Episkopi, Sikinos: A palimpsest monument of antiquity and the Middle Ages

The peculiarity of Episkopi is that it was a Roman mausoleum from the 3rd century AD that was converted into a Byzantine church and its continuous use has resulted in it being preserved almost intact with features from all its phases – a rare case of a monument where antiquity meets the Middle Ages.

Closed for 60 years due to severe deterioration, Episkopi was reopened to the public in 2022, after restoration work that brought to light a major discovery: the undesecrated tomb of the woman for whom the mausoleum is thought to have been erected. The inscription found on the monument’s northern wall reveals her name: she was called Neiko, and her richly furnished burial indicates that she belonged to the upper class.

The monument’s exemplary restoration by the Archaeological Service was awarded one of the European Heritage Awards/Europa Nostra Awards 2022, while after the restoration, the Sikinians’ feast for the Virgin Mary, which takes place every August 15th, was revived in the area.