A Study on the Historical Materials of the Apollo Pythios Temple in Rhodes and the Evaluation of Potential Restoration Materials

Maria Apostolopoulou,Chariklia Skoula,Asterios Bakolas,Maria Michailidou,Eleni Farmakidou,Maria Pikoula,Ekaterini Delegou,Charalampos Mouzakis,Antonia Moropoulou,Maria Karoglou,Vasileios Keramidas,Myrto Kalofonou,Niki Galanaki,Anna Kalagri

doi:10.3390/heritage2010065

Maria Apostolopoulou, Chariklia Skoula + Show 12 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage2010065

Copy DOI

Abstract

The Temple of Apollo Pythios, built in the Hellenistic era (3rd–1st century BC), is located in the ancient Acropolis of Rhodes. It was excavated during the Italian occupation and reconstructed by the Italians in the period 1937–8. The method of the “scenographic” restoration was the “mixed structure” technique using a core of reinforced concrete in combination with new biocalcarenite stones and the integration of very few ancient architectural members. Its proximity to the sea and the corresponding salt decay phenomena, aggravated by the erroneous reconstruction methodology and materials, have further deteriorated its state of preservation. Today, the four columns, epistyle and entablature of the Italian interventions demand immediate restoration actions to ensure the monument’s sustainability. This can only be achieved through a combined study of the performance of potential restoration materials and assessment of their compatibility with the historical materials. In the present study, the characteristics of the Temple’s historical porous stones are presented along with the characteristics of five quarry stones, aiming to evaluate which quarry stone is the most appropriate for use in the upcoming restoration. Restoration mortars are designed and evaluated in respect to both the historical materials and the quarry stones, aiming to select the optimum restoration mortar, which can achieve the required level of performance and compatibility and ensure sustainability of the structure as a whole.

Highlights

Ancient temples pose an important part of Greece’s built cultural heritage assets
If the structural analysis of the monument results in the possibility of using the deteriorated stone fragments of the ancient members, the fragments will be preserved and joined together through mortar with a new stone, which must be compatible with the historical one and of sufficient mechanical strength
The results from the characterization of the historical stones of the monument are presented, along with the results from the characterization of five (5) lithotypes from various quarries, which are to be evaluated in terms of compatibility and performance for use in the upcoming restoration works

Summary

Introduction

Ancient temples pose an important part of Greece’s built cultural heritage assets. Ancient temples consist of multi-drum or monolithic columns (colonnades), connected at the top with entablature.The columns are composed of large blocks (drums) of stone with no connecting mortar [1]. Ancient temples consist of multi-drum or monolithic columns (colonnades), connected at the top with entablature. Different lithotypes were used for the construction of stone temples. Across Greece, different types of stones have been used in ancient temples, according to the proximity of quarries, geology of the region, the religious and societal importance of the Temple, the economic status of the region and the construction technology of the era. Many important and exemplary temples were built with the use of other types of stones, locally available. The Temple of Apollo in Bassae, was built with a compact type of limestone, locally available in the Peloponnese, the Temple at Olympia was built using a local biocalcarenite, while in ancient Corinth a soft porous limestone, quarried near the city was used as structural material [5]. In Rhodes, biocalcarenites were quarried locally and used for the construction of various monumental structures throughout time

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion