Byzantine Thebes: Excavations on the Kadmeia, 1980

Author(s): Pamela Armstrong

Source: The Annual of the British School at Athens, Vol. 88 (1993), pp. 295-335
Published by: British School at Athens
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30064371
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 BYZANTINE THEBES: EXCAVATIONS ON THE
KADMEIA, 1980

(PLATES 29-36)

IN May and June 1980 Dr K. Demakopoulou, then Ephor of Prehistoric and Classical
Antiquities in Boiotia, conducted an excavation in the central square (plateia Agiou
Ioannou Kalokteni) of the city of Thebes. The excavation was occasioned by the decision of
the local authorities to pave the square. Removal of the upper half-metre of soil in
preparation for laying the slabs prompted the Ephoreia to open a test trench to investigate
the archaeological remains in this important location on the Kadmeia. In 1987 Dr
Demakopoulou invited me to publish the findings from her excavation, which turned out to
be almost exclusively Byzantine and later. Studywas carried out in the museum of Thebes in
1988, 1989, and 1992. The finds are stored in the Thebes museum.
Thebes was the capital of the Byzantine province of Hellas and Peloponnesos.' It was a
prosperous city, strategically located on a defensible acropolis, and a market for the
grain, wine, and olives produced on the fertile Boiotian plains and exported from the
port of Chalkis in Euboia.2 Although Thebes was always agriculturally prosperous, its
most famous product was silk. This industry was introduced to the city by Justinian, and
only declined in the fifteenth century; that is, about a thousand years later.3 Roger II of

II am most grateful to Dr Demakopoulou for inviting
me to publish the pottery from her excavation, and for
her generosity in providing me with a transcript of her
day book and copies of her plans and photographs. I am
also indebted to Dr A. Andreiomenou and the staff of the
Thebes Museum for their help in facilitating my work
and for their hospitality during my stay in Thebes. This
study was supported financially by grants from the
Twenty-seven Foundation (University of London), the Dr
M. Aylwin Cotton Foundation, and the Managing
Committee of the British School at Athens. The drawings
are the work of Elizabeth Catling and Anne Hooton. All
are gratefully thanked.
Special abbreviations:
Armstrong 1989 = P. Armstrong, 'Some Byzantine and
later settlements in eastern Phokis', BSA 84 (1989),
1-42
Bakirtzis = Ch. Bakirtzis, Bavnovnvd TcoovcaaAoAdyqlva
(Athens, 1989)
Frantz = A. Frantz, 'Turkish pottery from the Agora',
Hesp. 11 (1942), 1-28
Hayes = J. Hayes, Sarachane, ii: The Pottery (Princeton,
1992)
MacKay = T. MacKay, 'More Byzantine and Frankish
pottery from Corinth', Hesp. 36 (1967), 249-320
Megaw 1968 = A. H. S. Megaw, 'Zeuxippus ware', BSA 63
(1968), 67-88
Megaw 1975 = A. H. S. Megaw, 'An early thirteenth-
century Aegean glazed ware', in G. Robertson and G.
Henderson (eds), Studies in Memoryof David TalbotRice
(Edinburgh, 1975)
Megaw 1989 = A. H. S. Megaw, 'Zeuxippus ware again', in
V. D&roche and J.-M. Spieser (eds), Recherchessur la
ceramiquebyzantine(BCH Supp. 18; 1989), 259-66
Morgan = C. H. Morgan, Corinth,xi: The ByzantinePottery
(Harvard, 1942)
Pierart and Thalmann = M. Pierart and J.-P. Thalmann,
'Ceramique romaine et medi6vale', Etudes argiennes
(BCH supp. 6; 1980), 459-82
Symeonoglou = S. Symeonoglou, The Topographyof Thebes
(Princeton, 1985)
For general information about Thebes see J. Koder and
F. Hild, Tabula ImperiiByzantini, i: Hellas und Thessalia
(Vienna, 1976), 269-71; for Thebes as the administrative
capital see J. E. Herrin, 'Realities of Byzantine provincial
government: Hellas and Peloponnesos, 118o-1205', DOP
29 (1975), 253-84-
2 A. Sabbidis, "H
Bivavtivvi Oilj3a, 996/7-1204 g.X.',
IcroplKoyewypa4tlKa , 2 (1988), 33-52; A. Harvey,
Economic Expansion in the Byzantine Empire, 9oo-1200oo
(Cambridge, 1989), 218-20.
3 NiketaeChoniataeHistoria,ed. J. A. van Dieten
(Corpus
Fontium Historiae Byzantinae, xi; Berlin, 1975), 99, 6o8;
W. Miller, Essays on the Latin Orient (Cambridge, 1921),
33; R. S. Lopez, 'The silk industry in the Byzantine
empire', Speculum,20 (1945), 1-42.
296 PAMELA ARMSTRONG

Sicily carried out a successful raid on Thebes in 1147 in order to procure for himself
some of the famous silk artisans. It does not seem to have had any serious effect on
production, for Benjamin of Tudela, in c.1185 wrote of the fine silks of Thebes, sought
after and worn by the socialites of Constantinople.4 Among the controversial trading
privileges negotiated between the Venetians and Alexios I Komnenos was permission for
Venetian merchants to trade freely at Thebes, indicating that the Italians had assessed
the worth of the city favourably.5Benjamin of Tudela also recorded the large numbers of
Jewish intellectuals residing at 'the great city of Thebes', second only to those in
Constantinople itself.6 From a204Thebes was under Frankish control, but this does not
seem to have affected its citizens' prosperity. The Burgundian house of St Omer
established a fiefdom in the city, and in 1287 Nicholas II constructed a sumptuous
palace on the Kadmeia. At the beginning of the fourteenth century the Catalans took
over, and by the end of the century the city was in the hands of the Accaijuoli of
Florence who remained in control until the Ottoman conquest in 1456. Under the
Turks, Chalkis became the capital of the province, and Thebes was subordinated to its
former port. The main features of Byzantine Thebes, as revealed by archaeological
discoveries, are shown in FIG.1.7

Keyto Figure 1
1. Habitation from ninth to fourteenth 7. Late Byzantine pits associated with domestic
centuries. Possibly the palace of Nicholas II de habitation.14
St Omer, including bathhouse.8 8. Tenth- to eleventh-century church and
2. Domestic habitation from eleventh to associated burials; reconstruction of church in
fourteenth centuries.9 fifteenth century.'5
3. Domestic habitation.10 9. Early Christian catacombs; domestic habita-
4. Domestic habitation, Byzantine and later." tion.16
5. Pits associated with domestic habitation.'2 lo. Domestic habitation.'7
6. Early Christian basilica; tombs of seventh to I 1. Large building.'8
ninth centuries.13

4 The Itinerary of Benjamin of Tudela: Critical Text,

Translation and Commentary,ed. M. N. Adler (London,
1907), 10.
5 R.J. Lilie, Handel und Politikzwischendembyzantinischen
Reich und den italienischen Kommunen Venedig, Pisa und
Genua in der Epoche der Komnenen und der Angeloi
(1o81-2o04) (Amsterdam, 1984), 210-13; A. Harvey,
'Economicexpansion in central Greece in the eleventh
century', BMGS8 (1982-3), 21-8.
6Benjamin of Tudela (n. 4), 10o.
7 For a comprehensivedescriptionand interpretation
of the physical remains of Byzantine Thebes see Ch.
Bouras,'Cityand village:urbandesign and architecture',
Jahrbuch der 6sterreichischenByzantinistik, 31.2 (1981),
622-5. Symeonoglou (n. 1) is an invaluable tool for
historiansinterestedin Thebesin any period.Muchof his
informationderivesfrom unpublishedsources,partlyfrom
his own workand partlyfrom that of other archaeologists
who have excavatedin Thebes.For those reasonsit is not
alwayspossibleto providereferencesto sources.
8 Habitation: A. Delt. 21 (1966), Chr. 177-81, fig. 3,
shows stratigraphywith Byzantinelevels; bathhouse:A.
a
Keramopoullos,'A PtogrlXaaVat ical Oigr6ptov
6b toi
K&5gou', Ephemeris(1930), 31, fig. 1; A. Delt. 19 (1964),
Chr. 195, 212; Symeonoglou 215, cat. fig. 1, has a
detailedplan of the site, dividedby period.
9 A. Dell. 22 (1967), Chr. 237-9, fig. 4, pl. 165 d.
10Symeonoglou, 293-4, site 206.
11 A. Delt. 28 (1973), Chr. 247-8, 276.
12A. Delt. 22 (1967), Chr. 230; ibid. 23 (1968), Chr.
207.
13sA. Delt. 20 (1965), Chr. 237, 253-5, pls 309 c-d,
310-13; ibid. 21 (1966), Chr. 189-91, fig. 11, 210, pl.
196 b; ibid. 24 (1969), Chr. 188, pls 196 b, 197-J.-P.
Sodini, 'Mosaiquespaleochretiennesde Grhce',BCH94
(1970), 699-753, thought the building was not
necessarilya basilica.
14A. Delt. 23 (1968), Chr. 207-8, figs 1-2.
15A. Delt. 19 (1964), Chr. 192, fig. 1, pl. 221, 210-12,
fig. 5-
16 Catacombs: A. Keramopoullos, A. Dell. 3 (1917),
207; V. Delvenakiotis, 'O
Mirapo~roAi'r77l'7Iw.vv77 6
KaAocrTav7a icaO at oi Jat (Athens, 1970), 23-
Habitation: A. Delt. 25 (1970), Chr. (1970), 220.
17A. Delt. 22 (1967), Chr. 239-
18Symeonoglou 299, site 229.
 BYZANTINE THEBES: EXCAVATIONS ON THE KADMEIA, 1980 297

12
5 1

ODOS OOS
AIGO
ANTIGONES J
F
IFJ
13
0

6L 10 11

1221
f I entralsquare 21 1121
LIZMZS~IDI~PMLS

12. Fourth- to sixth-century building; seventh- to 1201 15 14 13J

eighth-century cemetery; pits associated with
domestic habitation of ninth to fourteenth
centuries; large building of fourteenth to
fifteenth centuries.19 8L
13. Domestic habitation.20
14. Domestic pits and house.21 19
15. Twelfth- to thirteenth-century building.22 10
16. Domestic habitation.23 \QDo73'D~iZ~
highest point of
17. Architectural members from church; domestic
habitation.24 i
U,
Kadmela 161
18. Modern church of Agios Andreas and highest
point of Kadmeia. 18
17
19. Domestic pits and house.25
20. Early Byzantine tombs; domestic habitation; 9
mosaics and twelfth-century cathederal.26
21. Modern church of Agios loannis Kaloktenis, FIG. 1. Main features of Byzantine Thebes superimposed on
built in AD 1900. modernstreetplan. Not to scale.
22. Central square of modern Thebes, Plateia
Agiou Ioannou, and site of excavations in
1980.27

19A. Delt. 20
(1965), Chr. 235-6, fig. 3, pl. 281 b; ibid. Dell. 25 (1970), Chr. 220.
21 (1966), Chr. 183, pl. 194 b. 25
Symeonoglou256, site 50o.
20K. Demakopoulou, AAA8 (1975), 192-9. 26 Tombs:
Symeonoglou 252 , site 32; mosaics: A. Delt.
21 A. Dell. 22 (1967), Chr. 230; ibid. 23 (1968), Chr. Chr. 321; ibid. 28 (1973), Chr. 285-6;
27 (1972),
20o8-10o,fig. 3; ibid. 24 (1969), Chr. 183. habitation: A. Delt. 27 (1972), Chr. 321; cathedral: ibid. 3
22A. Delt. 23 (1968), Chr. 212,
pl. 162 a. (1917), 66; A. K. Orlandos, Arch. Byz. Mnem. 5 (1939),
23 K. Demakopoulou and D. Konsola, A. Delt. 121, 144 n. i; Delvenakiotis (n. 16), 71-2.
30
(1975), Mel. 44-89. 27For a report of the excavations see K. Demakopoulou,
24 Church:
Symeonoglou 252-3, site 33. Habitation: A. A. Delt. 35 (1980), Chr. 217.
298 PAMELA ARMSTRONG

THE EXCAVATION
The central square of modern Thebes is located on the Kadmeia and bounded on the
south and east by Oidipous and Epameinondas Streets (FIG. 1). In its north-east corner
is the church of Agios Ioannis Kaloktenis.28In preparation for laying the paving slabs, a
layer between 40 and 8o cm deep was removed from the entire area of the square. The
surface of the square is on the same level as Oidipous Street, but is 40-50 cm lower than
Epameinondas. An exploratory trench, 5 X 5 m, was placed almost in the centre of the
square but slightly closer to Oidipous Street. There are two large plane-trees on its east
and south edges; roots from the former encroached upon the trench.
In the eastern section of the trench, at 1.35 m from the east edge, modern metal
water-pipes were encountered in the uppermost level, traversing it from north to south.

PARTITION Lwall a

wall
6'Lwal -.
6/

A A'
I

wally4
a
Iwall

FIG.2. Final plan of excavation.

28 Built in AD 9oo: Symeonoglou 267, site 97.

 BYZANTINE THEBES: EXCAVATIONS ON THE KADMEIA, 1980 299
level of
level of Epameinondas
Oidipous
metal pipe (
IX
ceramicpipe

VIII

jwalla
floor1 VII V
Ivil Uoor2
III

II wall'

floor3
A UNEXCAVATED A'

L
WEST IEAST
FIG.3- Schematic east-west section through excavation at A-A'.

In the level below was a ceramic pipe (14 cm in diameter), clad with cement, crossing the
trench on the same axis (FIG. 3). At a depth of 1.40 m from the south edge of the trench a
north-south wall (wall a, 50 cm wide) was uncovered, which divided the trench into two
unequal sectors (FIG. 3); it had been robbed out in the middle. At right angles to the west
face of wall a, and clearly contemporary, was an east-west wall (wall P),
1.20 m from the north face of the trench. Slightly south of wall P and parallel to it was a
small section of another wall which disappeared into the west section and into the basement
of an old house.29On the west side of wall a, at a depth of 1.70 m from the west edge of the
trench, there was an earthen floor composed of fine gravel and sand (floor 1) which
stopped at 50 cm from the west face of wall a; slight traces of burning were found on the
floor. Abutting wall P and disappearing into the north section was an improvised wall
incorporating a marble column base and part of a marble iconostasis (PLATE 29 a).

29 The house no longer stands; presumably it was shaved off to ground level when the square was created.
300 PAMELA ARMSTRONG

East of wall a, at a depth of 2.60 m from the east edge of the trench, was another floor of
broken tile, small stone, and pebbles (floor 2), of which only a small area was preserved; it,
too, was also cut by the foundation trench for wall a. At the eastern edge of the trench and
at a depth of 3.10 m, a north-south wall (wall y) was revealed. Against it a parallel face was
subsequentlybuilt (wall 8); at its south end a large reused block of poros limestone,
standingon its end on anothersquaredblock,formsthe cornerwith an east-westwallthat
disappearsinto the section,over the top of the earlier wally (PLATE29 b). Wall8 apparently
forms the south-west exterior wall of a building. Associated with the base of this wall are
traces of a paved surface (floor 3), presumably a street or yard. Protruding from the south
section were the doubtful remains of a further east-west wall, perhaps to be connected with
wall y. Excavation east of wall a and south-west of walls y and 8 ceased at a depth of 5.20 m,
when it became dangerous to continue further (PLATE 30 a).
The walls are of more of less similar construction, being composed of small rubble
masonry with tile and sherd. There is no trace of plaster or cement used as mortar. Apart
from the partition wall, spolia are only used for the corner of wall 6.

