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Field research at Larissa was begun by Swedish archaeologists in 1902 and continued as a German and Swedish joint dig from 1932 until its termination in 1934. The excavations carried out at Larisa are among the most fruitful field researches undertaken in western Anatolia. Architectural fragments of the archaic period discovered here have been sent to the Izmir Museum, while the terracotta revetments and pottery were conveyed to the Istanbul Museum. It is very surprising that no Hellenic finds have been recovered at Larisa of a date earlier than the 7th century B. C. Especially now, when protogeometric pottery is being discovered in profusion at such places as Izmir and Foça one is right to share the opinion of John Cook who believes that ancient Larisa must have been situated not here but elsewhere. In spite of this, the results of the discoveries pertaining to the archaic period are, as has been stated above, of great importance. The finds at Larisa are the most distinguished examples of the architecture of Aeolis in the 6th, 5th and 4th centuries, known at the present time. After the unparalleled beauty of the Bayrakli walls ( i.e. those of ancient Izmir), which were built in the 7th. and 6th centuries, we observe the continuation of the same tradition at Larisa.
Although grass covers the remains of buildings on the Larissa hill, those who climb it will have the opportunity of seeing some fine wall structures. Close examination reveals that the palace building in the north is a peristyle house with megarons on two sides. Similar peristyle dwellings exist at Priene, but the pattern at Larisa is a continuation of the system that began in Troy II and survived at Tiryns and Gordion, in which the megarons are arranged in rows, side by side. Here in a city where tyrannic rule prevailed, tradition had a stronger hold. On the plan, we can recognize a second peristyle house of smaller dimensions. Here again we observe a megaron complex. This second peristyle house, with two rooms in the rear like the megaron to the north, was constructed in 500 B. C. Later, in about 450, three oikoi each with two columns, were added, one on each of the three sides, and thus a peristyle house came into existence. The same peristyle dwelling continued to be used as it was up to 330, except that, as can be seen from the plan, the oikos on the west side was converted into a megaron, while the oikoi on the south and east sides were left in their original condition. It is interesting to observe that, in the palaces at Pergamon, megaron-type rooms have completely disappeared, and their place is taken by sunnier and better ventilated rooms, which are not so deep.
German Version
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