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The Archaeological Research Unit of the University of Cyprusinvites you to a hybrid public lecture (ZOOM & Amphitheatre E010), Old Academy Campus, Kallipoleos Avenue
on Monday, November 24th 2025, at 19:45 (Athens/Nicosia Time)
by
Federica Di Biase, MSCA YUFE4 Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Cyprus, Department of History and Archaeology, Archaeological Research Unit
titled:
Hearths and homes in Classical and Hellenistic Crete:
Approaching the archaeological record
For zoom registration, please, click here: https://ucy.zoom.us/meeting/register/1N5wQ7adRrKaIVXdbvZK5w
Summary:
The importance of hearths as multi-purpose architectural components in antiquity was rightly highlighted in 2017 by B. Tsakirgis, who examined the variety of types and placements of fireplaces within houses across the Greek Mediterranean and emphasised how these installations changed over time. Although widely acknowledged as crucial features for studying domestic architecture and household behaviours, fireplaces in houses on Crete are rarely analysed in detail and are usually mentioned only in general studies or excavation reports. In an attempt to fill this gap, in this lecture, I will examine the corpus of indoor fixed hearths found in domestic contexts in Crete during the Classical and Hellenistic periods. The analysis focuses on their architectural characteristics and spatial distribution, providing a morphological classification of these features and discussing the relationship between their location and use. Beyond typology and placement, in this study, I will also consider associated material assemblages to explore the functions of both the hearths and the rooms in which they were installed. This combined approach contributes to a better understanding of domestic practices and spatial organisation, enabling the identification of recurring regional shapes and the reconstruction of activity patterns based on specific object distributions in the archaeological record. More broadly, this study sets the groundwork for future site-specific or regional research and highlights the importance of fixed hearths as key elements in reconstructing daily practices and household activities in Cretan communities.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
University of Cyprus, Old Campus, Kallipoleos Avenue, Artemiou Vet, 2153 Αγλαντζιά, Κύπρος, Nicosia, Cyprus
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