Agios Georgios Research Articles

A computational design workflow towards a comprehensive digitization of historic buildings

The rapid technological development in recent years and the ability to collect a huge amount of information affects the field of archaeology of standing buildings and conservation. Digital technology is an emerging tool that can be applied in recent works in this field, leading to an effective and efficient recording of building heritage and accompanied information. Hence, such technology can provide a deeper understanding, learning and justification of its behavior as well as utilization of these information throughout a maintenance process. The present study aims to formulate a new computational design workflow based on the 3D modeling of historic buildings, through the creation of an as-build model of a registered listed building. This is achieved through parametric clustering and schematic modeling based on computational methods for developing 3D surfaces and shapes that correspond to building parts. Challenges of 3D modeling originated in the complexity of form, such as the selected building part under investigation, are discussed. For the implementation of the research, the Holy Church of Agios Georgios Tropaiophoros in the village of Dali in the district of Nicosia (CY) is chosen as a case study. The results derived from the specific workflow are evaluated and then used for the development of an Augmented Reality (AR) platform, an emerging technology with great potential in perception and navigation of building heritage.

Late Pleistocene small mammals (Chiroptera, Rodentia, Lagomorpha) from Agios Georgios Cave (Kilkis, Central Macedonia, Greece)

The Late Pleistocene small mammal fauna from Agios Georgios Cave (Kilkis, Central Macedonia, Greece) is examined, resulting in the identification of 14 species of Chiroptera, Rodentia and Lagomorpha. The palaeoenvironment of the area around the cave seems to have been a relatively arid, steppe-like plain with sparsely-wooded patches. There was also a permanent or temporary water body near the cave. The palaeoclimate of the region was colder than today, but rather warm compared to more northern parts of Europe, which were strongly affected by the Last Glacial Maximum.

RUINS NARRATE THE HISTORY OF THE ISLET OF AGIOS GEORGIOS IN SALAMIS THROUH A CULTURE ROUTE

This paper deals with ruins and deliberate abandonment, through the “experience” of a cultural route that will bring back memories from the dark pages of history, where “mourning” awakens social consciences so that, future generations can have a better future. The research took place in the islet of Agios Georgios, in historic Salamis. Rich photographic material captures a haunted landscape that through its endless silence, the echo of the wilderness is heard, whispering towards Perama and Paloukia, unknown stories of people who lived, were abandoned and left their last breath there.The proposed cultural route consists of nine thematic stops, which narrate the daily routine in a lazaretto quarantine island. Each stop connects the ruins with their past. Each building illustrates traumatic memories contributing to an interpretation of our history, highlighting and raising awareness of the character of this dark heritage. The ultimate goal and vision of this cultural route is to be included in the tourist map of Greece, inspiring respect, not only for the martyrdom events but also for the natural and architectural landscape of the islet of Agios Georgios.

Human mobility in Byzantine Cyprus: A case study from the Hill of Agios Georgios, Nicosia

The current paper explores human mobility in Byzantine Cyprus, using the site of the Hill of Agios Georgios in Nicosia as a case study. The analysis of mobility is based on strontium isotopic data, with the aim of identifying non-local individuals and estimating their frequency in different periods of use of the site (Early Christian and Late Byzantine/Frankish). As a complementary line of evidence, dental calculus microdebris analysis was conducted to explore the potential existence of imported plants as well as any differences in the diet and environment between local and non-local individuals. The isotopic results identified one individual who likely originated outside Cyprus and several more, the number of which differs pending on the bioavailable baseline used, who were non-local to the burial site. These non-local individuals temporally span both periods under study but they are more common in the Late Byzantine/Frankish assemblage, which is in agreement with historical data pointing to elevated mobility throughout Byzantine times but more so in the later periods. From the analysis of dental calculus microremains, we only retrieved identifiable starches from individuals of non-local origin; thus, these were difficult to interpret. A small amount of starch from the millet tribe, however, allowed us to make important considerations regarding the interpretation of dental calculus data in periods of time and locations where human mobility was high.

