Polycrome Marbles from the Theatre of the Sancturary of Apollo Pythios in Gortyna (Crete)

Since 2001, the Italian Archaeological School of Athens and the University of Padua have carried out archaeological excavations at the theatre near the temple of Apollo Pythios in Gortyna (Crete), identifying five main archaeological phases of the building. Based on macroscopic characterization, the fragments of coloured marbles recovered during the excavations have been archived in a database describing their fundamental features (lithotype, function, and traces of workmanship). Moreover, the fragments have been studied stratigraphically to understand the development of the architectural decorations and the use of the marbles in the theatre. This paper discusses the results of the study, highlighting the use of a wide range of coloured marbles from the Mediterranean and the richness of the decorations during the restoration phase of the theatre in the Severan age.