A Computational Screening Study of an Aphaia-centred Attic-Saronic Proportional Sanctuary Pattern

Research question

Within a controlled Attic-Saronic sanctuary field, does the Sanctuary of Aphaia Athena behave as a recurrent geometric apex and retain a pre-declared proportional distance ladder after duplicate nodes are removed, tolerances are tightened and comparison controls are applied?

Study field and core locations

The strict publication core contains six locations selected for a reduced and auditable test field:

• Sanctuary of Aphaia Athena, Aegina
• Heraion of the Argolid
• Heraion of Perachora
• Sanctuary of Nemesis at Rhamnous
• Sanctuary of Artemis at Vravron
• Temple of Poseidon at Sounion

Additional Athens, Sounion and Ereneia observations belong to controlled secondary branches and are not treated as part of the six-location publication core.

Method

The analysis uses a declared fixed-point test rather than an unrestricted search. Great-circle distances and geometric relationships are calculated under progressively stricter equality tolerances, moving from broader discovery work to a 0.25% strict branch and finally a 0.1% publication-core test.

The proportional hypothesis is fixed as D = 44.75 km, 1.5D = 67.12 km and 2.25D = 100.69 km. The workflow separates core findings from secondary branches, controls duplicate nodes and compares the observed structure with Monte Carlo alternatives.

Core result

The approximately 100.68 km Heraion of Perachora–Vravron relationship is treated as an outer cross-link completing the 2.25D level rather than as a direct radial spoke from Aphaia.

Controls and evidence hierarchy

The project distinguishes four evidential levels:

1. the strict six-location publication core;
2. Parthenon-target and no-Aphaia controls;
3. the Athena Sounion and Ereneia branch retained at 0.25%;
4. intersection and Athens-cluster observations retained only as secondary, hypothesis-generating evidence.

The comparison controls do not reproduce the complete Aphaia-centred signal when Aphaia is removed or when the Parthenon is substituted as target.

Interpretation

The defensible conclusion is deliberately limited: within the tested Attic-Saronic field, the Sanctuary of Aphaia Athena behaves as a recurrent apex in strict isosceles structures and anchors a compact proportional distance pattern that survives pruning and controls.

This is a computational screening result. It does not by itself demonstrate deliberate ancient surveying, a coordinated sanctuary-placement programme or a historical mechanism linking the locations.

Limitations and next work

• Coordinate identity and uncertainty require continuing independent audit.
• Monte Carlo output is treated as screening support rather than proof of intention.
• Historical interpretation requires archaeological, chronological, cultic and textual corroboration.
• Further testing should preserve the fixed core and report negative results rather than enlarge the pattern after inspection.

Publication and supporting material

The English scientific manuscript is at v021 and is being handled as a publication-stage research paper. The website currently provides this bounded project summary rather than the complete manuscript.

Formal citation details, publication links, downloadable material, maps and reproducibility files will be added when the relevant journal, magazine and repository rights permit their release.

Website project summary v001 · ArchaeoLocus · 17 August 2026