Chronology of Quaternary shoreline progradational sequences related to eustatic sea-level changes: Sedimentation and subsidence in Saronikos Gulf, Greece

The stacking pattern of shoreline progradational sequences in subsiding basins have been used as a chronologic tool in the Mediterranean region. Most previous studies have used a few key seismic lines seaward of deltas, where the record is complicated by deltaic distributary switching. Southeastern Saronikos Gulf, in the western Aegean Sea at the northwestern end of the South Aegean Arc, lacks large river input of sediment. The ENE-WSW and NW-SE trending neotectonic Aegina and Methana basins lie between the tectonically active Gulf of Corinth and the relatively stable Cyclades plateau. New high-resolution seismic profiles from southeastern Saronikos Gulf have been interpreted according to the principles of seismic and sequence stratigraphy. Alpine basement and marine Pliocene sediments have been recognized in the surrounding basin margins and more than 300 m and 150 m of unconsolidated sediments have been mapped in Aegina and Methana basin respectively. Progradational clinoforms that toplap against transgressive surfaces, have been traced along strike, leading to the establishment of a robust chronostratigraphic framework further controlled by sedimentation rates as extracted from cores. Southeastern Saronikos Gulf poses an outstanding example of development of progradational wedges formed within a microtidal, wave dominated regime of low sedimentation rates, between 2.8 cm/ka and 3.2 cm/ka, within the framework of low subsiding basins with rates between 0.03 and 0.31 m/ka. In this environment, more than 180 well preserved shoreline progradational units, with attributes similar to the ones reported from the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean seas, have been mapped and correlated to sea level lowstands back to 866 ka. Deeper Mid-Pleistocene progradational units are also recognized, tentatively back to 1.4 Ma. Subsidence rate shows a dramatic decrease in the last 1 Ma and significant numbers of faults became inactive during the last 130 ka. In Early-Middle Quaternary, Methana basin was an isolated lake and extended terrestrial areas were shaped in the Poros-Agios Georgios plateau during sea level lowstands. Aegina basin was continuously connected to the Aegean through the Agios Georgios fault valley. This study demonstrates the robustness of chronology based on stacked shoreline progradational sequences and its applicability to determining rates of tectonic subsidence.

The Phenotypic and Genetic Detection of the Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Methicillin resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were identified shortly upon the introduction of methicillin into the clinical practice. The S. aureus samples were taken from patients hospitalized in General Hospital of Chania “Agios Georgios”. The strains were isolated from different pathological products, in the hospital laboratory. All isolates were tested using the cefoxitin disk diffusion, the oxacillin MIC methods and the PBP2’ latex agglutination test (bioMérieux), for the production of the Penicillin-Binding Protein 2a (PBP2a or PBP2’ protein). S. aureus ATCC 29213 was used as a negative control. We followed the detection of the mecA gene throughout the PCR method, as the standard “gold” method, in order to identify MRSA strains. Conventional methods for MRSA strains detection were compared with the PCR method. The antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed throughout the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method using antibiotic discs from Bioanalyse ltd. The mecA gene was found by PCR in 57.5 % of S. aureus strains, which allowed defining the isolated strains as MRSA strains. According to the oxacillin MIC values of the studied strains, 25 strains (53.2%) were identified as MRSA, 21 (44.68%) as MSSA and 1*strain (2.13%) as Borderline (BL) MRSA. The mecA gene is present in 24 of the MRSA strains with oxacillin MIC ≥ 4 being more common in strains showing the oxacillin MICs ≥ 256 (12/27). Adding the BL strains to the methicillin resistant strains, the rate of the MRSA strains increases to 26 (55.32%), the appropriate values of the MRSA strains percent, as determined by the PCR method (57.45%), which shows a concordance of 96.3% (26/27), between the results obtained by the two tests. Comparing the results obtained using the PCR method; with the oxacillin MICs and the PBP2’ latex agglutination test, concordant results were obtained for 89.36% of the strains (42/47) by oxacillin MICs and for 97.87% of the strains (46/47) by PBP2’ latex agglutination test. We conclude that the specificity of these methods is 100% for the mecA PCR method, 97.87% for the PBP2a latex method and 89.36% for the oxacillin MIC. The comparison of phenotypic methods (the PBP2a latex reaction, oxacillin MICs, the Cefoxitin disk diffusion test with the genotypic methods (the presence of the mecA gene), reveals that the PBP2a latex reaction has high sensitivity (97.87%), and can be used as an alternative method to PCR for the MRSA detection, in resource constraint settings.

