ASTRONOMICAL ORIENTATIONS OF DRAGON HOUSES (LAKA PALLI, KAPSALA, OCHE) AND ARMENA GATE (EUBOEA, GREECE)

Abstract

The preliminary investigation of the astronomical orientation of monuments at Styra, southern Euboea, includes the triple so called ‘dragon house’ complex at Laka Palli, one dragon house at Kapsala and one on the summit of Mount Oche, and a monumental gate in the megalithic fortification wall at Armena. Recent luminescence testing dates these remains to approximately the Classical period with apparent re‐use in Roman and later times. Thus far no definite astronomical orientation has been determined in the layout of the structures and no celestial stone markers or similar features have been found associated with the dragon houses, however, the relationship of significant stars, constellations and solar stands was well known in antiquity, and the limited results presented here suggests the possibility for further investigation. This study, which considered possible orientations related to sun rise and sun set for the summer and winter solstice, as well as, alignments towards equinoxes and major bright stars and constellations, did observe a general preference for a southern orientation at most of the sites and a possible feature for time observations in the dragon house complex at Laka Palli.