The AmCham Greece Leadership Committee organized a private tour at the archaeological site of Amarynthos, in the Greek-Swiss excavations on Friday, March 28, 2025. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Prof. Dr. Sylvian Fachard, Professor of Classical Archaeology, Department Chair, Director of the Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece, University of Lausanne for the private tour at the Eretria Museum and the visit at the Theater and the excavation site at the sanctuary of Artemis of Amaryssia, which is closed to the public. We also thank the Leadership Committee members who joined us for this special occasion.
In the early 2000s, the Swiss School planned to explore the region near Paleoekklisies Hill. In 2003 and 2004, a large-scale geophysical survey was carried out, which was followed by trial trenches in 2006 and 2007. The first excavation season was not conclusive, although a Helladic settlement was uncovered north of the tell. The 2007 campaign proved to be a turning point, with the discovery at the western foot of the hill of massive foundations belonging to a monumental building buried 2.10m below the surface. In the following decade, the Swiss School aquired several plots in order to extend the area of excavation in collaboration with the Ephorate of Antiquities of Euboea. Several ancient buildings, including a large stoa, were unearthed, suggesting the existence of a large public complex, in all probability the sanctuary of Artemis Amarysia. In 2017, conclusive evidence was obtained for the identification of the Artemision, with the discovery of a series of terracotta tiles stamped with the name of the goddess Artemis, as well as of several stone inscriptions bearing the name of the triad, Artemis together with her brother and mother, Apollo and Leto.