Small insights in weaving technology and the textile industry at the settlement of the hill of Agios Georgios, Nicosia

Small insights in weaving technology and the textile industry at the settlement of the hill of Agios Georgios, Nicosia

A contribution to knowledge on the terrestrial malacofauna of the Kastellorizo (Megisti) island group (SE Greece)

BackgroundThe Kastellorizo island group (in the Dodecanese, Greece) is situated in the southeast corner of the Aegean Archipelago. It consists of twenty islets, of which the three largest (Kastellorizo, Ro and Strongyli) and seven smaller ones belong to Greece. Knowledge of the malacofauna on the islands is relatively poor. Only eight species were known prior to the present study, all from the islet of Kastellorizo.ResultsHere, using the scientific collections at the Natural History Museum of Crete collected mainly by the authors and also by several researchers since 1976, we reappraise the malacofauna of the island group. Thirty-one species were found in total (23 from Kastellorizo, 19 from Ro, 15 from Strongyli, 10 from Agios Georgios, 14 from Agrielia, 6 from Psomi and 10 from Psoradia).ConclusionsThe fact that there are no endemic snail species in the islands can be accounted for by their proximity to the Turkish coast, their common paleogeography with Turkey until the Late Pleistocene and Holocene, and the influence of humans. All but two species, Mastus etuberculatus and Vitrea riedeliana, are known from the adjacent Turkish coasts. Together with the subfossil species found on the smaller islets, the predominance of different species on each islet suggests a continuous substitution from the source areas of Turkey and the Aegean.

PRELIMINARY GEOCHEMICAL AND SEDIMENTOLOGICAL ANALYSIS IN NW CORFU: THE MIOCENE SEDIMENTS IN AGIOS GEORGIOS PAGON

A total of 80 samples of the Miocene deposits in Agios Georgios Pagon (NW Corfu) were selected and studied in regard of their geochemical and sedimentological characteristics. Organic content and calcium carbonate measurements were used and combined to investigate the depositional conditions and preliminary source rock potential. TOC analysis presented significant values ranging up to ~3% of organic carbon, with an average of 0,7%, and thus providing a promising basis for further assessment of their source rock potential. Calcium Carbonate measurements presented an average of ~27%. Fluctuations, correlative trends and the combined use of sieve analysis provide insights and alterations in the depositional conditions. The studied strata are part of an ongoing investigation throughout the Miocene to Pliocene sediment accumulations in Corfu, from Lefkimmi in the SW part to Agios Stefanos to the NW. The depositional conditions and source rock potential should provide new insights in understanding the geotectonic processes and basin development in the western margin of the Hellenic Fold and Thrust Belt.

PLEISTOCENE PALAEOCLIMATIC EVOLUTION FROM AGIOS GEORGIOS CAVE SPELEOTHEM (KILKIS, N. GREECE)

Palaeoclimatic reconstruction in N. Greece has been investigated in this study, using stable isotope analyses and U/Th dating of a speleothem (stalactite) from the cave of Agios Georgios (Kilkis). Sampling sequence was followed in detail in order to obtain high resolution analysis of the proxy. Speleothem δ18O entirely depends on two factors: changes in the δ18O of the percolation waters (a proxy for local rainfall δ18O) and the temperature of water-calcite fractionation inside the cave (a proxy for outside air temperatures). During periods of relatively stable temperatures, δ13C shifts are caused principally by variations in soil CO2 input and physico-chemical processes inside the cave. More important processes affect the δ13C signal of speleothem inside the cave are length of flow path and rates of CO2 degassing.The lower δ13C calcite values indicate greater respiratory activity of soils under wetter conditions. The stalagmite layers were dated through U/Th geochronological method, which places the carbonate precipitation in Middle Pleistocene (630-300ka BP). The isotopic composition of the layers was used in combination with the dating results to reconstruct the evolution of the area of Kilkis. Correlation with global climatic records shows that major climatic transitions that influenced northern hemisphere seem to have also affected the region of N. Greece.

