Εμφανίζονται 4 τίτλοι με αναζήτηση: Πληροφορίες για τον τόπο για το τοπωνύμιο: "ΑΙΓΑΙ Αρχαία πόλη ΗΜΑΘΙΑ".
In the modern nome of Emathia (capital, Veroia) in the region of ancient
Pieria, S of the Haliakmon river. Remains of an ancient city stretch between it
and the town of Palatitsa, ca. 2 km to the E. The most notable remains are: (a)
an extensive prehistoric cemetery, (b) remains of the city and acropolis, (c)
a Macedonian palace, and (d) two Macedonian tombs. The name of the ancient city
to which these remarkable ruins belong is not certainly known. The excavators
of the area, however, from the time of the French archaeologist Leon Heuzey (first
visit 1855) and K. A. Romaios (who began excavations in 1937) to the present,
all scholars consider this to be the city of Balla (Steph. Byz. s.v. Balla, Ouallai,
Ptol. 3.13.40 [Nobbe]; Vallaei, Plin. HN 4.34).
The prehistoric necropolis, which extends for ca. one km, contains
over 300 graves. About 100 of these have been excavated. Some contain only burials
of the Early Iron Age (11th-7th c. B.C.). In other graves of this period there
are burials also from the Hellenistic period, while others, finally, belong entirely
to the early Hellenistic period. The prehistoric tombs are separated in groups,
and since each tomb contained several burials (the richest having up to 50) it
is probable that each tomb belonged to a family, and each group to a larger single
community. The offerings in the tombs were mainly pottery, metal ornaments, and
weapons.
The remains of the acropolis and settlement are known only from surface
exploration and from more or less chance finds. The investigator traces with difficulty
the remains of the acropolis walls in the thick brush growing over the hill which
lies S of and above the cemetery. It appears that the settlement extended between
the acropolis and the cemetery, and probably continued from the 11th c. B.C. to
the Roman period, as indicated by various chance finds. The post-Byzantine Chapel
of Haghia Triadha was in a ruinous state at the time of Huezey's first visit in
1855. It stands on the site of the palace, from whose ruins it is largely constructed,
as are Haghios Demetrios of 1570 A.D. and other churches in the neighborhood,
and the houses of Palatitsia.
The palace (105 x 89 m) is located in a splendid site between the
acropolis and the cemetery, on a small plateau, which is probably in part artificial.
Recent excavations to N and W have established that there were additions which
enlarged the whole dimension of the complex. The building material is largely
poros stone from Mt. Bermion. Mudbrick was used for the upper parts above the
orthostates. Marble was used only for the thresholds. Shining stucco covered the
walls, columns, etc. The plan of the palace was basically that of the Hellenistic
house with peristyle, but enriched in an unusual way. One entered by the E wing
through a Doric stoa with a pediment and then, through a triple porch arrived
at a square, central peristyle court (45 m on a side) with 60 Doric columns, 16
to a side. Around the court were arranged stoas and rooms, one of which, a circular
tholos for some religious purpose, is worthy of special note, as are rooms in
the S wing with pebble mosaic floors. In places there was a second story. The
abundance of Doric and Ionic architectural fragments and terracotta elements allows
for restoration and, in many places, some reconstruction. The other small finds
were oddly few in number, which hinders the understanding of the palace both as
a whole and in particular areas. Only quite recently was a single significant
inscription found in the area of the circular tholos, a dedication to Herakles
Patroos. The palace dates to the time of Antigonos Gonatas' long reign (274-239
B.C.) or a little earlier.
The two tholos tombs of Macedonian type are standard underground tomb
buildings. They are largely built of poros stone from Bermion, covered by stucco
on which are painted decorations in color. They have a temple-type facade, two
vaulted tomb chambers, marble doors and furniture. One of the two has fallen into
ruin since excavation. The other, also excavated, has an Ionic temple-type facade
and, in addition to the marble door, it has a unique marble throne.
The small finds from the area are mostly to be found in the Museums
of Thessalonika and Beroia.
PH. M. Petsas, 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.
A town in Emathia, in Macedonia, the ancient capital of Macedonia and the burial-place of the Macedonian kings. It was also called Edessa.
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