Listed 32 sub titles with search on: Archaeological sites for wider area of: "STEREA HELLAS Region GREECE" .
LYKORIA (Ancient city) PARNASSOS
Οn Mt. Parnassus, a refuge for the Delphians, sacred to nymphs and Pan, named after Corycia.
Above Delphi was the celebrated cave called Corycium (to Korukion
antron), distant, according to Leake, about 7 miles from the city, to the northeastward,
and about the same distance to the north-west of Arakhova. The usual way from
Kastri to the heights of Parnassus leads past the Stadium, and then turns more
to the west than the ancient path, which ascended the mountain immediately above
the city. The ancient way was an astonishing work. It was a zigzag path, consisting
of more than a thousand steps cut out of the hard rock, and forming an uninterrupted
flight of steps to the highlands above. There are still considerable remains of
it, but it is now seldom used, as the modern path is easier. It takes about two
hours to reach the highlands of Parnassus, which are divided by hills and mountain-summits
into a number of larger and smaller valleys and ravines, partly covered with forests
of pine and fir, and partly cultivated as arable and pasture land. This district
extends about 16 miles in a westerly direction from the foot of the highest summit.
It formed the most valuable part of the territory of Delphi. Leake describes it
as a country of pasture, interspersed with firs, and peopled with shepherds and
their flocks, and remarks that he occasionally passed fields of wheat, barley,
and oats all yet green, though it was the 27th of July, and the harvest in the
plains of Boeotia had been completed a month before.
The Corycian cave is situated in the mountain on the northern side
of the valley. It is thus described by Leake: - We ascended more. than half-way
to its summit, when a small triangular entrance presented itself, conducting into
the great chamber of the cavern, which is upwards of 200 feet in length, and about
40 high in the middle. Drops of water from the roof had formed large calcareous
crystallizations rising at. the bottom, and others were suspended from every part
of the roof and sides. The inner part of this great hall is rugged and irregular;
but after climbing over some. rocks, we arrived at another small opening leading
into a second chamber, the length of which is near 100 feet, and has a direction
nearly at a right angle with the outer cavern. In this inner apartment there is
again a narrow opening, but inaccessible without a ladder; at the foot of the
ascent to it is a small natural opening. Pausanias says (x. 32. § 2) that there
were 60 stadia from Delphi to a brazen statue, from whence it was: easier to ascend
to the cavern on foot than on a horse and mule; and, accordingly, Leake supposes
the statue to have stood at the foot of the mountain, since the distance from
thence to Delphi is nearly that mentioned by Pausanias. The latter writer remarks
that this cave is larger than any of the other celebrated caverns which he had
seen, and that a person can proceed a very long way through it even without a
torch. He adds that it was sacred to Pan and the Nymphs, which is also attested
by other ancient writers, and is confirmed by an inscription found in the cave.
(Strab. ix. p. 417; Aesch. Eum. 22; Bockh, Inscr. No. 1728; Raikes, in Walpole's
Collection, vol. i. p. 314.). Pan and the Nymphs were regarded as the companions
of Dionysus, whose orgies were celebrated upon these heights. When the Persiras
were marching upon Delphi, the inhabitants took refuge in this cave (Herod. viii.
36), and it has been used for the same purpose by the inhabitants of Arakhova
in recent times.
According to Ulrichs, the Corycian cave is now called Sarantauli by
the peasants, from its being supposed to contain 40 chambers (from saranta, tessarakonta
aulai).
This extract is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
This grotto on Mt. Parnassos (altitude 1360 m), 2 1/2 hours' walk from Delphi, owed its name to its "knapsack" shape (korykos). Described by Pausanias (10.32.2), it was sacred to Pan and the nymphs (dedication of a peripolarkos of Ambrysos engraved on the rock to the right of the entrance) and no doubt also to Dionysos (mention of the Thyads, the Delphic bacchantes, in a second, barely legible, rock inscription), whose biennial festival (Trieteris) was celebrated by torchlight by the Thyads of Delphi and Athens on the plateau close by. Excavations by the French School of Athens (1970) have shown that the grotto, which had two chambers (the first some 70 m long), was consecrated to the cult from the Neolithic Age. Another Korykian Cave was in Cilicia, near the town of Korykos.