A new microenvironment for the formation of clay minerals: the example of authigenic halloysite-7Å and gibbsite in a stalactite from Agios Georgios Cave, Kilkis, north Greece

A new microenvironment for the formation of clay minerals: the example of authigenic halloysite-7Å and gibbsite in a stalactite from Agios Georgios Cave, Kilkis, north Greece

The Agios Georgios argentiferous galena deposit on Antiparos Island, Cyclades, Hellas and its relationship to the Paros leucogranite

The Agios Georgios argentiferous galena deposit on Antiparos Island, Cyclades, Hellas and its relationship to the Paros leucogranite

DSL-002 A Pharmacoeconomic Comparison Between a County Hospital in Chania and a Central Hospital in Athens, Greece

Background‘Agios Georgios’ Chania General Hospital (CGH) on the island of Crete has 460 beds and Sismanoglio General Hospital (SGH), in the capital of Greece, Athens, has 439 beds. In the...

Evidence for the Hellenistic period in Nicosia: The settlement at the Hill of Agios Georgios and the cemetery at Agii Omologites

Les fouilles conduites à Nicosie sur la colline d’Agios Georgios (à l’emplacement du futur Parlement) ont mis au jour d’importants vestiges de la ville, pour une période qui correspond à celles des tombes d’Agii Omologites. L’article a pour objectif de présenter cette phase ancienne de l’établissement antique et ses liens avec la nouvelle disposition du site à l’époque hellénistique.

Microbiological risk assessment of Agios Georgios source supplies in Northwestern Greece based on faecal coliforms determination and sanitary inspection survey

The assessment of potential risks from microbiological contamination of drinking water supplies is of greatest concern to human health. The study involves the examination of water samples from Agios Georgios source that supplies the capitals, the major towns and several villages of Arta, Preveza and Lefkada prefectures, in Northwestern Greece. The study includes the sanitary inspection survey of the source and the microbiological examination of water samples on a monthly basis during the period February 1996–June 1999 except of Augusts ( n = 38). The microbiological risk assessment (MRA) approach of World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines was applied to enhance the source protection. The faecal contamination of the source water was quantified using faecal coliforms ( FC) as indicator bacteria. Microbiological analyses indicate that of the 38 samples analyzed the FC failure rate (positive samples) was 63.2% according to the limit set by the 98/83 directive of the European Union. The 36.8% of the source water samples was found in conformity with WHO guidelines, 42.1% of low risk, 21.1% of intermediate risk while there was not found samples of high or very high risk. Failure rates displayed a seasonal trend being greater during the winter, decreased during spring and autumn and lower during summer. This observation was explained partially by a significant positive relationship with the rainfall amount ( r Spearmann = 0.890, P = 0.001). The sanitary inspection score was found 5/10 during the whole survey period that corresponds to an intermediate risk of source contamination. The color-code classification for FC contamination was found 36.8% A (blue, no risk), 42.1% B (green, low risk) and 21.1% C (yellow, intermediate risk). The previous risks were combined for the assessment of waterborne risk, which was determined as intermediate to high; therefore there is a need for high action priority. The potential remedial actions were also suggested in order to improve the source protection of such supplies.

Potters, weavers and sanctuary dedications. Possible evidence from the Hill of Agios Georgios in the quest for Territorial Boundaries

Grâce aux données des fouilles menées sur le site de la colline d'Agios Georgios, à Nicosie, cette communication essaiera de mieux faire connaître l'extension et la nature de l'établissement et de contribuer à la topographie générale de la partie centrale de l'île, principalement à la période hellénistique. Même si les conditions d'urgence de la fouille n'ont pas encore permis une approche analytique détaillée du matériel découvert à ce jour, on espère que les études à venir contribueront à nous informer sur l'occupation du centre de l'île, les relations avec des sites contemporains, et peut-être sur ses limites ou sa sphère d'influence. L'examen des données actuellement disponibles, combinées avec les données du sanctuaire de Kafizin situé à quelques kilomètres au sud-est, peut apporter dans une certaine mesure sa contribution au thème du colloque sur les territoires.

