Intact Amphorae From Ancient Kythera Shipwreck Recovered

Intact amphorae from the Greek islands of Corfu and Skopelos have recently been brought to the surface after a shipwreck that occurred in the fifth century was discovered when an electrical cable was laid on the seabed in the Strait of Kythera – Neapolis.

First seen in 2019 by electrical authority personnel who were laying the cable, the wreck of the vessel that once transported the exquisite amphorae is so far below the surface off the island of Kythera at a depth of 222 meters (728 feet) that it had been forgotten for many centuries.

Technical support was received from the Hellenic Center for Marine Research. It provided the oceanographic ship Aegean, equipped with a submarine remote control vehicle called the MAX ROVER, with an integrated side scanner, and treasures were located.

The ship is thought to have settled on the sea bottom in a completely upright position due to the amphorae lying in the pattern in which they were loaded.

Underwater research was carried out with the financial support of IPTO, Greece’s Independent Power Transmission Operator.

Greece’s Minister of Culture and Sports, Lena Mendoni, had stated that “our country is a developed archeological site and an archeological palimpsest. The land and the seas hide unexplored cultural treasures. In any major project, public or private, the chances of discovering antiquities are extremely high.

Kythera shipwreck is untouched treasure trove

According to Mendoni, the electricity transmission’s wiring project necessary in the transferring of power from Kissamos to Laconia, led to the discovery of the shipwreck which was identified in the area of the Kythera – Neapolis strait.

The shipwreck was investigated by the Ephorate of Marine Antiquities of the Ministry of Culture with support from the Hellenic Center for Marine Research whereas the cost of the research was covered by the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO).

Mendoni warmly expressed her congratulations and thanked all contributors of the research that worked on this project.

From the preliminary results of the underwater research, it was found that, in addition to the cargo of the ship which consists mainly of Corfiot amphorae, other amphorae belonging to  the “Solocha II” type, with possible origin from ancient Peparithos (the island of Skopelos) were also found.

Related story: Items found in wreck of Elgin ship off Kythera

In addition, clay vessels from Chios, three pithos, a set of table vessels including a flat-bottomed table amphora, and a fish panel and two skyphids were dug out from the site of the shipwreck.