THE POTTERY
Classification of the pottery follows that adopted by Hayes in his recent publication of
the Byzantine and later pottery from the excavations at St Polyeuktos in Constantinople,
and by Morgan for middle Byzantine red-bodied glazed wares from Corinth.so Megaw's
three articles defining Zeuxippus and Aegean wares are also drawn upon.31 For the
unglazed wares, Pierart and Thalmann's publication of amphorae and cooking-pots
from Argos is the principal source of comparanda, supplemented by MacKay's
publication of similar wares from Corinth and Bakirtzis's presentation of
TooicuKXoXdyrmva('pots and pans').32 Many reports in the 'Chronika' of the
ArchaiologikonDeltion, together with survey material from Eastern Phokis, provide local
and regional comparanda, but without any chronological support.3 Frantz's publication
of Turkish pottery from the Agora at Athens provides a general framework for the post-
Byzantine wares.34
Many pieces have been included in the catalogue and illustrated, although nothing
positive can be said about them at present. This is justified by the paucity of published
Byzantine pottery from Thebes. Fabric classification is based on macroscopic
examination supplemented by the use of a hand-lens. Fabric descriptions follow the
system set out in my publication of the pottery from sites in Eastern Phokis.35Because of
the fragmentary condition of the majority of the pottery, individual fabric descriptions
are frequently omitted. The same fragmentary condition prohibits the distinction
between dishes and bowls, the most common open forms. In the category of unglazed
table wares, sherds have been assigned frequently to 'jugs', although it is impossible to
determine the complete form.36Tobacco pipes, 331-6, from deposits V, VI, VIII, and IX,

30Hayes, Sarachane(n. 1); Morgan (n. i). 36 Bakirtzis, pl. 26, nos 2-3 and 5, illustrates various
31Megaw 1968; Megaw 1989; Megaw 1975 (see n. 1). possible forms. Small fragments of vessels of the kind
32 Pierart and J.-P. Thalmann, (n. 1); MacKay (n. 1); which would have been used at table, or in the
Bakirtzis (n. 1). production of food, are distinctive in that they tend to
33Armstrong, 1989 (n. 1). have thinner walls than amphorae, and are frequently
4 Frantz (n. i). more finely made, but it is difficult to establish their
3 Armstrong 1989, 3-4. complete form from small fragments.
 BYZANTINE THEBES: EXCAVATIONS ON THE KADMEIA, 1980 301

are placed together at the end of the catalogue of pottery, but their chronological
relevance is discussed in the individual sections at the end of the presentation of each
deposit.
The following abbreviations are used: fr(r). = fragment(s), est. = estimated, D. =
diameter, H. = height, pres. = preserved. Measurements are in centimetres unless
otherwise stated.

Thedeposits(I-IX)
DEPOSIT 1 (1-38)
FIGS.4-5; PLATE30 b. Fill below floor 3. Earth with small stones, fragments of roof tiles
and a high proportion of sherds. This level should be associated with the laying of the
paved surface (floor 3), and possibly also the construction of wall 6.

Unglazedtablewares(1-5, FIG.4, PLATE30 b) 15. Handle. Pres. H. 7.1. Thick, ovoid in

1. Jug. Rim. Pres. H. 3.6. Thickened plain rim
with slight ridge around outer face. Trefoil
mouth.
2. FIG. 4-Jug. Base. D. 8.6, pres. H. 3.8. Almost
flat.
3. FIG. 4. Small jug. Base. D. 3.2, pres. H. 3.1.
Roughly made, flat, with irregular profile;
small globular body.
4. Small jug. Handle. Pres. H. 8.4. Small, with
round section.
5. Jug. Handle. Pres. H. 5-4. Small, with round
section.
Amphorae(6-26, FIG.4, PLATE 30 b)
6. FIG.4. Rim and handle. D. 9.3, pres. H. 6.3.
Flat-topped rim on vertical neck, deep
horizontal groove around outside of rim;
ovoid handle attached just below rim.
7. Body fr. Pres. H. 6.8. From large vessel.
Vertical neck sharply offset from almost
horizontal shoulder.
8. Body fr. Pres. H. 6.2. From large vessel.
Horizontal shoulder.
9. Body fr. Pres. H. 2.8. From large vessel.
Vertical neck sharply offset from almost
horizontal shoulder.
Io. Body fr. Pres. H. 5.4. As 9.
11. Body fr. Pres. H. 9-4. As 9. Outer surface
coated with irregularly applied red wash.
12. Body fr. Pres. H. 6.3. From shoulder. Three
bands of eight-toothed horizontal combing.
13. Body fr. Pres. H. 4-9. Large vessel (wall i cm
thick). Edge of incised wavy line above two
horizontal lines.
14. Handle and body fr. Pres. H. 1o.1. From
large amphora (probably incised as 16-17).
Ovoid handle with two vertical finger-
grooves.
section, rising slightly from vertical neck.
16. FIG. 4. Two joining body frr. Pres. H. 27.0.
From large amphora. Incised wavy line (5
mm wide) around lower body. Areas of
wheel-ridging on outer surface.
17. FIG. 4. Two joining body frr. Pres. H. 9.o.
From large amphora. Incised wavy line (4
mm wide) around shoulder. Extensive
wheel-ridging on outer surface.
18. Body fr. Pres. H. 9.1. Slightly smaller than
16-17. Prominent wheel-ridging and edge
of incised line on outer surface.
9g. Body fr. Pres. H. 6.6. Wheel-ridging and
edge of incised (3 mm wide) wavy line on
outer surface.
20. Body fr. Pres. H. 4.1. Wheel-ridging and
edge of incised (5 mm wide) wavy line on
outer surface.
21. Body fr. Pres. H. 5.2. (Probably incised,
though none visible.) Prominent wheel-
ridging on outer surface.
22. Body fr. Pres. H. 8.4. Similar in size to 16.
(Probably incised, though none visible.)
23. Body fr. Pres. H. 6.9. Broad, incised
horizontal line. Wheel-ridging on outer
surface.
24. Body fr. Pres. H. 6.4. (Probably incised,
though none visible.) Wheel-ridging on
outer surface.
25. Body fr. Pres. H. 7.5. As 24.
26. Body fr. Pres. H. 4.4. As 24.
Cooking-pots(27-38, FIG.5, PLATE30 b)
27. FIG.5. Six non-joining frr. Rim and body frr.
D. 14-4, pres. H. 7-4. Thickened, upturned
rim, with inner resting-ledge, offset from
round body; two horizontal grooves around
shoulder.
302 PAMELA ARMSTRONG

17

16

2 3

FIG.4. Amphorae and unglazed table wares from deposit I. 1 : 3.

 BYZANTINE THEBES: EXCAVATIONS ON THE KADMEIA, 1980 303

30

27

29

1 28

37 38

FIG.5. Cooking-potsfromdepositI. 1 : 3.

28. FIG. 5. Rim. D. 13.4, pres. H. 7.6. 3x. Handle and lower body. Pres. H. 6.9. Small
Thickened, rounded rim, horizontal groove ovoid handle with two vertical grooves,
on outer face, sharply offset from curved rising vertically from round body.
body; horizontal groove around upper 32. Handle. Pres. H. 1.7. Small, ovoid in section.
middle. 33. Not illustrated. Base. Pres. H. 6.2. Round (5
29. FIG. 5. Three joining frr. Rim and handle. D. mm thick).
9-7, pres. H. 3.8. Thickened, rounded rim 34. Not illustrated. Base. Pres. H. Round
(3.5
sharply offset from rounded body; round mm thick).
handle attached horizontally to upper body. 35. Not illustrated. Base. Pres. H. Round (3 mm
30. FIG. 5. Rim. D. 11.4, pres. H. 5.6. Plain, thick).
vertical rim offset from rounded body; two 36. Base. D. 7.0, pres. H. 5.1. Flat.
horizontal grooves around upper rim; band 37. FIG.5. Base. D. 7.0, pres. H. Flat.
of sharp ridges around upper body. 4-9.
FIG. 5. Base. D. 8.1, pres. H. 3.7. Flat.
38.

No obvious parallels could be found for the pottery from this deposit of domestic wares.
It contained no glazed ceramics, and the unglazed wares are idiosyncratic. Deposit I
should be earlier than the mid-tenth century, the date of the earliest material in the
overlying deposit II. As there is no obviously late Roman or early Byzantine material in
deposit I, it is likely to belong within the eighth to tenth centuries, a period when little is
known about pottery production and typology in this region. The building of which wall
8 is an exterior wall should have been constructed within the same period, as also the
paved surface. The building of which wall y forms a part is earlier, though not necessarily
by many years. It is curious that wall y survives to a greater height than the later wall 8.
DEPOSIT II (39-72)
FIG. 6; PLATE31. Deposit over floor 3 and against wall 8. Loose earth with stones and
roof tiles. This level should belong to a period following the destruction and
abandonment of the buildings represented by walls y and 8.
304 PAMELA ARMSTRONG
Glazedbowls(39-51, FIG.6, PLATE31)
39. FIG.6. Glazed white ware II, type 2. Rim. Est.
D. 22.2, pres. H. 1.3. Flat rim with two
horizontal ridges on inner face. In and out:
yellow glaze, brown where thickly applied.
FIG. 6. Glazed white ware II, type 1. Rim. D.
40.
29.2. Pres. H. 3.2. Rounded rim, with small
ledge around inner face, on straight wall. In,
and just over rim: thick yellow glaze.
41. FIG. 6. Two joining frr. Glazed white ware II,
probably type 2. Base. D. 7.4, pres. H. 2.4.
Ring foot. Traces of glaze on resting-surface.
In: indistinct impressed decoration at centre
under thick, streaky green glaze.
42. FIG.6. Fine style sgraffito. Base. D. 8.4, pres.
H. 2.7. Ring foot and shallow body. In: white
slip; sgraffito decoration of compass-incised
tondo enclosing spiral motif and band of
spirals around body between two compass-
incised lines; yellow glaze speckled with
green pigment.
43. FIG. 6. Slip-painted. Rim. D. 27.4. Pres. H.
2.9. Thickened, rounded rim on slightly
curved wall. In: white slip-painted line
around rim; green glaze. Out: glaze on
upper rim.
44. Green and brown painted. Body fr. Pres. H.
4.1. In: white slip; edge of green glaze-
painted horizontal band above brown cross-
hatched triangle; thin, clear glaze.
45. FIG. 6. Painted. Rim. Two joining frr. D.
16.8, pres. H. 4.0. Slightly upturned rim on
straight wall. In: white slip; roughly painted
green-glaze line around rim, splashes on
body; thin, pale glaze all over. Out: slip and
thin glaze barely extend over rim.
Pronounced finger-ridging in and out.
46. FIG. 6. Monochrome (possibly had painted
decoration in rim area, as 45). Base. D. 11.4,
pres. H. 3.o. Ring foot. In: white slip; yellow
glaze speckled with pigment. Rough finish
to outer surface and under floor.
47. FIG. 6. Monochrome. Base. D. 11.8, pres. H.
1.6. Ring foot. In and out: white slip,
extends under base. In: green glaze.
48. Glaze-painted. Base. D. 9.2, pres. H. 3-3.
Ring foot. In: white slip; edge of green glaze-
painted decoration; pale yellow glaze.
49. FIG. 6. Zeuxippus I B derivative.Rim. D. 22.6.
Pres. H. 2.4. Plain rim offset from straightwall.
In: pink slip; lightly incised horizontal line
below rim; crazed, glossy, orange-yellowglaze.
Out: slip and glaze extend down to carination.
50o. Zeuxippus I B derivative. Body fr. Pres. H.
4.1. Horizontal rim offset from shallow
body. In: white slip; broad, incised
horizontal line at carination; orange-yellow
glaze. Out: slip, to carination.
51. FIG.6. Protomajolica. Rim. D. 31-4. Pres. H.
2.1. Flat, everted rim slightly offset from
shallow curved body. In: white slip; blue
horizontal line around rim above three parallel
black lines beneath a series of linked black
reverse Ss; three parallel black lines and two
blue dots on body; clear glaze. Out: slip.
Unglazedtablewares(52-4, PLATE31)
52. Flask. Pres. H. 4-4. Flat horizontal rim (edge
broken) offset from tall vertical neck.
53. Flask. Body fr. Pres. H. 3.8. Vertical neck.
Two bands of five-toothed horizontal
combing on outer surface.
54. Not illustrated. Jug. Base and body. D. 9.6,
pres. H. 7.9. Roughly made. Flat base with
irregular section; triangular handle stump.
Wet-smoothed outer surface.
Amphorae(55-67, FIG.6, PLATE31)
55. Body fr. and handle stump. Pres. H. 5.2.
From middle area of medium-sized
amphora. Stump of ovoid handle.
56. Body fr. Pres. H. 5.6. From large vessel.
Vertical neck sharply offset from almost
horizontal shoulder.
57. Body fr. Pres. H. 7-4. Vertical neck offset
from wide shoulder.
58. FIG. 6. Body fr. Pres. H. 3.2. Vertical neck
gently offset from sloping shoulder. Incised
(4 mm wide) wavy line around lower neck.
59. Body fr. Pres. H. 5.1. From wide-bellied
amphora. Band of horizontal, four-toothed,
straight combing; five-toothed combed wavy
band.
6o. Body fr. Pres. H. 2.7. Two bands of four-
toothed, broad horizontal combing, wavy
band above straight.
61. Body fr. Pres. H. 4-3. From shoulder. Band
of three-toothed horizontal combing.
62. Body fr. Pres. H. 5-5. Lower neck and
shoulder. Series of four-toothed combed
motifs on shoulder.
63. Body fr. Pres. H. 5.7. (Probably incised,
though none visible.) Prominent wheel-
ridging on outer surface.
64. Body fr. Pres. H. 4-9. (Probably incised,
though none visible.) Wheel-ridging on
outer surface.
65. Body fr. Pres. H. 5-7. Lower edge of broad
(<3.2 cm), horizontal, matt-painted band
above narrow (o.4 cm) one.
66. Body fr. Pres. H. 11.3. All-over shallow
combing (3 ridges = 1 cm) on exterior.
 BYZANTINE THEBES: EXCAVATIONS ON THE KADMEIA, 1980 305

39

40

43

45

70

42

69
47

58
) 41

49
1 46

51

FIG.6. Various glazed and unglazed wares from deposit II. 1 : 3.

67. Two joining + one non-joining body frr. 70. FIG.6. Cooking-pot. Rim. D. 12.9, pres. H. 2.8.
Pres. H. 11.9. Broad wheel-ridging covers Slightly thickened, rounded rim offset from
outer surface. rounded body; horizontal ridges on exterior.

