The Harbor

The Harbor

View of a portion of an opus sectile panel that is composed of colored glass that depicts the harbor of Cenchreae.

Note the standing fisherman just left of center.  Just to the left and below him the white “lighthouse” that stood on the southern mole is depicted.  Above him and to the right the “lighthouse” of the northern mole is visible.  Note the semi-circular columned wharf that connects the two lighthouses.

To the left of the first lighthouse note the three “doors” that are filled with yellow light—Click Here to view the left portion of this panel.


This is a fragment of an opus sectile panel that is composed of colored glass!  Fifty (!) wooden crates containing glass panels that portray the harbor of Cenchreae were discovered in the harbor of Cenchreae.

The panels were never put into place – but they apparently depict the harbor.  They evidently were being stored in the Temple of Isis when the earthquake of A.D. 375 struck that destroyed the harbor.  These panels probably depict the harbor as of A.D. 370.

A selection of these panels is now on display in the museum at Isthmia.