Ειδώλια, στέφανοι, μικκύλα αγγεία και λύκνοι. Πήλινα αναθήματα σε αγροτικό ιερό στον Ορχομενό = Terrecotte figurate, ghirlande, vasi miniaturistici e lucerne. Ritrovamenti fittili da un santuario rurale a Orchomenos)

The discovery of the shrine, which dates back to 1957, was occasioned by the construction of a small aqueduct. This structure intercepted and partially tampered one of the major votive deposits. Only in 1997 and, recently, on 2007, this area underwent systematic investigation by the 9th Ephorate for Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities of Boeotia, under the direction of V. Aravantinos. The materials found are displaced between the Museum of Thebes and the Museum of Chaeronea, where a small but significant selection is also displayed. Located in the Kephissos plain, almost at the boundaries of ancient Locris and Phokis, it controlled the network of smaller satellite settlements arranged around the Copais basin. The sacred space of Orchomenos, located approx. one kilometer to the west of the center of the ancient city, 38° 29’’ 25.79 North and 22° 57’’ 25.71 East in Boeotia (Greece), is of particular interest to understand the prominent role of the city in the Boeotian religious identity and history throughout myth, ritual, and various aspects of material culture. This area, in fact shows a long-term life from seventh to third century. B.C. Cults worshipped in it (that of the Charites — the most ancient cult worshipped in Orchomenos that was variously and uncertainly localized up to date — together with the cult of Demeter Thesmophoros), seem to be strictly connected with the landscape, the rocky mountain and the abundance of water in that area, due to the proximity of the Copais basin, of the river Kephissos and of numerous springs. The discovery of the sanctuary brought to the light large votive deposits with numerous artifacts (thousands), some of which occurring for the first time in the repertoire of Boeotian handicraft and Greek art. Furthermore, it is, one of the very few extra-urban sanctuaries found in the region up to now and the only one that was systematically investigated. Despite the importance of this sacred space in order to reconstruct the religious and social history of Boeotia, references to it in the scientific literature are still lacking.