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The findings

Room A1. A large number of objects - almost 650 - of Cycladic, Corinthian, Attic, Eastern Ionian, Cypriot, Syrian and Egyptian origins were discovered under the floor slabs of the north chamber of the temple. Most of them date back to the archaic period (7th century BC - 6th century BC), while a few vessels of the geometric period (8th century BC) were also discovered. They belong to common types of votive offerings found in most archaic sanctuaries in Greece and the East (Delos, Paros, Kythnos, Thassos, Samos, Rhodes, etc.). Many of them were found intact, indicating their careful and deliberate deposition. This fact in combination with the earlier dating of the objects from that of the construction of the room in which they were found dictate their interpretation as earlier offerings in the sanctuary, which during the construction of the new place of worship were placed inside it, in order to protect and not destroyed. This practice is also found in other archaic sanctuaries, but the peculiarity in the case of the Despotic is that the votive offerings are kept under the floor of the temple and not in storehouses. 

Most of the findings are on display at the Archaeological Museum of Paros. 

Antenna. The Parian or other Cycladic vessels, such as skyphos with instant decoration, tanni bottles, paintings, wine glasses, craters and bags, which date back to the 7th century BC. and at the beginning of the 6th century BC. are an important part of the storage in room A1. A large number of imported vessels, mainly from Corinth and Ionia. The Corinthian vessels belong to common types that were produced exclusively for export and have been found in many sanctuaries of the Aegean and the East: miniature acorns, alabasters, four-leafed aryvallos and aryvallos in the shape of a phallus. In the workshops of the eastern Mediterranean, there are two animal-shaped lizards in the shape of a hare and a rooster, a lizard of the so-called Rhodian-Cretan type, a lioness in the shape of a lioness, as well as a lizard in the shape of an upright female breast. 

Figurines. Many clay figurines of female seated figures with polo (priestly hat) belonging to the production of archaic workshops of Ionia (Samos, Rhodes, Miletus) were found, as well as a clay lion figurine. Several clay masks were also unveiled, which were respectively from Heraion of Delos and Delion of Paros. 

Metal objects. A large number of useful metal objects made of copper, iron and steel, such as agricultural tools, axes, scythes, spears, manuals and swords, came to light. From the bronze objects stand out the buckles that belong to different types of the lategeometric and archaic period (spiral, octagonal, phrygian type). A rare bird is a bronze bird.

Φαγεντιανή. Many faience items are imported from Egypt or are imitations of other workshops. Characteristically, it is a hawk-shaped periphery, which represents the god Horus and has an apotropaic character, a human-shaped double vessel of Egyptian style, which is associated with fertility and childbirth and is attributed to a Rhodian laboratory, as well as a divine whole patron deity of mothers and newborns.  Several disc or cylindrical beads with holes and beetles imported from Egypt were also found.   

Ivory. Hard-to-find and valuable material imported into the Mediterranean from Syria and Egypt. Among the finds of the deposit are whole octagonal buckles dating to the 8th-6th century BC, similar to those found in the sanctuaries of Ephesus, Sifnos and Delos, three ivory discs, of the same type as Delio of Paros, as well as a small compass with its cap.

Beads. Dozens of glass beads of various shapes were found from laboratories in northern Syria, Phenicia and northern Mesopotamia. Particular are the Phoenician triangular and incongruous beads adorned with yellowish spirals of inlaid glass (8th-7th century BC). A rare find are two electro beads, a precious material imported from northwestern Europe and the Baltic. 

Seal stones. Most of the seal stones have profiled animals on the sealing surface and are made of steatite, jasper and other semi-precious stones.

Gold items. Only four gold items, two spherical beads, a spiral necklace and a pomegranate-shaped fork head were found in the deposit. 

A special find is the ostrich egg. During the 7th-6th century BC. ostrich eggs are found in several Aegean sanctuaries. 

Maze figurine. The most important of the finds in room A1 is the upper part of a large maze of female figures. It was also placed on the ground along with the other objects and was probably broken before being deposited in the archaic temple. Only the upper part of the trunk survives, from the waist up with the head, 0.25 ύψ high. The figurine has on its head a pole (priestly hat) which is partially preserved and has a far edge which is rendered with painted decoration. No fragments are preserved from the lower part of the figurine, but using as comparatively parallel the cylindrical lower trunks of two clay figurines found in the Castle of Sifnos and coming respectively from workshops of Paros and Naxos, it was assumed that the lower part of the also cylindrical. From its stylistic features it dates back to around 675-650 BC. and is attributed to a Parian artist, perhaps of the same workshop that produced the famous hydrias found in the "purification pit" in Rhenia, the islet opposite Delos. Due to its size, quality and iconographic features, it is identified with the earliest cult idol of the sanctuary and may represent the god Apollo.

Room A2. Inside the south room of the temple were found three large fish bases, two square and one rectangular. One of them - glued from four fragments - was probably the basis of the sacred statue. It dates back to around 500-490 BC, as it is typologically similar to the base of the cult statue of Arteia from Parian Delion. 

During the demolition of the old mantra in 2002, two fragments of the body of a statue of colossal size were found embedded in it. The fragments must be in line with the left lower leg of the plinth, which was found a short distance from the temple and in which the sandal can be seen with two holes, one on each side, for the insertion of copper straps. Based on its size and stylistic features, it is likely that it is a cult statue. It is not clear if he belongs to a female deity or if he represents the god Apollo, who is often depicted in a long robe.

Prosto. Inside the porch of the temple, beneath the foundation of its eastern wall, Corinthian vessels were unearthed, which had been placed there for the good foundation of the building - a kind of 'foundation deposit' - as well as the archaic Psarry enclosure bearing the rim inscription "MARDIS ANETHIKEN". The name Mardis is of Eastern origin, similar to other male names of Eastern origin, such as the name Mardonius of the well-known Persian general.    

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