Ancient Hellenistic sculpture workshop with unfinished statues unearthed at Floga site on Paros island, Greece

A newly excavated site on the Greek island of Paros has given a remarkable insight into the work and life of ancient sculptors. Led by Dr. Sofia Detoratou of the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades, the archaeological team completed this year’s exploration at the Floga site in Paroikia, where evidence of a long-operating sculpture workshop dating from the Hellenistic era has surfaced.

First excavated in the mid-1980s, the site initially came to the attention of researchers when large deposits of marble chips and several incomplete statues were discovered in three complexes of buildings. These early finds indicated the possibility of artisanal activity, and additional research was done in 2008, followed by more systematic excavation from 2013 onward.

This year’s findings have enabled researchers to better understand the function and history of the site. New architectural remains have been discovered, some so well-preserved that they reveal a complex development over several centuries. Earlier occupation layers, ranging from the late 5th to 4th century BCE, have been used for residential purposes. Tableware and drinking vessel fragments from that era support the interpretation of domestic use in the Classical period.

A significant change in the purpose of the site occurred in the late 3rd to early 2nd century BCE. The site underwent an overall architectural reorganization, and the evidence of an andron—a men’s dining room—with a pebbled floor and wall paintings imitating marble panels suggests the continuation of the residential character of the site until the Hellenistic period. But the overlay of marble debris and an abundance of unfinished sculptures reveals that the space later evolved into a center for sculpture production.

The recent press release has brought to the forefront the numerous fragments of marble sculpture—most of which represent Aphrodite—as well as clay female figurine heads, and a collection of the tools and materials used in the creation of the artwork. These tools include clay molds, stamps, pigments, purple dyes, and metal slags.

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“The walls of some rooms were discovered standing at an impressive height,” the Greek Ministry of Culture stated.

These discoveries add to our understanding of what was happening in the stylistic evolution of Greek art during this period. While previous Greek statues, influenced by Egyptian and Near Eastern traditions, appeared rigid and expressionless, the Hellenistic era witnessed the adoption of realism and emotional expression. The Paros workshop may have been part of this broader cultural shift.

The excavation team included archaeologists from the Ephorate, such as A. Papadimitriou, Dr. Ath. Gkaroni, and Sp. Petropoulos, with contributions from D. Filippakis and S. Fragkedis, and archaeology students from the Universities of Athens, Thessaloniki, and Ioannina.

More information: Greek Ministry of Culture