The eastern passage and its annexes (area 2)
The eastern passage (in the left panel of the screen the area in black lines on a white background) and the room 2' on the northern side were built between the end of the 4-th and the beginning of the 3-rd century b.C. .
A square inscribed black millstone, a small trough of stone, two big vats, pig bones and cinders were recovered in the passage during the excavation.
It can be argued that pilgrims passing the eastern passage carried with themselves the offerings prescribed for libations and sacrifices. In the passage they used to sacrify a sheep in a pit such as those discovered during the excavation, still containing remains of charcoal and burnt animals bones.

 
 































The eastern part of the Nekromanteion (black lines on a white background in the map) includes:

-    the long "eastern passage", which extends on the right of whoever comes from area 1 and
-    the room 2' on the northern side.

 
 





















Photo from publication in reference 1 of bibliography
The photo "A" shows, in the foreground, the eastern passage and, behind it, the central core of the sanctuary; above, the apse of the small church of Ayos Ioannis Prodromos whose foundations stand on the breast walls of the Nekromanteion.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The area 2 of the Nekromanteion

The planimetry in the left panel (l.p.) of the screen is 180° degrees rotated with respect to the natural direction, top=North. That was done in order to give a prompt idea of how the area 2 appears to the visitor who enters the northern passage.
Clicking on the "anchor icones" in the l.p. it is possible, by means of the photoes"A", "B", "C", to explore the area under the visual angles suggested by the icones themselves.
Clicking on the remaining "sensitive" areas of the l.p. (the eastern passage and the room 2') it is possible to get information on the rest of area 2.
Warning!! Working at full screen is recommended, as the left panel is blocked.
To continue the visit and pass to area "3", you are requested to click on the link "Go on", on the top of the planimetry in the l.p. .

 
 









































The photo "B" shows the bottom (southern) part of the eastern passage of the Nekromanteion and in the background the plain above which the sanctuary stands.  On the left it can be observed what remains of a wall in polygonal stones which used to delimit the external side of the passage. In the right bottom, at the end of the high wall in polygonal stone, a gateway leads to the labyrinth and, from that, to the central core of the sanctuary.

 
 



































Photo from publication in reference 5 of bibliography

The photo "C" shows, in the right foreground, fragments of a broken vase, belonging to the room 2'. From the huge vase, near the opening of what was once an arched door, pilgrims used to take water for a symbolic purification rite. In the bottom background, the second access door to area 1. On the left, above the wall in polygonal stones (very dark in the photo), one can guess the profile of the small church of Ayos Ioannis Prodromos which rests on the internal part of the above mentioned wall.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Room " 2' "
In the room " 2' " pilgrims would pass the last stage of their preparation to the longed meeting with the dead. Inside the room four huge vats and several pots of clay have been recovered standing on their base.
We do not know exactly how long pilgrims stayed in the Nekromanteion, but there is reason to believe that the physical and spiritual preparation to the meeting with the dead lasted a few days. During the excavation, huge vases full of carbonized fruit, wheat, barley, broadbeans of the kind "vicia faba equina", and lupine seeds were found. It is common knowledge that broadbeans possess toxic properties and, when eaten green, cause wind, indigestion, and sense relaxation to the point of giddiness and hallucinations (cyamiasis). Similar effects are produced by lupines (the ancient thermoi), when eaten green (lathirism). Therefore, after a long stay in the dark and segregation, magic rites, prayers, invocations, wandering about mysterious halls, special diet, pilgrims reached the right mental and psychological state to be brought into contact with the dead.