Cooking-wares(68-70, FIG.6, PLATE31) Candlestick(71, PLATE31)

68. Chafing-dish. Rim. Est. D. 29.0, pres. H. 4.9.
Slightly upturned, rounded rim offset from
shallow body. In, to rim: lustrous olive-green
glaze.
FIG.6. Stand. Base. D. 21.4, pres. H. 3.6. Open
69.
base with rounded edge. Three parallel
horizontal incisions on outer surface.
71. Stem and flange. Pres. H. 5.6. Vertical shaft
with horizontal flange (edge broken) near
top. White slip and glossy yellow glaze.
Waster(72, PLATE31)
72. Bowl. Base. D. 4.8, pres. H. 2.2. Ring foot.
In: white slip.
306 PAMELA ARMSTRONG

Complete versions of the white ware bowls 39 and 4o have been found in
Constantinople, while 41 may possibly fit into the same classification.37 They can be
dated between the mid-tenth and mid-eleventh centuries. 42-4, middle Byzantine red-
bodied glazed wares, can be compared with finds from Corinth, which suggest that 42
and 43 ought to be dated to the twelfth century, while 44 should be slightly later, in the
first half of the thirteenth century.38Bowls with a similar glaze-painted decoration to 48
have been found in more recent excavations at Corinth, from thirteenth-century levels.39
49 and 50, Zeuxippus derivatives, are products of the mid-thirteenth century. The Italian
protomajolica rim 51 is slightly earlier, from the first half of the thirteenth century.40
Whole jugs, or almost complete ones, which 54 would resembled, have been found at
Argos, and are dated to the end of the eleventh and beginning of the twelfth centuries.41
The amphora 62 is like one from Valtesi in Eastern Phokis, not far from Thebes.42
Deposit II was either a deliberate fill from one particular time or a wash level which
accumulated gradually. The looseness of the earth and material within it suggests the
former, but the chronological span of the pottery, which may have been stratified,
suggests the latter method of deposition. A chronological stratification within deposit II
is supported by the presence of more recent material in deposit III, which is the upper
level of deposit II.
DEPOSIT III (73-129)

FIGS.7-8, PLATE32. This is the upper part of deposit II, arbitrarily divided at the top of
wall y, and rising to floor 2. It is mainly loose earth, with a few small stones and tiles.

Glazedbowls(73-103, FIGS.7-8, PLATE32) band of impressed notches, sharply offset

FIG. 7. Aegean ware. Complete profile. Five
73.
joining frr. (old breaks) D. (rim) 19.8,
(base) 7.0, pres. H. 4.8. Upturned rim on
straight wall, ring foot. In: pink slip; series of
seven parallel horizontal lines on upper
body cut at intervals by roughly vertical
slashes, hooks to right radiate from central
spiral; compass point; yellow glaze. Out: slip
and glaze barely extend over rim.
74. Aegean ware. Body fr. Pres. H. 3.2. In: white
slip; incised decoration of five parallel
horizontal lines cut by short vertical slashes;
yellow glaze.
FIG. 7. Zeuxippus I A. Rim. D. 19.6, pres. H.
75.
2.2. Almost vertical, flat-topped rim, with
from straight wall. In: pink slip; two lightly
incised, parallel, horizontal lines above edge
of indistinct sgraffito motif; crazed, glossy
yellow glaze. Out: slip and glaze.
76. FIG. 7. Zeuxippus I A. Rim. D. 19.8. Pres. H.
3.3. Plain rim on slightly curved body. In:
white slip; edge of fine incision; glossy,
crazed yellow glaze. Out: slip and glaze on
upper rim.
77. FIG. 7. Painted sgraffito. Rim. D. 21.6, pres.
H. 3.8. Plain, horizontal rim offset from
curved body. In: white slip; edge of freestyle
sgraffito figure on body; green glaze-painted
band on upper body; yellow glaze. Out: slip
only extends under rim.

37 39: Hayes,Saraghane,fig. 7, no. 8; 4o: ibid. fig. 7, no.
1. The impressed motif of 41 is quite blurred; see ibid. 21
on the possiblefunction of these impressionsas potters'
marks.
38Morgan, pl. 41 c, no. 1004; pl. 32 a, k, nos. 749, 755.
39 C. K. Williams, 'Corinth 1976, Forum south-west',
Hesp.46 (1977), 79, nos 44 and 45.
40 D.
Cabona, A. Gardini, and 0. Pizzolo, 'Nuovi dati
sulla circolazione delle ceramiche mediterranee dallo
scavodi PalazzoDucalea Genova(secc. XII-XIV)',in La
ceramica medioevale nel Mediterraneooccidentale (Firenze,
1986), 475-7, fig. 15, no. 203, is very similar to 51.
41
Pierartand Thalmann,B 32 is a close parallelto 54.
The Argos group B 23-8 is generallycomparableto the
unglazed table waresfrom our deposit: two handles, flat
bases and approximatelyverticalnecks;although B 31-4
have only one handle, they too are similar.But for the
finishing touches, especiallyin the combed decoration,
Thebes itself provides the closest parallels:A. Delt. 23
(1968), Chr., pl. 159. 52-4 are probably products of
Thebes.
42Armstrong 1989, pl. 8, 76.
 BYZANTINE THEBES: EXCAVATIONS ON THE KADMEIA, 1980
77
81
104
78
FIGc.7. MiddleByzantineglazedwaresfromdepositIII. 1 : 3.
78. FIG. 7. Painted sgraffito. Base. Est. D. 9.0,
pres. H. 3.2. High ring foot. In: white slip;
edge of sgraffito tondo with damaged motif
outlined by two compass-drawn lines;
horizontal band of brown painted hooks to
left on body; yellow glaze. Out: slip only, to
top of ring foot.
79. Painted sgraffito. Body fr. Pres. H. 3-7. In:
white slip; edge of band of sgraffito spirals
and compass-drawn line, splash of green
glaze on sgraffito; yellow glaze all over. Out:
green glaze.
8o. Green and brown painted. Body fr. Pres. H.
3-3. In and out: white slip and thin pale
yellow glaze. In: brown glaze-painted spiral.
81. FIG. 7. Bowl. Slip-painted. Base. D. 12.4,
Pres. H. 3.6. Ring foot. In: edge of slip-
painted spiral at centre, vertical lines on
body; glossy yellow glaze.
307
73
a 76
75
82. Bowl. Slip-painted. Body fr. Pres. H. 4.8.
From large bowl. In: white slip-painted lines
radiating from centre; bright yellow glaze.
83. Not illustrated. Slip-painted. Body fr. Pres.
H. 4.6. From large bowl. In: edge of
indistinct white slip-painted motif; green
glaze.
84. FIG. 8. Glaze-painted. Rim. D. 32.2, pres. H.
4.0. Everted rim, with rounded edge, gently
offset from straight wall. In: white slip; green
glaze-painted series of spirals around rim,
line atjunction of rim and body, tailed spiral
on body. Out: slip on upper rim.
85. FIG. 8. Zeuxippus I c derivative. Rim. D.
15.8, pres. H. 1.9. Plain rim with horizontal
groove around outer face. In: white slip; two
incised parallel horizontal lines below rim;
green glaze. Out: slip and glaze barely
extend over rim.
308 PAMELA ARMSTRONG

84

94

95

85
86

F 92

1 87 88 91 89
I
123

S96

97 124

98
128

F99

100 109

L 102
1 101 111

FIG.8. Late and post-Byzantinewares from deposit III. I : 3.

 BYZANTINE THEBES: EXCAVATIONS ON THE KADMEIA, 1980
86. FIG. 8. Zeuxippus I B derivative. Rim. Two
joining frr. D. 19.6, pres. H. 3.2. Everted,
curved rim, with plain edge, slightly offset
from deep curving body. In: pink slip;
incised decoration of three parallel
horizontal lines on rim, another just below
junction of rim and body; mottled, dark
yellow glaze. Out: slip and glaze on upper
body.
87. FIG.8. Zeuxippus IB derivative. Base. D. 6.2,
pres. H. 2.3. Ring foot. In: white slip; three
incised (on wheel) concentric circles at
centre marked by tripod firing-stilt; yellow
glaze. Out: splash of glaze on resting-surface.
88. FIG.8. Zeuxippus I B derivative. Base. D. 6.2,
pres. H. 2.2. Ring foot. In: white slip; three
incised (on wheel) spiral at centre; mottled
yellow glaze. Out: splash of glaze on resting-
surface.
89. FIG.8. Zeuxippus IB derivative. Base. D. 5-9,
pres. H. 1.9. Fine, well-turned ring foot. In:
white slip; incised spiral at centre; yellow
glaze.
go. Zeuxippus I c derivative. Base. D. 6.3, pres.
H. 3.5. Ring foot. In: white slip; three
incised (on wheel) concentric circles at
centre; bright green glaze.
FIG.8. Zeuxippus derivative (?). Base. D. 5-4,
91.
pres. H. 2.8. Ring foot. In: white slip; incised
spiral at centre of straight lines; olive-green
glaze.
92. FIG. 8. Painted incised. Rim. D. 11.8, pres.
H. 2.1. Almost vertical plain rim slightly
offset from straight wall. In: white slip;
incised decoration of horizontal line below
rim above indistinct motif, traces of green
and yellow-brown. Out: slip barely extends
over rim, glaze to halfway down body.
93. Bowl. Painted incised. Body fr. Pres. H. 3-4.
In: white slip; incised decoration of two
zigzags separated by horizontal line, large
random area of green; yellow glaze. Out: slip
and glaze.
94. FIG.8. Monochrome. Rim. D. 30.0, pres. H.
3.6. Flat rim, with indentations around
edge, offset from carinated body. In: white
slip; yellow glaze. Out: slip and glaze under
rim.
95. FIG.8. Monochrome. Rim. D. 29.2. Pres. H.
1.5. Thickened, rounded rim. In and out:
white slip; pale yellow glaze.
96. FIG.8. Random painted. Rim. D. 19.7. Pres.
H. 5.1. Plain rim on curved body. In: white
slip; random streaks of dark brown; light
green glaze. Out: slip and green glaze on
upper body.
309
97. FIG. 8. Random painted. Rim. D. 22.0.
Pres. H. 3.7. Plain vertical rim offset from
straight wall. In: white slip under yellow
glaze, spotted with pigment. Out: slip and
glaze.
98. FIG. 8. Glazed only. Rim. D. 17.8, Pres. H.
6.o. Slightly inturned, plain rim on curved
body. In and out: glossy, mottled green
glaze.
99. FIG.8. Monochrome. Rim. D. 20.4. Pres. H.
Everted, plain rim slightly offset from
3-4.
straight wall. In: white slip; crazed, bright
green glaze. Out: glaze on upper rim.
1oo. FIG.8. Monochrome. Rim. D. 15.9. Pres. H.
2.8. Everted, plain rim slightly offset from
straight wall. In: thick white slip; pale yellow
glaze. Out: slip and glaze on upper rim.
101o. FIG. 8. Monochrome. Base. D. 8.0, pres. H.
1.6. Almost flat. In: thick white slip; dark
green glaze.
lo2. FIG. 8. Monochrome. Base. D. 8.4, pres. H.
3.6. High, splayed ring foot. In: white slip;
thick, glossy yellow glaze. Out: slip, extends
also under base.
103. Monochrome. Base. D. 6.8, Pres. H. 2.1.
Ring foot. In: white slip; yellow glaze.
Glazedjugs (0o4-8, FIG.7, PLATE32)
o04. FIG.7. Two non-joining frr. Rim. D. 4.9, base
D. 5.0, pres. H. 6.4, 4.o. Slightly thickened
and out-turned rim; trefoil mouth; conical
body; flat base. Out: poor-quality mottled
yellow glaze on upper body.
Io5. Body fr. Pres. H. 8.1. From large jug. Out:
thick white slip; carelessly formed green
glaze-painted vertical bands; pale green
glaze on upper body.
io6. Body fr. Pres. H. 5.3. Out: white slip and
pale green glaze on upper body; lower body
wet-slipped.
107. Body fr. Pres. H. 4.8. White frit fabric. Out:
thick turquoise glaze. In: glossy green glaze.
io8. Body fr. Pres. H. 2.8. Fabric: fine, pale-
cream, homogeneous. Out: blue oval panel
enclosing paler blue and patch of green;
glossy tin glaze. In: glaze.
Unglazedtablewares(og9-11, FIG.8, PLATE32)
109. FIG.8. Flask. Rim. D. 7.0, pres. H. 6.7. Out-
turned, plain rim slightly offset from vertical
neck; oval handle attached at rim.
11o. Not illustrated. Flask. Two non-joining body
frr. Pres. H. 4.1. From shoulder of small
vessel.
111. FIG. 8. Jug. Base. D. 12.2, pres. H. 2.2.
Almost flat base, shallow body.
310 PAMELA ARMSTRONG

Amphorae(112-17, PLATE32) one flat side. Series of hastily incised spirals

112. Not illustrated. Large amphora. Handle
stump and body fr. Pres. H. 5.7. Vertical
handle with round section.
113. Combed. Body fr. Pres. H. 3.4. Two bands of
ten-toothed horizontal combing, wavy band
above straight; two vertical incisions on
straight band.
114. Not illustrated. Combed. Body fr. Pres. H.
4-7. Band of five-toothed horizontal
combing.
115. Rouletted. Body fr. and handle stump. Pres.
H. 6.2. Small oval handle. Two horizontal
rows of rouletting on body under handle.
116. Matt painted. Body fr. Pres. H. 4.3. Slight
wheel-ridging and lower edge of horizontal
red matt painted band on outer surface.
117. Matt painted. Three non-joining body frr.
Pres. H. 27-3. Rim (edge broken) sharply
offset from vertical neck; ledge on outer
face at junction of neck and rim. Random
area of red matt painting.
Storagevessels(118-19, PLATE32)
118. Handle. Pres. H. 13.9. Horizontal, rising
obliquely from round shoulder; finger-
groove along length.
119. Handle. Pres. H. 9.8. Smaller version of 118.
Horizontal, rising obliquely from round
shoulder; finger-groove along length.
(120-1, PLATE32)
Water-carriers
120. Body fr. Pres. H. 7.3. From neck and
shoulder. Small neck with one rounded and
around edge of flat side, single, large incised
spiral on round side.
121. Body fr. Pres. H. 4-3. From neck and shoulder.
Smallerversion of 120, without incision.
Cooking-wares(122-5, FIG. 8, PLATE32)
122. Chafing-dish. Rim. Est. D. 28.o. Pres. H. 2.8.
In: lustrous brown glaze.
123. FIG. 8. Cooking-pot. Four non-joining frr.
Rim and body fr. D. 13.1, pres. H. 4-5.
Almost vertical rim offset from rounded
body.
124. FIG. 8. Cooking-pot. Rim. D. 10.2, pres. H.
3.1. Slightly thickened plain rim offset from
outward-sloping body.
125. Cooking-pot. Handle. Pres. H. 3-4. Broad
strap handle.
Wasters (126-9, FIG. 8, PLATE 32)
126. Bowl. Rim. Est. D. 15.0, pres. H. 4-9. Plain
rim on shallow semicircular body. In, and
out on upper rim: thick white slip.
127. Bowl. Base. Est. D. 4.6, pres. H. 4.3. Low
ring foot, unevenly formed. Pendent cone
under floor. In: thick white slip.
128. FIG. 8. Amphora. Rim. D. 7.1, pres. H. 6.o.
Thickened, slightly out-turned rim on
vertical neck. Out: three horizontal grooves
on neck.
129. Industrial vessel(?). Base. Est. D. 14.6, pres.
H. 2.1. Ringfoot. misfired? burnt? used in
some industrial process? Slag adhering to
inner surface.

