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June 19, 2020

ANAPLOGA FOUNTAIN

THE ANAPLOGA FOUNTAIN 


The Anaploga fountain can be traced on the northwestern slopes of Acrocorinth, at the outskirts and above the village of Anaploga (Haghioi Anargyroi), at an elevation 215 Metres above sea level.
In the available literature, it is also referred as “Palaio Ydragogeio”.

The general form of the masonry structure presents similar characteristic features, such as the ones noticed in Haci Mustafa fountain, which is encountered 1 km nearby at the edge of the northern Acrocorinth slopes.

Although in a state of decay, as being situated at the steep foothill is has not undergone any restoration works during the ages, the fountain house still shows interesting morphological elements that are commonly found at this type of Turkish çeşme.

Its collective tank, built against the hill, is covered by a lowered barrel vault, which is though hardly evident by the side facades. A small opening is found at the western flank.

The four-sided fountain presents a 4,90 meter wide imposing façade of limestone, built with porous stones of different sizes. A low pointed arched contour, which consists of one row of voussoirs, crowns the façade (part of it has been damaged at the top), reaching a height of 3,85 meter. The protruding wings of limestone have a span of 3,25 m and are set at a recess 0,80 m. deep from the fountain’s main masonry forehead. The lowered arch rests on two half damaged imposts (stone cornices) set at both sides. The donor’s inscription must have been placed under the keystone of the voussoir, as traces of the 0,90×0,76 m slab can be evidenced.

Water was supposed to be channeled into a centrally placed basin (kurna), which is now missing from the fountains’ main structure. At the tympanum of the recess two small niches are found (26×36 cm), crowned with an ogee arch, where people quite possibly used to leave their vessels while waiting for their turn. Between the niches, at a lower level, a rectangular stone plaque is placed with the end hole of a water pipe. As evidenced from the right pilaster, the small raised areas at both ends (0,80×0,78 m) must have been used for people to rest or even sit after collecting water.

SOURCES

Koumousi-Vgenopoulou Anastasia,“Μεσαιωνική βρύση στην Αρχαία Κόρινθο”, Αντίφωνο, Αθήνα 1994, p. 703.

Landon Mark E., “Beyond Peirene: Toward a Broader View of Corinthian Water Supply”, in Corinth, The Centenary: 1896-1996, vol. 20 (2003), The American School of Classical Studies at Athens, p. 43-62.

Robinson Betsey A., “Histories of Peirene: A Corinthian Fountain in Three Millennia”, in Ancient Art and Architecture in Context 2, 2011.

 

Eleni I. Kanetaki

 

The Anaploga fountain on the northwestern slopes of Acrocorinth.

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