into the lives and craft of ancient sculptors. Led by Dr Sofia Detoratou from the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades, the team has wrapped up this year’s excavations at the Floga site in Paroikia. Their discoveries reveal what appears to be a long-running sculpture workshop dating back to the Hellenistic period.
Photo Credit: Greek Ministry of Culture
The site first piqued the interest of researchers back in the 1980s, when marble chips and partially finished statues were found scattered across three building complexes. These initial finds hinted at some form of artisanal activity. Further investigations in 2008 and a more systematic excavation campaign beginning in 2013 began to piece together the puzzle.
This year’s findings have deepened researchers’ understanding of how the site evolved over time. New architectural features have come to light, some in surprisingly good condition, showing that the area was used and reused across several centuries. Earlier layers of occupation, dating from the late 5th to 4th century BCE, suggest domestic use. Fragments of tableware and drinking vessels support the idea that this part of Paroikia was once a residential area during the Classical period.
Photo Credit: Greek Ministry of Culture
A major transformation took place between the late 3rd and early 2nd century BCE. The entire site was restructured, with evidence pointing to the presence of an andron, a dining room for men, featuring a pebbled floor and walls painted to mimic marble panels. This indicates that the residential function of the site continued into the Hellenistic era. But later layers tell a different story: marble debris and an array of unfinished sculptures show that the space eventually became a hub for sculpture production.
In a recent press release, the Greek Ministry of Culture highlighted a treasure trove of finds from the latest dig. These include numerous fragments of marble sculptures, many believed to depict the goddess Aphrodite, alongside clay heads of female figurines and a rich assortment of sculpting tools and materials. Among these were clay moulds, stamps, pigments, purple dye, and even metal slags, offering a rare look into the production techniques of the time.
Photo Credit: Greek Ministry of Culture
“The walls of some rooms were discovered standing at an impressive height,” the Ministry noted, underscoring the remarkable state of preservation at the site.
These discoveries are not just exciting for their own sake, they shed light on a key moment in the evolution of Greek art. Whereas earlier Greek sculpture tended to be stiff and stylised, influenced by Egyptian and Near Eastern models, the Hellenistic period ushered in a new wave of realism and emotional nuance. The workshop on Paros may well have been part of this cultural shift.
The excavation team featured archaeologists from the Ephorate, including A. Papadimitriou, Dr Ath. Gkaroni, and Sp. Petropoulos, supported by D. Filippakis and S. Fragkedis. Students from the Universities of Athens, Thessaloniki, and Ioannina also took part, contributing to this important and illuminating research.