Glaze-painted bowls similar to 84 have been found at Corinth in early thirteenth-century

levels.43 The Zeuxippus derivatives 85-91 are probably Theban products of the mid- to
third quarter of the thirteenth century. 91 is similar to a recently published late
thirteenth-century bowl from Corinth; because it shares a common fabric with 85-9o,
and a certain similarity in decoration, it is suggested that it, too, is in some way related to
Zeuxippus ware.44 While painted incised wares are difficult to date, the fine-walled,
hemispherical forms of 92-3 should probably be assigned to the late thirteenth century,
possibly going into the early fourteenth.45 The small jug 104 is of a type found at
Corinth and in the Sarachane excavations in the late eleventh century.46 105-6 are
fragments of large jugs, and possibly had painted and incised decoration though none is
preserved.47 The glaze and fabric of o07is of middle eastern origin, possibly Syrian. A

45At Corinthit hasbeen foundin layersdatedto the first
halfof the 13thcent.:C. K Williams,'Corinth1977,Forum
south-west',Hesp.47 (1978), 34, pl. 6, no. C-1977-5.
44 C.
K.
Williams, Hesp. 58 (1989), 158, pl. 38, no. 22,
'local olive-green glazed', as 91.
45Relevantliteratureand the range of dates are given
in Armstrong 1989, 44-
46 Corinth: Morgan 59, fig. 41 a: 242 is a similar shape
and size, 243 has the same speckled brown glaze. Sarachane:
Hayes, Sarachane,pl. 6 f though this is a white ware.
47 Armstrong 1989, pl. 8, no. 49, illustrates a larger
fragmentfroma similarvessel.
 BYZANTINE THEBES: EXCAVATIONS ON THE KADMEIA, 1980 311

similar rouletted amphora to 115 was previously excavated from another site in
Thebes.48x118-19 are from large storage vessels, complete versions of which are known
from two sites in southern Russia and dated to the thirteenth century.49 120o-1 are
fragments of flat-sided water carriers.50 These vessels had a long life span, but the
Theban examples are probablyclosest to an earlytwelfth-centuryone from Argos.51The
randompainted wares,as 96-7, are from the end of the fifteenth century.52
Deposit III has the same mixed character as deposit II. Taken together they extend
the chronological spectrum for this fill up to the fifteenth century.
DEPOSIT IV (130-49)
FIG. 9, PLATE33 a. West of wall a and north of wall 3, to top of spolia-constructed wall.
Loose earth mixed with small stones.

Glazedbowls(130-40, FIG. 9, PLATE33 a) glaze-painted band around rim; pale-yellow

130. FIG.9. Aegean ware. Rim. D. 25.4, pres. H.
1.9. Plain rim on straight wall. In: white slip;
incised decoration of four parallel lines
around rim above cross-hatching; yellow
glaze. Out: slip and glaze on upper rim.
131. FIG. 9. Aegean ware. Rim. D. 19.7, pres. H.
3.0. Plain rim on curved wall. In: cream slip;
incised decoration of five broad, parallel
horizontal lines cut by pairs of vertical
slashes; yellow glaze. Out: slip and glaze
barely extend over rim.
132. FIG.9. Aegean ware. Rim + non-joining body
fr. D. 18.o. Pres. H. 5.9. Plain rim slightly
offset from straight wall. In: pink slip; splash
of brown glaze on rim; glossy pale green
glaze. Out: slip and glaze on upper body.
133. FIG. 9. Aegean ware. Base. D. 11.2, pres. H.
3-7- Shallow ring foot with broad footplate;
heavily potted with coarse walls. In: white
slip; ring of compass-drawn circles around
body, enclosing indistinct freestyle motif at
centre; yellow glaze.
134. FIG. 9. Incised. Rim. D. 14.2, pres. H. 4.8.
Vertical, flat-topped rim offset from deep
curved body. In: white slip; incised
decoration of three parallel horizontal lines
below rim, pendent (partially cross-hatched)
triangle; olive-green glaze. Out: slip and
glaze.
135. FIG. 9. Green and brown painted. Rim. D.
15.6, pres. H. 2.2. Everted rim offset from
shallow curved body. In: white slip; green
glaze. Out: slip and glaze under rim.
136. FIG. 9. Sgraffito. Rim. D. 4.9, pres. H. 1.9.
Neatly turned, fine ring foot. In: white slip;
incised bird at centre; yellow glaze. Out: slip
and glaze to top of ring foot; splashes of
glaze on resting-surface and under floor.
137. FIG. 9. Sgraffito. Base. D. 4-9, pres. H. 1.5.
Shallow ring foot. In: white slip; sgraffito
tondo, marked by compass point, enclosing
linked spirals; yellow glaze.
138. Slip-painted. Body fr. Pres. H. 4.8. From rim
area of large bowl. In: slip-painted horizontal
line above wavy line, body filled with roughly
executed stars;bright green glaze.
139. FIG. 9. Slip-painted. Base. D. 9.4, pres. H.
3.6. Shallow ring foot, broad resting-surface.
In: two slip-painted concentric circles
surrounded by band of dots, further
indistinct motifs; thick yellow glaze.
140. FIG. 9. Slip-painted. Rim. D. 6.5, pres. H.
5.1. Ring foot. In: spiral at centre under
thick green glaze. Out: glaze on upper rim.
Glazedjugs (141-3, FIG. 9, PLATE33 a)
141. FIG. 9. Green and brown painted. Body fr.
Pres. H. 3.9. Globular body with lower
stump of small oval handle. Out: white slip;
vertical band of four short, dark brown lines,
random green patches; glossy clear glaze.
142. Body fr. Pres. H. 9.3. From lower body.
Vertical tongues of white slip under five
thin, red-painted vertical lines.

48 A. Delt. 23 (1968), Chr. pl. 159.
49 Bakirtzis, pl. 22, nos 3-4, illustrates them.
50 Bakirtzis, pls 27-8, illustrates the complete form.
Sizes vary; 121 is rather smaller than 12o.
51
Pierart and Thalmann 103, pl. 9, no. B 37.
52Many examples of 'random painted' bowls have been
found at the joint Athens Archaeological Society and
AustralianArchaeologicalInstituteexcavationsat Torone
on the Sithonia penisula in Chalkidike, where they span
the transition between Byzantine and post-Byzantine.
312 PAMELA ARMSTRONG

134

130

135

131

136

132

137

133
141

139

147

148

140 149

FIG.9-.Middle Byzantinewares from deposit IV. 1 : 3.

 BYZANTINE THEBES: EXCAVATIONS ON THE KADMEIA, 1980 313

Unglazedtablewares(143, PLATE33 a) (147-9, FIG. 9, PLATE33 a)

143. Jug. Handle. Pres. H. 6.8. Small, oval in
section.
Amphorae(144-6, FIG.9, PLATE33 a)
144. Handle. Pres. H. 6.8. Thin, flattened oval.
145. Body fr. Pres. H. 5.2. From large vessel.
Broad ridge at junction of vertical neck and
rounded shoulder.
146. Body fr. Pres. H. 8.9. All-over combing (3
ridges = 1 cm) on exterior.
Cooking-pots
147. FIG. 9. Rim, handle + 3 non-joining body frr.
D. 10.2, pres. H. 9.8. Vertical rim offset from
deep curving body, handle springs
horizontally from rim joining body vertically.
Thin-walled (3 mm maximum).
148. FIG. 9. Rim and body fr. D. 12.3, pres. H. 3.1.
Slightlythickened, plain rim offset from curved
body, external horizontal ridge below rim.
149. FIG.9. Rim. D. 14.6, pres. H. 2.2. Thickened,
rounded rim offset from body. Upper edge of
deep combing just visible on body.

130-3 are Aegean wares and should be dated to the late twelfth or early thirteenth
centuries. The green and brown decoration on 135 has been created with pigmented
glazes; this, together with the form, suggests a date towards the end of the twelfth
century.53 Of similar date are the sgraffito wares 136-7. The compass-drawn circle
enclosing rough spirals of 137 is closely parallelled by a bowl from a late twelfth-century
shipwreck. The freestyle bird of 136 is similar to another found at Kryovrysiin Eastern
Phokis.54 The mark of the tripod foot which disfigures 136 places it late in the twelfth
century, rather than in the middle. The slip-painted stars of 138 have local parallels,
from Corinth and from Eastern Phokis.55The Corinthian evidence suggests that they are
also twelfth-century.56A complete version of the small jug 141 has been excavated at
Tigani in the Mani, and is twelfth-century.57Of the amphorae, the closest parallels for
146 are also dated to the twelfth century.58
This is a chronologically homogeneous assemblage of the second half of the twelfth
century, which has survived at a high level in the excavation. It seems that floor 1 sealed
this deposit, and, while the construction of walls a and 3 may have removed some of it,
at the same time they encapsulated further and preserved deposit IV. It is also likely that
the improvised wall with spolia should be associated with this deposit.
DEPOSIT V (150-249; 334)
FIGS.10-15, 20; PLATES 33 b-35 a. Fill east of wall (a, above floor 2 to top of wall a. Earth
mixed with gravel, small stones and tiles. Stones fallen from wall a in fill near its east
face.

Glazedbowls(150-95, FIGS.10-13, PLATE33 b) 151. FIG. 10o.Zeuxippus I B derivative. Rim. D.

150. FIG. 10. Zeuxippus I B derivative. Rim. D.
20o.6, pres. H. 2.4. Everted plain rim offset
from curved body. In: white slip; four
incised parallel lines around rim; yellow
glaze. Out: slip and glaze barely extend over
rim.
19.6, pres. H. 5.7. Slightly out-turned plain
rim offset from straight wall. In: white slip;
incised horizontal line at rim, another at
junction of rim and body; crazed brown-
yellow glaze. Out: slip on upper body, glaze
barely extends over rim.

5" For this carinated form in the late 12th cent. see P.
Armstrong,'A group of Byzantinebowlsfrom Skopelos',
OJA10.3 (Nov. 1991), fig. 7, no. 20.
54 Shipwreck: ibid. fig. 7, no. 17; E. Phokis: Armstrong
1989, 36, fig. 21, pl. 11b, no. 1.
55 Morgan, pl. 32 b;Armstrong 1989, pl. 3, no. 7.
56Armstrong 1989, pl. 3, no. 7-
57 The complete small jug is illustrated in Catalogueof
an Exhibition to Mark the Centenary of the Christian
ArchaeologicalSociety(1884-1984) (Athens, 1984), 61, no.
96.
58They are illustrated in Bakirtzis, 20o, nos
pl. 1-4-
314 PAMELA ARMSTRONG
F
150
151
k153
152
FIG.10. LateByzantineglazedwaresfrom depositV. 1 : 3.
152. FIG. 10.ZeuxippusIB derivative.Base. D. 6.2,
pres. H. 3.7. Ring foot with flaring inner
profile. In: white slip; two incised (on wheel)
concentric circles at centre; mottled yellow-
brown glaze. Traces of glaze on resting-surface
of foot; firing-stiltmarks on inner surface.
153. FIG. 10. Zeuxippus I B derivative. Base. D.
pres. H. 2.1. Ring foot. In: white slip;
5-9,
incised (on wheel) spiral at centre; mottled
yellow glaze.
154. FIG. 1o. Zeuxippus derivative(?). Base. D.
4.7, pres. H. 3.5. Ring foot. In: white slip;
incised decoration of three pairs of lines in
central area and spirals in squares on body;
mottled olive-green glaze.
155. FIG. lo. Painted incised. Rim. D. 17.8, pres.
H. 3.3. Thin, plain rim on curved body. In:
white slip; two incised horizontal lines below
rim; green glaze. Out: slip; incised
decoration of two horizontal lines below
rim, rosette and part of second, roughly
outlined in green and yellow-brown; glaze.
156. FIG. lo. Painted incised. Rim. D. 17.8, pres.
H. 4.1. Plain rim on straight wall. In: white
slip; incised decoration of two parallel
horizontal lines below rim and above hook
to left, green band around rim, random
S155
156
f 157
158
F 159
154 F
160
splash of brown on body; green glaze. Out:
slip and glaze on upper rim.
157. FIG. io. Painted incised. Rim. D. 16.8, pres.
H. 3.5. Plain rim on straight wall, horizontal
groove on outer rim. In: white slip; two
parallel incised horizontal lines below rim;
yellow-green glaze. Out: slip; large incised
rosette, highlighted with green; glaze.
158. FIG. 10o.Painted incised. Rim. D. 17.0, pres. H.
In: white slip;
3-9. Plain rim on straight wall.
incised decoration of two parallel horizontal
lines below rim, end of curved line on body,
edge of yellow-browncircle; yellow glaze. Out:
slip and glaze barelyextend over rim.
159. FIG. 10. Painted incised. Rim. D. 14.0, pres.
H. 2.8. Plain rim on slightly curved wall. In:
white slip; incised decoration of two parallel
horizontal lines below rim, above horizontal
wavy line, random splashes of green and
yellow-brown; glossy green glaze. Out: slip,
glaze and random splashes of green.
16o. FIG. lo. Painted incised. Rim. D. 13.8, pres.
H. 2.9. Flat-topped rim on curved body. In:
white slip; incised decoration of two parallel
horizontal lines below rim, pendent triangle
enclosing cross-hatching highlighted with
green; green glaze. Out: slip and glaze.
 BYZANTINE THEBES: EXCAVATIONS ON THE KADMEIA, 1980 315

163

167

164

168

171

166
172

169

170
174

175 173

FIG. 1 1. Late and post-Byzantine glazed wares from deposit V. I : 3.