G. Roux, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Jan 2003 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
On the way from Delphi to the summit of Parnassus, about sixty stades
distant from Delphi, there is a bronze image. The ascent to the Corycian cave
is easier for an active walker than it is for mules or horses. I mentioned a little
earlier in my narrative1 that this cave was named after a nymph called Corycia,
and of all the caves I have ever seen this seemed to me the best worth seeing
(Paus. 10.32.2)...
... But the Corycian cave exceeds in size those I have mentioned, and it is possible
to make one's way through the greater part of it even without lights. The roof
stands at a sufficient height from the floor, and water, rising in part from springs
but still more dripping from the roof, has made clearly visible the marks of drops
on the floor throughout the cave. The dwellers around Parnassus believe it to
be sacred to the Corycian nymphs, and especially to Pan. From the Corycian cave
it is difficult even for an active walker to reach the heights of Parnassus. The
heights are above the clouds, and the Thyiad women rave there in honor of Dionysus
and Apollo (Paus. 10.32.7).
AVLIS (Ancient city) STEREA HELLAS
Perseus Project, Illustration of Temple of Artemis
THIVES (Ancient city) VIOTIA
Kabirion. A sanctuary of the Kabeiroi situated about 8 km W of Thebes on
the Thebes-Levadia road. Before the crossroads going to Vagia, Leondari, and Thespies
there is a bypath that leads to the site.
The origin of these deities is still unknown. Pausanias says nothing
about their nature or their mysteries (9.25.5), merely stating that, according
to the Thebans, there was a city whose inhabitants were called Kabeiroi. Demeter,
who came to the region, revealed some mystery to Prometheus, one of the Kabeiroi,
and Aetnaios, his son. Pausanias could not disclose Demeter's words. The mysteries
were one of Demeter's gifts to the Kabeiroi, who had been chased out of their
country by the Argives. Demeter's wrath toward men was implacable, as was shown
by the punishment of the Persians who came with Mardonios and dared to enter their
temple and pillage it, and later, after Alexander seized Thebes, when the Macedonians
who had entered the sanctuary of the Kabeiroi were all killed by thunderbolts.
The Kabeiroi were said to be guardians of vines and the fertility of animals (over
1400 representations of animals have been found, also over 700 representations
of the pais, either the son or an accompanying slave).
The sanctuary was discovered in 1887-88 and excavation was resumed
in 1955 and the years following. Today the remains of a rectangular temple have
been located, the earliest traces dating to the 6th c. It was followed by two
more monuments oriented E-W. A theater of the Hellenistic period was built in
the axis of this temple (orchestra: 26 m in diameter). It had no skene, but had
10 kerkides as well as an altar in the middle of the orchestra. The diameter of
the theatron is 60 m. Southeast of the theater is a stoa (40 x 6 m) which may
possibly have been used in the cult. A circular building from the 4th c., between
the stoa and the temple, may have been used for sacrifices.
There was also a Sacred Grove of Demeter Kabeiria and Kore, where
Demeter is supposed to have revealed the mysteries. According to Pausanias (9.22),
just near the center of the city of Anthedon NE of Thebes there was a sanctuary
of the Kabeiroi related to a cult of Demeter and Kore.
This is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites, Princeton University Press 1976. Cited from Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
Kabirion Project: The project is under the auspices of the Athens Section of the Deutsches Archaologisches Institut.
Kabirion
Kabireion: Perseus Project
ERETRIA (Ancient city) EVIA
One of the first monuments that was excavated was the temple of Apollo
the "Laurel-crowned" which was built during the Lilandian war (8-7th
century B.C.) and is an unusual combination of Doric and Ionian style of architecture.