THE USE OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL SCANNING AS METHODOLOGY OF 3 D LASER SCANNING AT CAVES' SURVEYING. PRESENTATION AT AGIOS GEORGIOS CAVE OF KILKIS

The systematic study of the caves demands the existence of a reliable and detailed background at a suitable form and scale so as to satisfy any cognitional subject of the geosciences (geology, speleology, paleontology, statics, e.t.c). The composite geometry as well as the complexity of the schematisms is the main characteristics that make recording, surveying and validation of a cave an especially difficult procedure. The faddish conditions that are carried out at caves make the classical - traditional surveying methods (topography - photogrammetry) time consuming and unprofitable procedures. The use of three-dimensional scanning is not only an alternative methodology but also a significant tool at caves' surveying. With this up-to-date method there can be produced very fast 3D digital models of high accuracy, easy modeled, cost effective comparatively to the classic surveying methods. With the 3D laser scanner the three dimensions of the surfaces are determined and represented as a point-cloud. During the scanning thousands of separate 3D points are measured and the 3D model of the scan is represented in real-time. Additionally, by the recording of the intensity of the reflected radiation, useful information can be obtained for the texture of the surface. This paper deals with the study of the capabilities and the preconditions for the usage of the methodology of 3D laser scanning at caves' surveying. A case study of this methodology is represented that took place at a part of Agios Georgios cave , Kilkis region.

La topographie cultuelle chrétienne de la région de Potamia-Agios Sozoménos

Several churches, well preserved or in ruins, are still to be seen in the Potamia-Agios Sozomenos area, as well as in its extension to the neighbouring village of Idalion. The corpus comprises the hermitage of Agios Sozomenos, obviously the more ancient Christian monument of the area, the Byzantine church of Panagia (also called Agios Georgios), the church of the Timios Stavros, in the cemetery of the Potamia village, the ruined or totally destroyed churches of Agia Marina, Santa Caterina and Archangelos respectively, the church of Agios Demetrianos at Agridi, the cemetery church of Agios Mamas at Idalion and Agios Mamas at Agios Sozomenos, the only known Cypriot example of a Gothic church in a rural area. It is accurate that there are numerous Byzantine or Gothic monuments which provide clues about the history of the valley in relationship with its water supply.

New evidence on Early Helladic Laconia

This article presents three new Early Helladic sites in Laconia, identified as such on the basis of sherd material collected between 1990–94. Two of the sites, Agios Georgios and Vouno Panagias, lie on the east side of the Eurotas river in the Sparta plain and offer a good opportunity to study the settlement hierarchy and density at that time. Moreover, the two probable EH III sherds from these sites are the first to be recognised in Laconia. The third new site of Boza lies on the east coast of the Laconian gulf near ancient Asopos. The richness and variety of sherd material collected there point to the sea as a possible route via which ceramic innovations reached Laconia. Finally, important known sites like Agios Vassileios in the Sparta plain, Vardies south of Gytheio and Daimonia on the east coast of the Laconian gulf, greatly contribute to the picture of EH Laconia as a densely populated area maintaining contacts with other regions of the EH culture throughout the third millennium.

Kythera Survey: preliminary report on the 1998 season

This article is a preliminary report on the first (1998) season of the Kythera Survey, an intensive fiels survey concentrating on the central-eastern part of the island. This survey forms part of a wider projecr, whose aim is to explore the long-term insular dynamics of Kythera as a stepping stone, filter, and island with its own identy. Another central aim of this project, expanding on excavations at Kastri and the peak sancturary of Agios Georgios, is to shed new light on minoanisation as a spatial phenomenon in the island's landscape. In 1998 c. 13 sq. km were investigated, revealing 26 archaelogical sites. The peak periods of settlement in the surveyed area are the Early Bronze Age. Second Palace Period, Classical-Roman periods, and the last few centuries before the present. Poorly represented, or absent, are sites of later Neolithic, First Palace Period, Third Palace Period, Post-Palatial to Archaic, and Late Roman to Medieval date. Early Bronze Age sites are of Early Helladic character, whilst the Second Palace Period sites follow the minoanised culture of Kastri; together with a few finds of early minoanising material on Early Helladic sites, and the absence of evidence for the First Palace Period, these results provide new perspectives on the process of minoanisation on Kythera.