161. Painted incised. Body fr. Pres. H. 5.2. In:
white slip; edge of indistinct incised motif,
alternating splashes of green and brown;
green glaze. Out: slip and glaze.
16A. Painted incised. Body fr. Pres. H. 6.7. In:
white slip; incised decoration of circle,
probably enclosing tondo, with line
radiating from it, highlighted by green;
bright green glaze.
163. FIG. 11. Painted incised. Rim. D. 25.6, pres.
H. 1.5. Slightly curved rim with upturned
edge. In: white slip; incised zigzag around
rim highlighted by splashes of yellow-brown.
Out: slip and glaze on upper rim.
164. FIG. 11. Painted incised. Rim. D. 21.0, pres.
H. 3.1. Horizontal rim, with squared edge
offset from curved body. In: white slip;
incised decoration of three straight lines and
one wavy around rim, three horizontal lines
on body just below rim, outlined tondo
divided into quadrants (probably) with
curlesque in each and alternately highlighted
with dabs of green and yellow-brown; glossy
yellow-green glaze. Out: slip and glaze on
upper rim.
165. Painted incised. Body fr. (from rim area).
Pres. H. 8.2. In: white slip; incised decoration
of two groups of four parallel horizontal
316 PAMELA ARMSTRONG
lines, on either side of band of pairs of
brackets and rough rosette near centre
highlighted with green; glossy pale green
glaze. Out: slip barely extends over rim;
glaze to top of ring foot.
166. FIG. 1 1. Painted incised. Rim. Two joining
frr. D. 28.6, pres. H. 3.6. Almost vertical
plain rim offset from almost horizontal
body. In: white slip; incised decoration of
two parallel horizontal lines below rim,
above band of simple flowers separated by
groups of three short lines and 'u' motifs, all
highlighted by alternating green and yellow-
brown; bright green glaze. Out: slip and
green colour under glaze.
167. FIG. 11. Painted incised. Rim. D. 21.6. Pres.
H. 3.9. Flat-topped, out-turned rim on
curved body. In: white slip; horizontal band
of olive green highlights uppermost of three
parallel incised lines below rim; bright green
glaze. Out: slip and glaze on upper rim.
168. FIG. 1 1. Painted incised. Rim. D. 27.4, pres.
H. 4.4. Slightly thickened plain rim on
straight wall. In: white slip; incised
decoration of eight parallel horizontal lines
above edge of indistinct motif, splashes of
green; glossy green glaze. Out: slip and glaze
barely extend over rim.
169. FIG. 11. Rim. D. 16.8, pres. H. 2.7. Slightly
curved rim, with upturned edge, offset from
straight wall. In: white slip; alternating
splashes of green and yellow-brown; yellow
glaze. Out: slip and glaze on upper rim.
FIG. 11. Green and brown painted. Rim. D.
170o.
15-7, pres. H. 2.7. Plain rim on straight wall;
shallow horizontal groove on inner face. In:
white slip; green glaze-painted line around
rim; thin pale yellow glaze all over. Out: slip
and thin glaze extend just over rim.
171. FIG. 11. Random painted. Base. D. 6.4, pres.
H. 4-7. High ring foot. In: white slip and
splashes of green and yellow-brown, both
under yellow glaze. Out: slip and glaze
extend three-quarters down.
172. FIG. 11. Randompainted. Base. D. 7.2, pres.
H. 3-7. Ring foot. In: white slip and splashes
of green, both under green glaze.
173. FIG. 11. Random painted. Base. D. 7.8, pres.
H. 2.5. Ring foot. In: white slip and central
random area of green glaze, both under
pale-yellow glaze.
174. FIG 11. Two non-joining frr. Rim. D. 20.1,
pres. H. 5.2. Slightly upturned plain rim. In:
white slip; two horizontal blue lines on rim
enclose series of blue-painted flowers
alternately highlighted by green or brown
dots; pale green glaze. Out: slip and glaze on
upper rim (as 175-6)
175. FIG. 11. Base. D. 5.6, pres. H. 1.4. Ring foot.
In: white slip; traces of blue flower with
brown petals; yellow glaze. In and out: slip
and glaze; slip extends under base. (as 174,
176)
176. Body fr. Pres. H. 4.2. In: white slip; three
blue-painted lines below series of alternating
brown ovals and semicircles suspended from
two horizontal lines; pale green glaze. Out:
slip and dark green glaze (as 174-5)
177. FIG. 12. Monochrome. Two non-joining frr.
Rim. D. 25.8, pres. H. 8.3. Flat, everted rim,
with indentations around edge, offset from
curved body. In: two parallel grooves around
rim under thick white slip; dark glossy green
glaze. Out: slip and glaze.
178. FIG. 12. Monochrome. Rim. D. 22.6, pres.
H. 5.7. Flat, everted rim with indentations
around edge and lip at junction with shallow
body. In: two groups of parallel grooves on
rim under thick white slip; bright green
glaze. Out: slip and glaze.
179. FIG. 12. Monochrome. Complete profile. D.
12.9, pres. H. 9.8. Flat, everted rim (edge
missing) offset from shallow body set on
high ring foot. In: two parallel horizontal
lines on rim incised under white slip;
mottled yellow glaze. Out: slip and glaze to
top of ring foot.
i8o. Monochrome. Body fr. D. (at carination)
18.0, pres. H. 3.4. Lip at junction of
horizontal rim and shallow body (as 105)-
In: two parallel grooves on rim under white
slip; dark green glaze. Out: slip and glaze
under rim.
181. Monochrome. Body fr. est. D. (at carination)
19.0, pres. H. 3.9. Lip atjunction of horizontal
rim and shallow body (as o05).In: two parallel
grooves on rim under white slip; dark green
glaze. Out: slip and glaze.
182. FIG. 13. Monochrome. Two joining frr.
Complete profile. Rim D. 22.3, base D. 6.4.
Pres. H. 8.7. Everted rim with plain edge
and lip at junction with straight, deep body;
ring foot. In: thick white slip; green glaze.
183. FIG. 13. Monochrome. Three joining frr.
Rim. D. 27.9. Pres. H. 3.9. Flat, everted rim,
with groove around edge, offset from curved
body. In and out: Glossy, dark green glaze.
184. FIG. 13. Monochrome. Rim. D. 22.0, pres.
H. 4.1. Thickened, rounded rim, slightly
offset from curved body. In: thick white slip;
unevenly coloured yellow glaze. Out: slip
and glaze on upper rim.
 BYZANTINE THEBES: EXCAVATIONS ON THE KADMEIA, 1980
FIG. 12. Monochrome bowls with offset rims from deposit V. 1 : 3 -
185. FIG. 13. Monochrome. Rim. D. 25.8,
pres. H. 2.9. Plain rim offset from shallow
body. In: white slip under yellow glaze. Out:
slip.
186. FIG. 13. Monochrome. Rim. D. 27.6, pres.
H. 2.0. Fine, plain rim on straight wall. In
and out: white slip and green glaze.
187. FIG. 13. Monochrome. Rim. D. 23.6, pres.
H. 4.1. Plain rim on curved body. In: white
slip; mottled green glaze. Out: slip and glaze
on upper rim.
188. FIG. 13. Monochrome. Rim. D. 25.4, pres.
H. 3-9. Plain rim on curved body. In: white
slip; glossy and streaky green glaze. Out: slip
and glaze on upper rim.
189. FIG. 13. Monochrome. Rim. D. 26.1, pres.
H. 3.6. Plain rim, with groove around upper
face, on curved body. In: white slip; glossy
yellow glaze. Out: slip.
190. FIG. 13. Monochrome. Rim. D. 19.6, pres.
H. 3.1. Plain rim on curved body. In: white
slip; poor yellow glaze. Out: slip and glaze
on upper rim.
317
177
178
179
191. FIG. 13. Monochrome. Rim. D. 13.6, pres.
H. 5-3. Slightly out-turned, almost vertical
rim on deep curved body. In: white slip; pale
green glaze. Out: white slip and dark green
glaze.
192. FIG. 13. Monochrome. Base. D. 9.2, pres.
H. 2.5. Ring foot from large vessel. In and
out: white slip under glossy, dark-green
glaze.
193. FIG. 13. Monochrome. Rim. D. 19.6, pres.
H. 3-4. Plain rim on straight wall. In, to rim:
white slip; glossy yellow-brown glaze.
194. FIG. 13. Monochrome. Complete profile.
Rim D. 17.6, base D. 5.2, pres. H. 4-7. Plain
rim on curved body; ring foot. In: thick
white slip under crazed yellow glaze. Out:
slip on upper rim.
195. FIG.13. Monochrome. Base. D. 7.8, pres. H.
2.8. Ring foot. In: white slip under yellow
glaze.
Glazedjugs (96-203, FIG.14, PLATE34)
196. FIG. 14. Two non-joining frr. Base and
318 PAMELA ARMSTRONG

182

183

184

185

186

187

188

189

190 F 193

194
191

192 195

FIG. 13. Post-Byzantine glazed wares from deposit V. I : 3.

 BYZANTINE THEBES: EXCAVATIONS ON THE KADMEIA, 1980
I 205
S206
196
FIG. 14. Table wares and amphorae from deposit V.
handle. D. 8.2, pres. H. 5.6. From large jug.
Flat base; oval handle. Out: carelessly
applied thick turquoise glaze on handle,
traces on wall above base; thin, clear glaze.
In: thin, clear glaze.
197. Painted incised. Two non-joining body frr.
Pres. H. 6.2. From medium-sized vessel. Out:
white slip; incised rosette marked out by green
and yellow-brown;glossy yellow glaze. In: slip
andglaze.
198. Painted incised. Body fr. Pres. H. 2.7. From
small vessel. Out: white slip; edge of incised
rosette marked with green; green glaze. In:
slip and glaze.
199. Spout. Pres. H. 6.7. Vertical spout applied
high on round body. Out: white slip;
alternating bands of green and yellow-
brown; pale green glaze.
319
204
I 211
212
235
I : 3.
2oo. Two joining body frr. Pres. H. 7.7. From
shoulder. Out: white slip; roughly diagonal
strokes of alternating green and yellow-
brown; bright green glaze.
201. Body fr. Pres. H. 6.4. From large jug. Out:
traces of two blue lines, probably forming
oval panel, crossed by broad, mottled yellow
band, all on white ground; clear glaze. In:
green glaze.
202. Body fr. Pres. H. 8.2. Out: blue-painted
oval panel, enclosing pair of lines linked by
short oblique strokes; pale green glaze. In:
glaze.
203. Not illustrated. Three body frr., two joining.
Pres. H. 4.1. From largejug. Out: part of blue-
painted oval panel formed by three concentric
lines, inner two linked by short lines, on white
ground; white glaze. In: green glaze.
320 PAMELA ARMSTRONG
Unglazedtablewares(204-6, FIG.14, PLATE34)
FIG. 14. Flask. Rim. D. 3-9, pres. H. 3.2.
204.
Fine, plain rim on vertical neck; oval handle
rising from neck.
205. FIG. 14. Flask. Three non-joining body frr.
Pres. H. 19.3. From neck and upper body.
Tall, vertical neck sharply offset from
rounded body. Out: all-over decoration of
alternating bands of straight and wavy
combing.
20o6. FIG. 14. Flask. Body fr. (broken at rim). Est.
D. 10o-11.o, pres. H. 6.3. Out: small
horizontal ridge on upper neck; bands of
five-toothed horizontal combing, one wavy
between two straight.
Amphorae(207-35, FIG.14, PLATE34)
207. Body fr. Pres. H. 4.1. Horizontal ridge at
junction of neck and shoulder. Two bands
of six-toothed horizontal combing, wavy
band above straight.
20o8. Body fr. Pres. H. 5.7. From shoulder.
Two bands of horizontal combing, lower
edge of straight band above upper edge of
wavy.
2og. Body fr. Pres. H. 3-5. Vertical neck offset
from rounded body.
21o. Rim. D. o0.6,pres. H. 2.9. Plain rim sharply
offset from outward sloping body. Upper
edge of deep combing just visible.
211. FIG. 14. Rim and handle. D. 5.6, pres. H.
10.5. Rounded rim slightly offset from
vertical neck. Round handle attached to
neck below rim.
212. FIG. 14. Rim and handle. D. 9.2, pres. H.
9.4. Flat-topped, out-turned rim on almost
vertical neck; small oval handle goes from
upper neck to shoulder.
213. Body fr. Pres. H. 5-3. From below rim.
Everted horizontal rim. Horizontal combing
around neck.
214. Body fr. and handle stump. Pres. H. 4.9.
Small strap handle. Nine-toothed band of
horizontal combing on body under handle.
215. Body fr. Pres. H. 5.8. Band of six-toothed
horizontal combing.
216. Body fr. Pres. H. 2.9. Band of nine-toothed
horizontal combing.
217. Body fr. Pres. H. 3-4. Band of five-toothed
horizontal combing.
218. Body fr. Pres. H. 3.4. From shoulder. Band
of four-toothed horizontal combing.
219. Body fr. Pres. H. 6.1. Shoulder. Four
alternating horizontal bands of seven-
toothed combing and rouletting.
s220. Body fr. Pres. H. 3.6. From neck of large
amphora. Vertical neck sharply offset from
almost horizontal shoulder. Upper edge of
incised (3 mm wide) line just visible.
221. Handle. Pres. H. 8.6. Almost round in
section.
222. Handle. Pres. H. 10.2. Broad strap handle
with vertical finger-grooves.
223. Handle. Pres. H. 8.6. Flattened oval with
finger-groove along length.
224. Handle. Pres. H. 4.9. Flattened oval with two
finger-grooves along length.
225. Handle. Pres. H. 8.8. Broad strap handle.
226. Body fr. Pres. H. 10.7. From lower belly,
showing patch of random red matt painting
on outer surface.
227. Body fr. Pres. H. 4.8. Traces of vertical
streaks of matt red colour on outer surface.
228. Body fr. Pres. H. 5.2. Traces of four
horizontal red bands (alternating 7 and 3
mm widths) on outer surface.
229. Body fr. Pres. H. 4.6. Red fabric with cream
outer surface, randomly splashed with red.
230. Handle stump and body fr. Pres. H. 4.1.
Edge of vertical red matt painted band at
lower handle stump.
231. Body fr. Pres. H. 4.2. From shoulder.
Trace of vertical red matt painted band
(c.1.8 cm).
232. Body fr. Pres. H. 10.7. From lower body of
large vessel. Distinctive wet-smoothed outer
skin.
233. Body fr. Pres. H. 6.2. From shoulder of
medium-sized vessel. Impression of coarse
fabric on outer surface.
234. Rim and handle. Pres. H. 2.6. Inturned rim
from which strap handle rises sharply.
H.
235- FIG. 14. Neck and handle. D. 12.2, pres.
4.6. Vertical rounded rim on wide neck
from which broad strap handle springs
horizontally.
Cooking-pots(236-45, FIG.15, PLATE35 a)
236. FIG. 15. Rim and handle. D. 21.5, pres. H.
horizontal rim
5-4- Slightly downturned
offset from straight wall; round handle
attached at rim.
237. FIG. 15. Rim and handle. D. 17.8, pres. H.
3.2. Slightly thickened plain rim from which
oval handle springs horizontally.
238. FIG. 15. Rim and handle. D. 12.6, pres.
H. 3.3. Slightly thickened, plain rim offset
from curved body; oval handle attached at
rim.
239. FIG.15. Base. D. 9.9, pres. H. 3.0. Flat.
24o. Handle. Pres. H. 4.1. Loop handle; round
section.
 BYZANTINE THEBES: EXCAVATIONS ON THE KADMEIA, 1980 321

236

237

238

239
FIG. 15. Cooking-pots from fill above floor 2. 1 : 3.

241. Handle. Pres. H. 8.1. Round section.
242. Handle. Pres. H. 2.4. Flattened oval.
243. Handle. Pres. H. 3.o. Flattened oval.
244. Neck and handle. Pres. H. 3.o. Small neck
from which flattened oval handle springs
horizontally.
245. Neck and handle. Pres. H. 3.o. Small neck from
which flattened oval handle springs
horizontally.
Candlestick(246, PLATE35 a)
246. Pres. H. 6.5. Tall vertical neck, flange below
stump of small round handle; remnant of
second, higher flange visible. White slip and
dark green glaze on outer surface.
Wasters(247-9, PLATE35 a)
247. Flask. Neck and handle. Pres. H. 4-3. Lower
stump of oval handle rises almost vertically
from lower neck.
248. Amphora. Body fr. Pres. H. 6.5. Three six-
toothed combed horizontal bands between
two wavy ones on outer surface.
249. Amphora. Body fr. Pres. H. 6.1.

