1. the Influence of the Difference ‰Ê Between the Astronomical and the Angles Is ±3” and in Measuring Distances Is ± 3Mm ± 3Ppm

63 Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, Vol. 5, No 1, pp. 63-72 Copyright © 2005 MAA Printed in Greece. All rights reserved ON THE DATE OF THE KATHOLIKON OF DAPHNI MONASTERY. A NEW APPROACH BASED ON ITS ORIENTATION GEORGE PANTAZIS National Technical University of Athens School of Rural and Surveying Engineering Department of Topography Athens, Greece email: [email protected] MARIA PAPATHANASSIOU National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Faculty of Mathematics Department of Algebra and Geometry Athens, Greece email: [email protected] Received: 21 - 11 - 2004 Accepted: 26 - 4 - 2005 *to whom all correspondence should be addressed ABSTRACT The exact date of the foundation of the Katholikon of Daphni monastery is unknown. Based on the stylistic data of its mosaic decoration the archaeologists suggest that its mosaics date to the end of the eleventh century, which is either a terminus ante quem for the construction of the Katholikon or the mosaic decoration is contemporary to this construction. In this paper we attempt to determine the foundation date of the Katholikon of Daphni, on the base of its astronomical orientation and by applying the general astrogeodetic method elaborated by one of us (G. Pantazis) in this case. As results from our investigation, the Katholikon, which is sacred to the Virgin Mary, was very likely founded on the day of the celebration of the Dormition of the Virgin in 1153, i.e. in August 15, 1153 (±8years). If it is so, both the church and its famous mosaic decoration date circa half a century later than it is generally accepted by the archaeologists. KEYWORDS: Geometric documentation, astronomical observations, azimuth, Perceptible horizon, diurnal path of the Sun. 64 G. PPANTAZIS - M.PAPATHANASSIOU ON THE DATE OF THE KATHOLIKON OF DAPHNI MONASTERY 65 THE DAPHNI MONASTIC while its upper parts and the towers, built squinches and eight pillars (i.e. a regular METHODOLOGY COMPLEX HISTORICAL DATA with common stones and in a different style octagonal plan). This type of dome, which In order to determine the date of the of stonework, are part of restoration works allowed space that might be used for a foundation of the Katholikon, we should and completion of the surrounding wall in larger chamber – the diameter of domes on firstly calculate its exact orientation by the Byzantine times. According to the pendentives being generally smaller- was following steps: archaeological evidence, the Byzantine much admired in Greece in the eleventh ñ Geometric documentation of the surrounding wall was a square with a side of century (Grabar 1966). Katholikon and digital drawing of its one hundred meters. Its main entrance was The Katholikon of Daphni has one out of plan. at the West Side and not at the east one as it the three important mosaic decorations in ñ Astronomical observations for the is today. Greece, the other two being the church of determination of the astronomical Archaeological evidence shows further Hosios (the Blessed) Lucas in Phokis and azimuth of any direction. that in the seventh century at the center of that of the New Monastery in the island of ñ Geometric determination of the main this enclosure an Early Christian ‘Basilica’ Chios. Although we know nothing about axis of the monument and its was built possibly as the ‘Katholikon’, i.e. either date or their origin, according to A. astronomical azimuth. Fig. 1: The Daphni monastic complex the main church, of the early Byzantine Grabar the theoretical place occupied by ñ Geometric determination of the profile monastery (Kambouroglou 1920). This Daphni in the history of Byzantine painting of the perceptible horizon, as seen from The famous Daphni monastic complex Basilica is not saved but in the eleventh can be found thanks to stylistic similarities a specific position inside the monument. between various details. Namely, in Daphni (Fig. 1) is situated in the middle distance century a new church was built almost at ñ Reconstruction of the apparent diurnal the same place. This latter is the finest we discover the future style of the (c. 10km) between Athens and Eleusis, and path of the Sun as seen from the Byzantine monastic church of the district of Comnenian period in the second stage of its on the left side of the ancient ≤sacred road≤ monument, in specific dates. Athens. formation. So it is reasonable to date the In the following paragraphs we explain to Eleusis. It is built on the place of an The domical method of construction mosaics of Daphni to the end of the eleventh each one of the above mentioned steps. ancient sanctuary dedicated to Apollo, later governs the plan of Byzantine churches, century, as suggested by G. Millet (Grabar also to Athena, Demeter and Kore, which