A modern market town near the Nestos river, 17 km straight NW of the
modern city of Xanthi. There is no known ancient settlement either in Stavroupolis
or its neighborhood, but 2 km SE of Stavroupolis near the E bank of the Nestos,
a Macedonian tomb was discovered in 1950. This probably belonged to the first
half of the 2d c. B.C.
The tomb, built of marble blocks in a pseudo-isodomic style, has a
total length of ca. 12 m. It consists of a vaulted dromos ca. 5 x 2 m, a prothalamos
chamber 2 x 3 m, and the burial chamber 3 x 3 m. The floor of the prothalamos
and the burial chamber are paved with rectangular marble slabs. The entrance to
the burial chamber is closed by two marble door leaves with some ornamentation.
At the back of the chamber are two marble couches set at an angle to each other,
each having two double pillows. The feet of the beds are decorated with painted
encaustic palmettes, spirals, rosettes, and moldings.
A painted molding 0.20 m wide, made up of Ionic and Lesbian kymatia
runs around the prothalamos and the burial chamber at the level of the springing
of the vault. On the kymatia and on the door leaves the vivid painted decoration
is in encaustic. Although the tomb had been robbed, two gold rings and fragments
of terracotta figurines (now in the Kavala Museum) were found in the excavation.
Three of the figurines are winged adolescent Erotes, with lively movements. The
careful plastic rendering of body and face makes these figurines resemble monumental
sculptures.
D. Lazarides, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
Stavroupoli, the land of ancient Dions, is situated 20 km Northwest
of the city of Xanthi. It is one of the biggest and most important villages of
Nestos River. To reach Stavroupoli we should cross the villages Kria Vrisi and
Likodromio, which are within thick virgin forest with age-long trees, natural
springs, playground facilities and traditional bakeries. The lovers of nature
and sports have the possibility for kayak, rallies and mountaineering. Of habitat
interest are also the small villages Kalithea, Levaditis, Komnina, the cave of
Livera, Neochori, Kaliva and the area of village Drimia. Here, in Drimia, within
a beautiful forest scenery, you can find the church of St George (Agios Georgios)
and its newly built hospice.
In the area of Stavroupoli, in the community of Komnina, there is
the eco-touristic settlement "Iniohos". Another settlement is also now
being built. Don't miss to visit the Haidou forest and the lodges which lie on.
Mountain refugees:
1. Levaditis Height 1200 m, 50 km.away from Xanthi. It belongs to the Mountaineering Club of Xanthi
2. Kalithea Height 500 m, 25 km away from Xanthi.
3. Haidou Forest Info: Forest Inspection of Xanthi
This extract is cited May 2003 from the Prefecture of Xanthi URL below, which contains images.
The tomb, originally covered by a tumulus, was constructed in 200-150 B.C. It was known to the villagers for quite a long time but the first visit of an archaeologist to the site did not occur before 1950. Unfortunately, the tomb had already been plundered, unkown exactly when.
The tomb is built of marble ashlar blocks and has a dromos, an antechamber and chamber, both covered with vaulted roofs. Two marble funerary couches are preserved in the burial chamber, with marble double bolsters at either end. The legs of the couches bear painted decoration. The entrance to the burial chamber had a double door made of marble.
Ch. Macaronas excavated the site in two campaigns: a restricted trial excavation took place in 1951, and a more systematic one in 1953. Consolidation work was carried out in 1978.
The area of the tumulus has been fenced by the 19th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities and the site is now open to the public.
This text is cited Feb 2003 from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture URL below, which also contains images.
Tel: +30 25420 22100
Tel: +30 25423 50100
Fax: +30 25423 (25420) 22113
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