206 has a close parallel from Corinth, dated from the middle to the third quarter of the
twelfth century.59154 is grouped together with 150-3, Zeuxippus derivatives of the mid-
thirteenth century, because it shares a common fabric and looks similar, but it may be
later in date. The painted incised wares fall into two groups, 155-62 and 163-8. The
first group, with their distinctive hemispherical form and thin walls, are probably Late
Byzantine and possibly continue into the early post-Byzantine period. The diversity of
forms and motifs of the second group suggests Italian influence, and they should
possibly be assigned to the sixteenth century. Large monochrome bowls with offset rims,
as 177-81, are common throughout the Ottoman world in the seventeenth and early
eighteenth centuries.60 182-95 are all post-Byzantine, ranging in date from the late

59MacKay277, no. 53, pl. 66. penisula in Chalkidike, there is also a monochrome
60 Hayes's Turkish type series 12: Hayes, Sarachane,fig. brown version. Publication of the Byzantine and later
107, 12.1; 1o8, 12.2 and 3. They are all green glazed as potteryfromTorone (see n. 52) is forthcoming.
are the Theban examples; at Torone, on the Sithonia
322 PAMELA ARMSTRONG

fifteenth century (184) to the late seventeenth century 61 Water containers like 196
(194). centuries, though the shape
were made at Larisain Thessalyin the sixteenth and seventeenth
is produced at a number of places.62201-3 are fragments from blue and white painted jugs,
manufactured at Athens in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.63235 is similar
to an amphora from Argos dated to the thirteenth century." The tobacco pipe 334 is placed
roughlywithin the late seventeenth to earlyeighteenth centuries.
Deposit V contains pottery ranging from the twelfth to the late seventeenth/early
eighteenth centuries. It and floor 2 are cut by the foundation trench (deposit VI) for the
construction of wall a, and thus predate the building represented by walls a and P. Like
deposits II and III, deposit V is mixed in character.
DEPOSIT VI (250-85; 335-6)
FIGS. 16, 20; PLATE 35 b. Deep cutting just east of wall a. Loose earth with tile and
sherd.
Glazedbowls(250-68, FIG.16, PLATE35 b) brown; glossy yellow glaze. Out: slip on
250. FIG. 16. Painted incised. Rim. D. 11.8, pres. upper rim, glaze extends to lower body.
H. 2.7. Slightly out-turned plain rim on 254. FIG. 16. Painted incised. Rim. D. 25.8, pres.
curved body. In: white slip and glossy yellow H. 4-7. Everted rim with row of indentations
around upper edge. In: two parallel lines
glaze. Out: slip; incised decoration of rows
of curly lines, splashes of green and yellow- around rim incised below white slip; wavy
brown; glaze. line around rim and rosette on body incised
251. FIG. 16. Painted incised. Rim. D. 18.5, pres. through slip, painted decoration of two
H. 2.8. Plain rim on straight wall. In: white roughly outlined joining semicircles, one
slip; incised decoration of three parallel green, one yellow-brown; glossy pale yellow
horizontal lines just below rim, random glaze. Out: slip and glaze on upper rim.
splash of green; bright green glaze. Out: slip 255. FIG. 16. Painted incised. Base. D. 6.2, pres.
and glaze barely extend over rim. H. 1.7. Neatly turned ring foot. In: white
252. FIG. 16. Painted incised. Rim. D. 19.8, pres. slip; edge of incised line; yellow glaze. Out:
H. 5.1. Slightly pointed plain rim on curved slip and glaze down to top of ring foot; edge
of incised line, patch of green.
body. In: white slip; incised decoration of
two parallel horizontal lines just below rim, 256. Painted incised. Body fr. Pres. H. 4-9. In:
above two spirals on either side of smaller white slip; two parallel incised horizontal
lines, possible trace of third, splashes of
spiral, splashes of green and yellow-brown;
bright green glaze. Out: slip and glaze on yellow brown; glossy yellow glaze.
upper rim. 257. Painted incised. Body fr. Pres. H. 2.6. In:
white slip; incised decoration of horizontal
253. FIG. 16. Painted incised. Rim. D. 23.6, pres.
H. 1.7. Flat, everted rim with out-turned line above wavy line highlighted with green;
horizontal edge. In: white slip; incised yellow glaze.
decoration of band of careless spirals 258. FIG. 16. Random painted. Rim. D. 21.7,
enclosed by two groups of three parallel pres. H. 2.2. Almost vertical plain rim offset
lines around rim, highlighted by rough from straight wall. In: white slip; green
splashes of alternating green and yellow- painted band round rim and two bands

61 All parallels noted here are from Hayes, SaraChane. 62 G. K.

183: 280, fig. 107, nos 6.1 and 6.2, Turkish type 6, mid-
16th cent.; 184: 284, fig. 113, no. 27.1, Turkish type 27,
late 15th cent. 185: 280, fig. 107, no. 3.1, Turkish type 3.
187-8: 281, fig. 111, nos 15.1and 15.2 (note the same
green glaze), Turkish type 15. 190: 280, fig. 11, nos 10o.1
and 10.2, Turkish type o10.19: 280, fig. 1 o, no. 8.8,
Turkish type 8, late 16th to early 17th cent. 194: 281, fig.
11, no. 16.1, Turkish type 16, late 17th cent.
Gourgiotis, 'Hpqicpa earcavgavrivd
iepacEutc8' ApXaitoo)ia, 1 (Nov. 1981), 74-6, for the
shape: A. Delt.23, Chr. (1968), pl. 159, bottom right, from
excavations in Thebes.
63 Frantz, fig. 5, illustrates the oval panels, of which 201
and 2o2 clearly preserve fragments.
64 Pierart and Thalmann, fig. 6 and pl. 8, no. B 21.
Note the kink on the inner neck profile, opposite the
point where the handle is attached on the exterior.
BYZANTINE THEBES: EXCAVATIONS ON THE KADMEIA, 1980 323

250

253
251

252

255 254

258 263

259
r 264

S
261 265

P 262
266

274
273
275

284

FIG.16. Variouswaresfrom deposit VI. i : 3.

324 PAMELA ARMSTRONG
from rim towards centre; bright green glaze.
Out: slip and glaze on upper body.
259. FIG. 16. Random painted. Rim. D. 22.0,
pres. H. 6.7. Slightly inturned plain rim
offset from straight wall. In: white slip;
random patch of green; green glaze.
26o. Random painted. Rim. D 18.3, pres. H. 2.9.
Plain vertical rim. In: white slip; green
painted band around rim; pale green glaze.
Out: slip and green colour under glaze.
261. FIG. 16. Random painted. Rim. D. 21.8,
pres. H. 5.2. Almost vertical plain rim offset
from straight wall. In: white slip; yellow-
brown band above green band around rim;
pale green glaze. Out: slip and glaze barely
extend over rim.
262. FIG. 16. Random painted. Rim. D. 22.2,
pres. H. 3-7. Slightly out-turned plain rim on
curved body; horizontal groove on outer
body. In: white slip; roughly applied dark
green around rim; pale green glaze. Out:
slip and green colour under glaze.
263. FIG. 16. Random painted. Rim. D. 21.4,
pres. H. 1.4. Flat, everted rim with slightly
flattened edge. In: white slip; splashes of
green on rim; pale yellow glaze. Out: slip
and glaze barely extend over rim.
264. FIG. 16. Random painted. Rim. D. 18.1,
pres. H. 7.4. Plain vertical rim on curved
body. In: white slip; yellow glaze-painted
diagonal lines around rim.
265. FIG. 16. Random painted. Rim. D. 19.1,
pres. H. 3.5. Plain rim on curved body;
ledge around outer rim. In: white slip;
random patch of yellow glaze; mottled
yellow glaze. Out: slip and glaze.
266. FIG.16. Random painted. Base. D. 6.4, pres.
H. 3.9. High, ring foot; thin floor. In: white
slip; small splashes of green and yellow
brown; bright green glaze.
267. Monochrome. Rim. D. 28.0, pres. H. 2.0.
Upturned rim with rounded edge on
straight wall. In: white slip; yellow glaze. Out:
slip half-way;glaze on upper rim.
268. Athenian blue on white. Base (incomplete).
Pres. H. 2.7. Probably pedestalled foot. Out:
white slip; traces of blue paint; clear glaze.
Pink line on resting-surface.
Glazedjugs (269-72, PLATE 35 b)
269. Not illustrated. Random painted. Body fr.
Pres. H. 3.4. From small vessel. Out: white slip;
patch of green; green glaze. In: slip and glaze.
270o. Body fr. Pres. H. 5.1. Out: white slip; traces
of alternating green and yellow-brown
vertical lines; glossy light green glaze.
271. Athenian blue on white. Body fr. Pres. H.
2.8. From large jug. Out: blue fleur-de-lys
on white ground; glossy clear glaze. In:
glaze.
272. Athenian blue on white. Body fr. Pres. H.
1.9. From large jug. Out: traces of blue on
white ground; clear glaze. In: glaze.
Unglazedtablewares(273-8, FIG.16, PLATE35 b)
273. FIG. 16. Flask. Rim. D. 3.0, pres. H. 3-4-
Plain rim on vertical neck; small round
handle springs horizontally from neck below
rim.
274. FIG. 16. Flask. Rim. D. 4.6, pres. H. 3.3.
Slightly thickened plain rim on vertical
neck. Deliberate pale outer skin.
275. FIG. 16. Flask. Three joining frr. Rim. D. 5.2,
pres. H. 10.2. Almost vertical thickened rim
with hollow groove around upper surface;
neck gently offset from curved body. Out:
decoration of carelessly incised wavy lines
overlapping on shoulder, straight lines
around body.
276. Jug. Body fr. Pres. H. Vertical neck offset
from rounded body.
277. Spouted jug. Body fr. and handle stump.
Pres. H. 2.8. Oval handle. Band of seven-
toothed horizontal combing on body under
handle.
278. Spouted jug. Body fr. and handle stump.
Pres. H. 8.1. Oval handle. Two horizontal
incised lines above wavy line on body below
handle.
Amphorae(279-83, PLATE35 b)
279. Body fr. Pres. H. 7.7. From shoulder. Two
bands of horizontal combing, lower edge of
wavy band above upper edge of straight.
28o. Body fr. Pres. H. 7.5. From shoulder. Band
of six-toothed horizontal combing.
281. Body fr. Pres. H. 9.5. From shoulder. Band
of four-toothed horizontal combing.
282. Body fr. Pres. H. 5.3. Neck. Vertical neck
offset from wide shoulder; horizontal ridge.
283. Body fr. Pres. H. 5-5. Random splash of red
matt paint on outer surface.
Cooking-pot(284, FIG.16, PLATE35 b)
284. FIG. 16. Rim. D. 25.5, pres. H. 2.7.
Horizontal rim offset from almost vertical
body.
Candlestick(285, PLATE35 b)
285. Stem and flange. Pres. H. 5.9. Vertical shaft
with horizontal flange near top. White slip
and glossy yellow glaze.
 BYZANTINE THEBES: EXCAVATIONS ON THE KADMEIA, 1980 325

The painted incised wares 250-7 are Late Byzantine to early post-Byzantine. 253 and
254 are possibly Italian.65268 is an Athenian blue-on-white ware, as are 271 and 272,
and should be dated to the late sixteenth century or possibly the seventeenth.66 277 and
278 are fragments from one-handled, spouted jugs. Complete ones have been found
elsewhere in Thebes, and Hayes has recently published a sequence in which our
examples may be dated from the mid-sixteenth to the mid-seventeenth century.67The
most recent material in Deposit VI is the tobacco pipe 335. It is a late seventeenth-,
possibly early eighteenth-century product.
A date around 1700 seems likely for the construction of the building, presumably a
house, of which walls a and P may have formed part of the basement. This marries with
the chronological conclusions for deposit V.
DEPOSIT VII (286)
PLATE36 a. Floor i. Surface consisted of gravel and sand, with traces of burning. 286
was lying on it.
Amphora(286) angular grit inclusions. Two bands of six-
286. Body fr. Pres. H. 3.1. Medium-hard, semi- toothed horizontal combing, wavy band
coarse, pale brown fabric with many small, above straight, around upper shoulder.

The only sherd material found on floor 1 resembles, though their fabrics differ, an
amphora found at Corinth and dated from the middle to the third quarter of the twelfth
century.68
Floor 1 originally may have extended into the eastern section of the trench, having been
removed when the building associated with walls a and P was constructed, for there are no
traces of it east of wall a. 286 does not provide firm chronological evidence for the date of
construction of floor i. Floor i covered a late twelfth-centurydeposit (deposit IV) and was
violated c.1700 by the foundations (deposit VI) for wall a. However, the cleanness of deposit
IV suggests that it was sealed not long after being deposited and therefore supports the late
twelfth-centurydate tentativelyposited for floor 1.
DEPOSIT VIII (287-312; 332-3)
FIGS.17, 19-20; PLATE36 b. Fill from top of wall a to the level of the ceramic pipe. The
division is arbitrary. Loose earth mixed with gravel and small stones, roof tiles and
pottery, some animal bones.

Glazedbowls(s87-304, FIG.17, PLATE36 b)

287. FIG. 17. Painted incised. Rim. D. 25.8, pres.
H. 2.3. Horizontal rim, with upturned edge,
sharply offset from shallow curving body. In:
white slip; incised decoration of three
straight lines and one wavy around rim,
straight and wavy lines radiate from centre;
painted decoration of alternating green and
yellow-brown oblique strokes around rim,
random patches of green around area of
carination; glossy pale-green glaze. Out: slip
and glaze on upper rim.

65 For 254 see S. Gelichi, 'La ceramica ingubbiata 66Frantz 2.

medioevale nell' Italia nord-orientale', in La ceramica 67Hayes, SaraChane,369-70,
figs. 127-8.
medioevale... (n. 40), 377, fig. 29, which is closely dated 68MacKay 277, no.
53, pl. 66.
to the 1350s.
326 PAMELA ARMSTRONG

290

289

291

F 292

2%

293

297 1 294

298
304

299

305

I 300

F301

310

302

P'303

287

FIG. 17. Post-Byzantine wares from deposit VIII.