are all distinguished by a central 1966, 127). GEOMETRIC DOCUMENTATION according to Pausanias (Description of square nave, covered with a dome on On the northern side of the Katholikon First of all by using the GPS system the Greece, Attica, ch.37, 6-7). In Pausanias’ pendentives. Short arms on each side form a was a long building, the Refectory of the geographic coordinates (Ê= latitude, time (c. 150) there was a surrounding wall Greek cross, and the filling in of the angles monastery, almost always the next most Ï=longitude) of the place of the monument splendid building in a monastery after the enclosing at least one temple and one gallery brings the plan nearly to a square. In early (Ê = 38Æ 00 46 N, Ï = 23Æ 38 10 E) Katholikon. Here the monks eat together ’ ” ’ ” (or another building with columns), as examples the dome is supported by semi- were measured. Both are necessary for the and this meal taken in common and served domes. In later examples, the churches are calculation of the astronomical azimuth and there are many drums of columns and immediately after the main religious much smaller and the dome is raised upon a the reconstruction of the apparent diurnal capitals doric and ionic. The ancient service, is regarded as its continuation. high drum with, occasionally, additional path of the Sun as seen at the place. sanctuary survived at least during two and Earthquakes in 1886, 1889 and 1894 smaller domes rising at a lower level. At the Further a polygonometric network half centuries after Pausanias, i.e. until the produced great damages in the narthex of west end is usually a narthex, or entrance consisting of 31 points had been established edicts against pagan religion issued by the Katholikon, as whole parts of it porch, which forms an entrance vestibule, inside and outside the monument (Figure emperor Theodosius I and his successors. frequently crowned with domes. At the east collapsed. The works of restoration under the supervision of the French architect 2) (Project ‘Development of modern Some prechristian remains have been end, opposite the entrance, is the apse for Topographic and digital Photogrammetric used in the buildings of the monastic the altar in the sanctuary, which is screened Troump included the reconstruction of the narthex, of the north west chapel and of the methods for the geometric documentation complex. On the other hand, rectangular off by the characteristic ‘iconostas’ (screen walls of the upper floor, as well as that of the and the total architectural digital drawing of stone blocks of the ancient surrounding wall of icons, i.e. pictures), with its three doors, dome according to the initial plan. The last Byzantine monuments, Application at the have been used in the Byzantine fortress and there were also lateral ritual chapels earthquake of September 1999 produced Daphni Holy Monastery’, NTUA 1999). wall. (Banister 1961). more serious damages and until now is Its ‘elements’ (namely the distances The best saved side of the latter is its The Katholikon of Daphni is a slender going on works for the restoration of the between selected points and the angles lower part along the National Road, which is construction bathed in light because of its formed by these line segments) were the same northern side of the ancient wall, building and especially for the conservation large dome on a squat barrel, supported by of its famous mosaics. measured by using the total station TC 66 G. PPANTAZIS - M.PAPATHANASSIOU ON THE DATE OF THE KATHOLIKON OF DAPHNI MONASTERY 67 0 0 4 2 1 240 2 240 This system, with the appropriate software, N S4 allows the determination of the D A S26 S2 astronomical azimuth of a direction in short S fieldwork time and with high accuracy 220 S3 S9 (Lambrou 2003). S24 S10 S17 S12 S18 S29 Three sets of measurements were carried S13 S5 S22 S19 S23 S14 out. The table 1 gives the calculated values S28 S30 S11 S20 200 S16 S1 S27 S15 S31 of the astronomical azimuth of each set and S21 S6 S8 S25 the corresponding uncertainties. The mean value of the astronomical azimuth is determined by using weights and 180 S7 180 0 0 0 0 0 6 8 0 4 2 1 1 2 1 2 assuming that the standard deviation of the unit weight is ÛÔ = ±0.3”. Fig. 2: The polygonometric network To the final determined uncertainty must also be added: 1600, the accuracy of which in measuring 1. The influence of the difference ‰Ê between the astronomical and the angles is ±3” and in measuring distances is ± 3mm ± 3ppm. geodetic latitude used for the All the detail points of the building were determination of the astronomical carefully measured by using a reflectorless azimuth. Taking into account that the total station with a laser pointer, in order to difference ‰Ê at the place of the mark the position of each point with great monument is about ±10”, this increases precision.

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