 BYZANTINE THEBES: EXCAVATIONS ON THE KADMEIA, 1980
288. Painted incised. Body fr. Pres. H. 3.1. In:
white slip under glossy green glaze. Out:
slip; edge of incised rosette highlighted with
green; glaze.
289. FIG. 17. Random painted. Rim. Two joining
frr. D. 22.6, pres. H. 6.5. Thickened,
inturned rim, with groove around upper
surface and protruding outer edge, on
straight wall. Prominent thumbnail-ridging
on outer surface. In: white slip; random area
of brown glaze; mottled yellow glaze all over.
Out: slip and yellow glaze on upper body.
290. FIG. 17. Random painted. Rim. D. 15.7,
pres. H. 4.2. Plain rim on curved body. In:
white slip; broad brown wavy line running
from centre to rim; yellow glaze. Out: slip
and glaze on upper body.
291. FIG. 17. Random painted. Rim. D. 15.8.
Pres. H. 3.0o. Plain rim on slightly curved
body. In: white slip; blue-painted pair of
horizontal lines around rim, dot on body;
clear glaze. Out: slip and glaze.
FIG. 17. Random painted. Rim. D. 17.6,
292.
pres. H. 2.4. Plain rim. In: white slip;
roughly triangular area of green glaze.
293. FIG. 17. Random painted. Rim. D. 14.9,
pres. H. 2.3. Almost vertical plain rim
slightly offset from straight wall; protruding
ledge on outer face. In: white slip; random
splash of green glaze; thin, pale green glaze
all over. Out: slip and glaze on upper body.
294. FIG. 17. Random painted. Base. D. 6.2, pres.
H. 2.5. Irregular ring foot. In: white slip;
area of random green; yellow glaze. Out:
splash of slip on ring foot.
295. Random painted. Pres. H. 2.5. In: white slip;
edge of green glaze-painted line; thin pale
yellow glaze.
296. FIG. 17. Two non-joining frr. Rim. D. 19.8,
pres. H. 7.2. Plain rim on curved body. In
and out: white slip; thick glossy dark green
glaze.
297. FIG. 17. Monochrome. Rim. D. 23.6, pres.
H. 4.8. Plain rim on slightly curved wall. In:
thick white slip; dark green glaze. Out: slip
and glaze on upper rim.
298. FIG. 17. Monochrome. Rim. D. 18.o, pres.
H. 3-9. Plain rim on slightly curved body. In
and out: white slip; mottled yellow glaze.
299. FIG. 17. Monochrome. Rim. D. 21.6, pres.
H. 2.1. Plain rim on straight wall. In: white
slip; dark green glaze. Out: slip and glaze on
upper rim. Glaze badly oxidized.
327
300. FIG. 17. Monochrome. Rim. D. 19.6, pres.
H. 2.9. Plain rim offset from straight wall.
In: white slip; deep yellow-brown glaze. Out:
slip and glaze on upper rim.
301. FIG. 17. Monochrome. Rim. D. 17.7, pres.
H. 2.2. Plain rim. In: cream slip under pale
yellow glaze. Out: slip and glaze on upper
body.
302. FIG. 17. Monochrome. Rim. D. 17.8, pres.
H. 5-3. Plain rim slightly offset from straight
wall. In and out: white slip; mottled green
glaze.
303. FIG. 17. Monochrome. Rim. D. 17.8, pres.
H. 1.4. Flat rim with upturned edge. In:
thick white slip; deep yellow glaze. Out: slip
and glaze just over rim.
304. FIG. 17. Monochrome. Rim. D. 23.2, pres.
H. 2.4. Everted rim, with out-turned edge,
offset from straight wall. In and out: white
slip. Green glaze on upper rim only.
Roughly made with uneven surfaces.
Glazedjugs (305-9, FIG.17, PLATE36 b)
305. FIG.17. Body fr. Pres. H. 6.4. From shoulder
of large jug. Out: white slip; pale green glaze
speckled with pigment on upper body. In:
slip and yellow glaze.
306. Body fr. Pres. H. 3.5. From small vessel. Out:
white slip under green glaze on upper body;
incised decoration of two horizontal lines cut
by one vertical above part of circle, traces of
dark brown;green glaze. In: glaze only.
307. Two joining body frr. Pres. H. 5.7. Out:
glossy yellow-brown glaze streaked with olive
green.
308. Rim and handle. Pres. H. 5.1. Thickened
plain rim; horizontal loop handle. Out:
slip-painted band around rim, row of
vertical strokes on handle continuing on to
body.
309. Body fr. Pres. H. 5.6. From shoulder of small
jug. Out: white slip; three horizontal
incisions; glossy, crazed yellow glaze.
Amphorae (310-11, FIG. 17, PLATE36 b)
310. FIG. 17. Base. D. 7.2, pres. H. 5-4. Almost
flat base.
311. Body fr. Pres. H. 5.8. Vertical matt red band
(3-4 cm wide) on outer surface.
Water-carrier(312, PLATE36 b)
312. Body fr. Pres. H. 6.9. From junction of neck
and shoulder on flat side.
328 PAMELA ARMSTRONG

The chronology of the pottery in deposit VIII is vague. The random painted wares
289-96 are from the early post-Byzantine period, that is the end of the fifteenth and
into the sixteenth centuries. 287-8 are painted incised wares which exhibit Italian
influences, and are possibly of the sixteenth to seventeenth centuries. The two tobacco
pipes 332-3 have slightly firmer, if equally fluid, chronological indications. They should
be assigned to the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.
The only chronological conclusion to be drawn from deposit VIII is that it is
exclusively post-Byzantine. This is of interest because the overlying deposit IX contains a
significant quantity of pottery from the Byzantine period, in addition to the expected
post-Byzantine wares.
DEPOSIT IX (313-31)
FIGS.18-20, PLATE36 c. Uppermost layer of excavation, containing modern metal pipe.
Loose earth with small pebbles, tile, roots, and animal bones. Concentration of roof tiles
to east.

Glazedbowls(313-27, FIG.18, PLATE36 c) incised (on wheel) concentric circles at

313. FIG. 18. Aegean ware. Rim. D. 31.1, pres. H.
4.9. Slightly upturned, squared-off rim on
straight wall. In: white slip; splash of green
glaze towards centre; yellow glaze. Out: slip
and glaze barely extend over rim.
314. FIG. 18. Aegean ware. Rim. D. 30.0, pres. H.
2.7. Flat rim with upturned edge. In: thick
white slip; yellow glaze. Out: slip and glaze
just over rim.
315. FIG. 18. Incised. Rim. D. 18.8, pres. H. 4.4.
Almost vertical rim with plain edge offset
from straight wall. In: white slip; seven
incised parallel horizontal lines around rim,
indistinct traces of additional incision on
body; glossy yellow-brown glaze. Incised lines
touched up with added brown. Out: slip and
glaze on upper body.
316. FIG. 18. Zeuxippus I c derivative. Rim.
D. 18.0, pres. H. 3.6. Vertical rim with
plain edge offset from straight wall. In:
white slip; two broad incised parallel
horizontal lines below rim; glossy dark
yellow glaze. Out: slip; two incised parallel
horizontal lines below rim; glossy dark green
glaze.
317. FIG. 18. Zeuxippus I c derivative. Base. D.
6.4, pres. H. 1.9. Ring foot. In: white slip;
edge of incised circle at centre; mottled
green glaze.
318. FIG. 18. Zeuxippus I c derivative. Base. D.
5.3, pres. H. 3.4. Evenly-formed ring foot.
In: white slip; incised spiral at centre; glossy
yellow-brown glaze.
319. FIG. 18. Zeuxippus I c derivative. Base. D.
5.2, pres. H. 3.1. Slightly irregular ring foot,
splayed outwards. In: cream slip; three
centre marked by tripod firing-stilt; dark
green glaze.
FIG. 18. Monochrome. Rim. D. 25.8, pres.
320.
H. 2.1. Flat rim, with upturned edge. In:
white slip; mottled green glaze to rim.
321. FIG. 18. Monochrome. Body fr. Pres. H. 5.2.
From rim area of carinated bowl. In: pink
slip under deep yellow glaze.
FIG. 18. Monochrome.Rim + 2 joining frr.
322.
Est. D. (rim) 20.0, (base) 5.4, pres. H. 8.3.
Flat rim (edge missing) offset from curved
body, ringfoot. In: white slip; rough bands of
alternating green and yellow radiating from
centre; yellow glaze.
323. FIG.18. Random painted. Base. D. 7.2, pres.
H. 3.3. Neatly turned ring foot. In: white
slip; random areas of dark green and yellow
brown; green glaze.
FIG. 18. Random painted. Base. D. 5.8, pres.
324.
H. 1.7. Ring foot. In: white slip; splashes of
green glaze; yellow glaze all over.
325. FIG. 18. Random painted. Base. D. 5.8, pres.
H. 1.7. Ring foot. In: thick white slip; dark
green glaze pitted by grits. Out: tongues of
glaze.
326. FIG. 18. Marbled ware. Base. D. lo.8,
pres. H. 1.6. Broad, neatly turned ring
foot. In: white slip; green marbled glaze
streaked with yellow. Out: traces of red wash
on base.
North Italian. Body fr. Pres. H. 5.8. In: white
327.
slip and tin glaze; eight black and six
alternating green lines radiate from centre,
enclosed by three dark yellow and two
alternating pale yellow horizontal bands.
Out: slip and glaze.
 BYZANTINE THEBES: EXCAVATIONS ON THE KADMEIA, 1980 329

313

F 314

F 315 S316

317

318 , 319

320
322

323
321

p
F326
324 325
FIG.18. Byzantineand post-Byzantine
waresfromdepositIX.

Glazedjugs (328-9, PLATE36 c) slip and glaze. Applied horizontal pie-crust

328. Neck. D. 1.8, pres. H. 9.3. Elongated vertical
neck; stumps of two handles springing from
horizontal flange. In: white slip; mottled
yellow glaze. Out: slip and green glaze.
329. Two joining body frr. Pres. H. io.8. Out:
white slip; green glaze on upper body. In:
cordon around shoulder.
Unglazedtableware(330, PLATE36 c)
330o. Flask. Body fr. Pres. H. 5.3. Vertical neck
offset from rounded shoulder. Random
areas of matt red paint.
330 PAMELA ARMSTRONG

The Aegean ware bowls 313 and 314 were produced in the late twelfth or early
thirteenth centuries. 315-19, Zeuxippus derivatives, are from the mid-thirteenth
century. 326, marbled ware, and 327, Italian tin-glazed, were both imported from
northern Italy. 326 is dated to the middle of the the seventeenth century, while 327 was
made about two hundred years earlier.69The tobacco pipe 331 should be dated to the
mid-nineteenth century.
The pottery from deposit IX differs from that in deposit VIII by covering a much
wider chronological range, from Middle Byzantine to modern. As deposit IX overlies
and seals the abandonment of the building represented by walls a and P, it is possibly
associated with the layout of the present square, and material may have been brought
from elsewhere as a levelling fill.

TobaccoPipes (331-6, FIGS. 19-20)

331. FIGS. 19-20. Bowl and stem. Pres. H. 5.2.
Vertical rim, broken, on round, wheelmade
bowl; applied stem with rectangular keel.
Fine decoration, incised with sharp point, of
two horizontal rows of pointille at junction
of rim and bowl; series of five groups of
seven vertical lines around widest point of
bowl; edge of keel demarcated by row of
pointille. Highly burnished red slip covers
exterior and incisions. Deposit IX.
332. FIGS. 19-20. Stem. Pres. H. 3-3. Grey-
white fabric with smooth surface. Stepped
ring at stem socket; circular stem. Deposit
VIII.
333. FIGS. 19-20. Stem and edge of bowl. Pres.
H. 3.9. Fine, pale grey fabric with burnished
orange surface. Stepped ring at stem socket;
circular stem. Deposit VIII.
334. FIG.20. Stem. Pres. H. 2.3. Fine, grey fabric.
Uneven moulded decoration around

332

331

333

FIG. 19. Tobacco pipes. 2 : 3.

69 326: G. Daux, BCH 92 (1968), 1003-4, fig. 2, from Argos, found in a 17th-cent. deposit. 327: 6oo Yearsof Ceramics
fromFaenza (Athens, 1989), 38-9, nos. lo and 13.
 BYZANTINE THEBES: EXCAVATIONS ON THE KADMEIA, 1980 331

332 335
331

333 334
336
FIG. 20. Tobacco pipes. 1 : 2

stepped socket; crooked hole through
round stem. Deposit V.
335. FIG. 20. Stem. Pres. H. 3.9. Fine, reddish-
brown fabric with burnished surface.
Impressed triangles around stepped socket;
short stem with faceted surfaces, row of
short incisions around socket and junction
with round bowl. Deposit VI.
336. FIG. 20. Stem. Pres. H. 4.2. Light brown
fabric with darker brown burnished surface.
Fluted stepped socket; hexagonal stem.
Deposit VI.

330 is clearly the most recent of the pipes and was probably in currency in the mid-
nineteenth century.70 336 is possibly the earliest; similar pipes from Constantinople are
from the first half of the seventeenth century.71 332-5 are more loosely placed within
the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.72

Discussion of pottery
The earliest identifiable glazed pottery are the Constantinopolitan white wares
(39-41).73 They appear to be rare, but in fact have been noted recently amongst finds
from several surveys, and from excavations, in the provinces.74 Identification of Middle
and Late Byzantine pottery, particularly outside Constantinople, has tended to be
dominated by the obvious and well-known Middle Byzantine glazed wares.75 However,
these easily recognizable glazed wares occur in a much larger proportion to their
contemporaneous unglazed wares than glazed white wares do to their corresponding
unglazed wares. For that reason it is easy to pass over a few fragments of white wares
amongst large quantities of unglazed body sherds.76 But their chronological significance
is no less valid because of their small numbers. In the early part of the Middle Byzantine

70 Hayes, Sarafhane,
393, 'red burnished'.
71 Ibid. 392-3, fig. 149, I, XVIII.
72 Ibid.393, 'early types'.
73A. H. S. Megaw and R. E. Jones, 'Byzantine and allied
pottery: a contribution by chemical analysis to problems
of origin and distribution', BSA 78 (1983), at pp. 242,
247, 257-8, batches D and J, white wares found at
Corinth and Istanbul.
74White wares have been found, in small quantities, at
a number of sites in the eastern Mediterranean: at Sparta,
in the excavations of the theatre; on Melos, on the
surface at the site of Kato Komia; in Lakonia, on the
surface at a village site near the old monastery of Agioi
Saranda; and at Xanthos, from the excavations of the
lower basilica on the city site.
75 Such as the Komnenian red-bodied sgraffito, green
and brown painted, or slip-painted wares.
76As white wares come to be recognized more frequently,
it may be possible to identify particular unglazed wares
with which they are associated chronologically.
332 PAMELA ARMSTRONG

period glazed pottery came from the capital to the provinces. In the eleventh century
this changed, and the ubiquitous red-bodied glazed wares were produced at a number of
sources closer to their final destination. This contributed to the disproportions in
quantity between red-bodied and white wares in the provinces.77
Of the Middle Byzantine red-bodied wares represented here (42-4, 77-84, 135-41),
the early twelfth-century types (kufesque sgraffito and slip-painted wares, and matt green
and brown painted wares) are conspicuously absent.78 In the earlier red-bodied green
and brown painted wares, decoration was created with pigmented ( = coloured) slip
applied to a white-slipped background, all under a thin (sometimes so thin it is almost
invisible) clear glaze. At some point in the twelfth century, glazing technology changed
and pigments were introduced into the glazes themselves, or possibly glaze into the
pigments. Following this innovation, the coloured motifs were glaze-painted onto the
white slip, and the overall glaze, which on close examination may reveal specks of
suspended pigment, was glossy. This transition is most noticeable in green and brown
painted wares, where bowls with a matt appearance stand side by side with glossy versions
though the decoration may be identical. All the examples of green and brown painted
wares from this excavation are of the glaze-painted type (44, 8o, 84, 135, 141) and are
therefore mid- to late twelfth-century. The fabrics of these wares are the same as those
found in rural Phokis, and must have a common origin which is possibly Thebes itself.79
There are a few examples of types of Aegean wares (73-4, 130-3, 313-14), of which
73 preserves a complete profile. 133 displays the characteristics of the original, low ring
base ware, while the others are variations of it and possibly represent locally produced
versions.80 130-1 have similar rim forms to bowls of this type from a shipwreck off the
island of Skopelos.81 132 displays the simple splashes of green in the rim area, which are
characteristic of Aegean ware.
The so-called 'Zeuxippus derivatives' (49-5o, 85-90, 150-4, 316-19) are of a class of
pottery which belies its noble ancestry. The derivatives at least were produced in many
places, though a fuller understanding of the origins of the prototype, exemplified by the
many examples from Paphos, still eludes us.82The fabric of the Theban version is hard,
semi-fine and pale-brown. There are some small to medium lime inclusions and a few
medium angular purple grits. The form of 134 is unusual, though its decoration is
similar in character to 130. Its size and shape is reminiscent of another unusual piece:
an almost flat-based Zeuxippus derivative from Sparta.83Although there is no positive
indication of its date, 134 does not look out of place in deposit IV.
There is a particular group of bowls (96-7, 171-3, 258-66, 289-95, 323-5) for which
the term 'random painted' has been coined here. They share a common type of
decoration where patches of paint, green or yellow brown, appear to have been
randomly applied on top of a white slip. Forms vary: 289-93, 258-65, and 96-7 show

77 Megaw and Jones (n. 74), 261, have shown that red
wares were produced at a number of places.
78Morgan, pls 23, 32, 39, illustrates the styles.
79Armstrong 1989, 4, fabrics A and B.
so See Megaw 1968 for identification of the ware; also
Armstrong (n. 53), 335-46, for similar types outside the
original definition. The fabric of 133 corresponds to
fabric A in my classification of fabrics from sites in
Eastern Phokis; the other Aegean wares from Thebes are
fabric C (Armstrong 1989, 4).
81 Ibid.
fig. 3, no. 5.
82 Megaw's description 'this distinctive pottery family'
expresses the complex and not yet fully understood
nature of these various types most cogently (Megaw 1989,
260). Armstrong (n. 83) is a compilation of findspots of
Zeuxippus derivatives from Trebizond to Pisa.
83 p. Armstrong, 'Zeuxippus derivative bowls from
Sparta', in J. M. Sanders (ed.), 0'Aood` ccov: Lakonian
Studies in Honour of Hector Calling (Oxford, 1992), 1-9,
fig. 1.
 BYZANTINE THEBES: EXCAVATIONS ON THE KADMEIA, 1980 333

the range of variety in rim shapes; rudeness of form seems to be their only shared
characteristic. The random nature of the painted decoration of 199 associates it with
'random painted' bowls. 200oowas probably a similar type of vessel. Fabrics vary: 289 is
medium hard, semi-coarse and brown. The only inclusions are ocasional medium to
large pieces of lime 324 is medium-hard, semi-fine and pale brown. It has frequent
specks of lime and ocassional medium angular purple grits. 96 and 97 have a visual
textural similarity with 289 but are distinctly orange-red in colour. The simplicity of
decoration and variation of forms suggest production at a number of centres.
Large monochrome bowls, as 177-81, are Hayes's Turkish type series 12, and as
common in the capital as they were in the provinces. The fabric is medium-hard, coarse,
and orange-red. There are many medium lime inclusions and occasional grog. The form
is always basically the same: a shallow body, sometimes carinated, on a ring foot which
may be unnaturally high, and a broad, flat, offset rim. The rim may or may not have
notches around its edge, which is often flanged; the upper surface usually has
horizontally incised lines, which are invariably incised beneath the slip. The coarseness
of the fabric means that the potting is never refined and the bodies often thick and
irregular.84
Amongst the unglazed wares 120o-1 and 312 are from an unusual shape: a closed
vessel with one rounded side and one flat side, presumably designed for carrying over an
animal.85 They were made on the wheel with the flat side resting on the surface of the
rotating wheel. After the main part of the vessel was formed, a hole for the neck was
pushed through from the outer face to the inner, leaving a lip of clay which was folded
over on the inside. The neck and the rim were then also formed on the wheel, the pot
having been moved from its original position, since the wheel-ridging on the interior of
the neck is in a different plane from the ridging on the inner body. The exterior of the
vessel was wet-smoothed. The fabric is hard, brittle, and semi-fine, and varies from
medium to dark brown. There are no obvious inclusions. The hardness and character of
the fabric suggests its use as a water-carrier.
196 is an interesting local ware, produced at Larisa and distinguished by its thick,
viscous turquoise glaze. The complete form of 196 ( = Gourgiotis type B, group B) had a
tall, broad, vertical neck which would have been equal to half of the total height of the
vessel, a single handle, and a rounded body. The fabric is hard and semi-coarse, with a
notable pinkish hue and many medium purple grit inclusions. The distinctive glaze was
applied to the interior and around the rim, and ran in tongues down the outer surface.86
The majority of the unglazed table wares were probably jugs, of varying sizes, which
may have had one handle, a flat base, and often trefoil mouths.87 Their fabrics vary,
though their character is such that they were probably locally made.88 The apparently
different fabrics probably indicate various workshops within the city. Amongst the

4 It is impossible to say whether these bowls were all
made at one centre; their general uniformity would
suggest that they were.
85 Bakirtzis,
pls 27-8, shows the complete form and
variations of it.
86 The form is common: see A. Delt. 23 (1968), Chr. pl.
159, for other examples from Thebes. It is the glaze that
makes the Larisa pots unique.
87 Bakirtzis
(pl. 7) illustrates two-handled examples
without trefoil mouths. From fragments it is difficult to
assign the complete form; either shape is possibly found
here.
88
Examples of the variation in fabric are: 4, medium-
hard, semi-fine, pale-brown to beige with occasional
medium to large lime inclusions and angular grey grits;
52, medium-hard, semi-fine, brown with frequent small
lime inclusions; 1og, hard, fine, pale brown with no
obvious inclusions.
334 PAMELA ARMSTRONG

unglazed table wares, 275 is of intrinsic interest. It is a local Boiotian product, not
necessarily Theban, of the post-Byzantine period.89 The chief characteristic of these
products is the use of a flat blade to make deep, thin incisions. The fabric is hard, semi-
fine and pale brown, with a paler outer skin. It contains a few small lime inclusions.
Unfortunately, beyond the handleless shape presented here, no further observations can
be made yet about their shape.90 2o6 has an unusual form. The shape is common in
glass, but must have been difficult to execute in clay. The fabric is hard, fine, and pale
brown to beige. It is highly levigated, and there are no obvious inclusions. The intensive
combed pattern and the bottle shape suggest a Syrian origin.91
The amphorae vary greatly, as is to be expected when so few vessels represent such a
long time-span. One group (14-26) is of a particular type.92The fabric is hard and semi-
coarse. It contains many medium to large, angular grey grits and a lesser number of
medium lime inclusions. The shade of the fabric varies but the colour is always a
distinctive creamy white-beige; frequently there is a pink or orange hue on its outer
surface. The complete vessel was large: wall thicknesses vary from L.o to 1.6 cm. Wheel-
ridging is prominent on the outer surfaces, through which broad incisions were cut in
such a way that the edges became smudged. An example of an apparently similar shape
of amphora from Argos has a hollowed base, which would suit the form of 16.93None of
the other amphorae sherds formed such an obvious group as 14-26. In most cases each
sherd represented not just a distinct amphora, but also a distinct type of amphora,
rendering any attempt at classification of little value.
Cooking-pots are also very diverse, but are more informative than the amphorae
because a greater proportion of their feature sherds (in particular rims) are preserved.
None of the cooking-pots, from any period, appears to have close parallels from
elsewhere, so they are probably Theban products. The cooking-pots from deposit I are
significant because this is the first time wares of this type from this period (some time
during the eighth to tenth centuries) have been presented. 27-8, and 30-6 share a
common fabric. It is hard, coarse, and dark red to brown, and contains much crushed
schist. The fabric of 29 is different: it is hard, semi-fine, and dark orange to brown, and
contains finer inclusions of ground schist and specks of lime. 37 and 38, similar in fabric
to 29, have a wet-smoothed outer surface. Unfortunately, none of the rims and bases
join, but as 33-5 are round bases and 36-8 flat, both kinds appear to have been in use.
Few handles were preserved, and it is difficult to know whether 27, 28, and 30 had one
or two handles. Although 29 has been drawn with two, it may have had only one. The
late twelfth-century deposit IV also contained some cooking-pots (147-9) with no
obvious published comparanda. All the cooking-pots from every deposit were well
formed and carefully made.
There are three Italian imports: 51, 326, and 327. Protomajolica, 51, was common in
the eastern Mediterranean and in Italy.94327 is a product of Faenza, a well-known

89Personalcommunicationfrom DrJ.Hayes,who has 93Piirart and Thalmann, B 17.

studiedsurveyfindsfrom the territoryof Boiotia.
90There probablywas a handle which has not been
preserved.
91I am gratefulto DominiqueOrssaudfor her opinion
on thisvessel.
92These fragmentsperhapsrepresenta relativelysmall
numberof vessels.
94 D. Pringle, 'Some more proto-maiolica from 'Athlit
(Pilgrims' Castle) and a discussion of its distribution in
the Levant', Levant, 14 (1982), 117, fig. 10, no. 4; G. D.
R. Sanders, 'Three Peloponnesian churches and their
importance for the chronology of late 13th- and early
14th-century pottery in the eastern Mediterranean', in
Deroche and Spieser (eds) (cited in n. 1), 191.
 BYZANTINE THEBES: EXCAVATIONS ON THE KADMEIA, 1980 335

ceramic production centre in the mediaeval and renaissance periods, and while 326
cannot be pinned down so definitely, it is likely to have been made in the Veneto.
In the seventeenth century Thebes had a widespread reputation as a centre for the
manufacture of fine meerschaum tobacco pipes.95However, by 18 o any such production
had ceased.96 Of the collection of pipes (331-6) from this excavation, 331 is likely to be
imported, while 332-6 are products of local industry. They have longer stems than those
produced at Athens or Corinth; this may be a Theban idiosyncracy.97Another pipe from
the Agora in Athens with a similarly fine decoration to 331 is dated to the eighteenth
century.98 331-6 share a common fabric, though the colour varies: it is fine, highly
levigated, and hard. The surfaces are smooth, usually as a result of burnishing. 33o has a
hard, fine, pale red fabric coated with a dark red slip.
The final category of material is the 'wasters'-unfinished or misformed pieces of pottery
discarded during production. They were found in three deposits: II (72), III (126-9), and V
(247-9). The burnt appearance of 129 may be as a result of its use in some industrial
process, since there is a piece of slag on the inner surface. The three bowls, 72 and 126-7,
each had a slip on their internal surface, but no glaze. 126 was misformed in its rim area. 128
and 248-9 are from amphorae, and 247 is from a smaller,finer vessel, probably an unglazed
table ware. The variety of types indicates the kind of pottery production that went on in the
city. It is unusual to find so many discarded fragments in such a relativelysmall area without
more major evidence of pottery production. It must be concluded that there was a potter's
workshop somewhere close by. The three deposits in which they were found were deep fills
with no chronological coherence.

CONCLUSIONS

This excavation has provided a rare glimpse into the Byzantine levels of the major city of
central Greece. It shows that the acropolis was inhabited at some point during the so-
called 'dark ages'. Connections with Constantinople in the tenth and eleventh centuries
are indicated by the white ware imports from the capital. The material wealth of the
twelfth century is reflected in the quality and quantity of finds of that period. The
destruction horizon on floor 1 may be associated with Roger II's attack on the city in
1147. The prosperity of the Late Byzantine period continued into the early Ottoman
period, as is shown in the variety both of locally produced pottery and of imports,
whether from within Greece itself (Athens) or from Italy. The general decline
throughout the Ottoman world which began at the end of the seventeenth century can
also be detected, when the quality of pottery declined and the majority of glazed wares
were monochrome and poorly made.

Oxford PAMELA ARMSTRONG

95 G. Wheler, A Journeyinto Greece(London, 1682), 332,
gives a detailed description of them.
96J. C. Hobhouse, A Journey throughAlbania and Other
Provincesof Turkeyin Europeand Asia during the Years1809
and ir8o (London, 1817), 234, could not find them.
97 For pipes from Athens and Corinth see R. C. W.
Robinson, 'Tobacco pipes of Corinth and of the
Athenian Agora', Hesp. 54 (1985), 149-203; ead., 'Clay
tobacco pipes from the Kerameikos', AM 98 (1983),
265-85.
98 See Robinson, (n. 97), pl. 55, no. 40, although the
Athenian one has a black finish. Hayes's chronology has
been followed here: Hayes, SaraChane, 393, 'red
burnished'.
 PLATE29

(a)

(b)
PAMELAARMSTRONG
BYZANTINETHEBES: EXCAVATIONSON THE KADMEIA,1980
(a). Looking north across wall Ponto spolia-constructed wall. (b) Looking north-east at corner of wall 8 and paved surface;
behind is wall y.
 PLATE30

(a)

(b)

2 3 5 6

1I

7
(4
11
9
13
18
.15.
12

21 14
19

23
28
31
24
30
129 2r9
32
37
PAMELAARMSTRONG
BYZANTINETHEBES:EXCAVATIONSON THE KADMEIA,1980
(a) Looking north-east at corner of wall 6, at lowest level of excavation. (b) Deposit I. 1 : 3.
 PLATE 31

39
40
43 44
41 42

45
47
0000Z 48

49 50 53
51 52 l _:-__:l
i
155
.. . . . .

960

56 57
59

S61

65
62
63 64

66
67 69

68

72
71 Oi

70

PAMELAARMSTRONG
BYZANTINETHEBES:EXCAVATIONSON THE KADMEIA,1980
Deposit II. 1 : 3.
PLATE 32

73
74 75 79
77 .78
82
80

81
84
88
:86 91
87
9'2
93"4 98 89 90
95 97
102 103
S99 ,:::

105

106 108s 109 7111

104 113

15

117

120 1l21

118
124
122 125s

129 119
127

126 128
PAMELAARMSTRONG
BYZANTINETHEBES:EXCAVATIONSON THE KADMEIA,1980
Deposit III. 1 : .
 PLATE33

130 137
13i1 133
136 145

138
139 143

146

142
14/

140 go41 264I

1a44 W147
(a)

155
151 156
154
152

158
162 163
164 165

S168

166 167

173
178

183

7 171 174

(b)
PAMELAARMSTRONG
BYZANTINE THEBES:EXCAVATIONS ON THE KADMEIA,1980
(a) Deposit IV. 1 : 3. (b) DepositV. Glazedwares. 1 : 3.
PLATE34
iiiiiiiiiii ::
iiiiiiiii!iiiiiii2ii!ii:i

ili:200 i!ii
iii

197

196 199
201

198
208

,207
::--..
:::::r::::::i~iii
::... :::_:::::::::::
:::L:....................................

202' 204 206

213
V212
209
...:
----::--::_-::--:::-::
-:-- _::---_--_:::::----::,:-:-i--
::_::_::::,-,:
--,-:-
::--,::-:---.~-
::::::a::~::::::::::
:-----
::::::::::::::

211
210
219

214

226

224 -: _::_ iiiiii:

:::iiiiiiiiiiiiii
:iiiiii
iiiiiiiiiiii
221 222 223 :::
:::
:::::;:::':::::::::
225::::
::::::::
:::
:
iiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiii
iiiiiiii iii
::iiiiiii
iii:

228
229 231

227
230 234
PAMELAARMSTRONG
BYZANTINE
THEBES:EXCAVATIONS ON THE KADMEIA,1980
Deposit V. Closedwares.1 : 3.
 PLATE 35

236 237
241 242
: 243
.....
.

247

238 240
248

245
...... .. . . . . a
246 ....a._..:
S:244 : . . .. 20

(a)

256
250
251 267
...............
....................
252a
253
i-. . ... . . .-i,, . _ :_:
268 ......................

.............................
. .... .. .......... .-iiii-"~iii-
.. . .

260

::::-
:~::
: ::: P265 nI254
264...
270
262 261 --
................................i

274 M'
277
271 :
a273 ai!~i!a~iii~~~~
::!aiai!a!ai!!iiaiii

278

282
.................

280

S279 r281 284 " 285

(b)
PAMELAARMSTRONG
BYZANTINETHEBES:EXCAVATIONSON THE KADMEIA,1980
(a) Deposit V. Cooking-pots and wasters. 1 : 3. (b) Deposit VI. 1 : 3.
 PLATE 36

(a)

286 288
290
287
(b) 289

.93
295 303
291 297 300

311
306. W308

307 :312

(c)

314. 315 316 317

,:_:-
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiziiii!i3a
ii iiii
iiiiiiii~aiii~~i~iiii~ii!iiii 321
313

31123 320

SiS.........
318
....
...................--i'--i'--ii-:ii
':

322
319
.-.-..........

324 329

26 : 327 pl 328 330

.325.
BYZANTINETHEBES: EXCAVATIONSON THE KADMEIA,1980
(a) Deposit VII. 1 : 3. (b) Deposit VIII. i : 3. (c) Deposit IX. 1 : 3.