The word "laurel-crowned" shows the connection it had with Delphi.
The worship of the God at both towns, Eretria and Delphi
has a special relationship as we can see from the early vaulted temple at Delphi
and from the marble navel found there and which is exhibited in Eretria
museum.
This text (extract) is cited May 2003 from the Prefecture
of Evia tourist pamphlet (1997).
PYRA (Village) PARNASSOS
Column drums, parts of entablature and triglyphs from a prostyle Doric temple dated to the 3rd century BC are preserved. This temple had an ante chamber and a cella in antis. South of the temple an altar was used from Archaic to Roman period. In Roman times the original plan was expanded and defined by blocks. The site was excavated by N. Papadakis. The visible part of the temple was cleaned and the Pyre was excavated in 1919 - 20. The excavation has resumed in the area of the Pyre since 1988. The disturbed debris is being further explored.
This text is cited Feb 2003 from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture URL below.
ERETRIA (Ancient city) EVIA
From the Western gate the road leads us to a unique ancient monument,
the ancient theatre of Eretria. It is built on an artificial hill which the Eretrians
made because there was no amphitheatric area. It is very large (it holds 6.300
people) and well-constructed. The first and main part of the theatre was built
in the Early 4th century B.C. and the rest was built in the late classical period.
In 198 B.C. it was badly damaged by the Romans but it was reconstructed
and the orchestra was then added. From the stage, which was double, Ionic and
Doric pillars have been preserved.
The temple of Dionysus was built at the same time as the theatre with
which it is closely associated.
This text (extract) is cited May 2003 from the Prefecture
of Evia tourist pamphlet (1997).
KATAKALOS (Settlement) KARYSTIA
The tomb in the vicinity of Aliveri,
dating from the Mycenaean period (16th-12th centuries B.C.), is the only tholos
tomb in Euboea preserved in a good condition. The chamber, circular in plan, is
built of unworked small stones, has a diameter of 5.60 m. at the basis, and a
maximum preserved height of 4.70 m. The passageway of the entrance is 3.30 m.
long; a relieving triangle is preserved over the lintel.
The monument was excavated in 1907 by G. Papavassileiou and was found
almost empty as it had been plundered already in antiquity. Only a Mycenaean kylix
was found inside the chamber. Sherds and bronze coins were also found during the
clearing and restoration of the tomb. The vault, the lintel and the entrance of
the tholos have been consolidated by the 11th Ephorate of Antiquities.
This text is cited Feb 2003 from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture URL below.
ORCHOMENOS (Archaeological site) VIOTIA
The project is under the auspices of the Athens Section of the Deutsches Archaologisches Institut.
TAVROPOS (River) STEREA HELLAS
There are walls of an ancient city at the Delta of this river.
Halai has been explored by archaeologists from the American School of Classical Studies since the 1930's. An important early Neolithic town is covered by a walled Greek City of the Classical period. It was an important harbor for Lokris.
KARYSTOS (Ancient city) EVIA
In Southern Evia,
in the area between Karistos and Stira
there are the green stone quarries which were famous from antiquity. This area
was flourishing during the Roman times. Significant marble quarries can still
be found near Milous at Kilindri
where you can still see impressive monolithic columns which were abandoned there
from the time that the quarries were in use. Their actual size is amazing - 12
metres long and 1,5 metres in diameter.
There are other similar quarries at Vatisi
and Stira, Kapsala
and Pirgari Niboriou. Also,
a short distance form the quarries of Stira
there is a road cut into a mountain slope where the marble was rolled down to
the foot of the mountain. It was then transported in a wheeled vehicle to the
harbour Nimborio where it was exported. The exportation of marble was a profitable
business and Karistos became an important town. The green marble of Karistos has
been used fro the construction of the temple of Zeus at Kirini
(Lybia) fro the library
of Andrianos in Athens,
for the temple of Andonios and Fafstinas in Rome
and Julius Caesar's house. Later, it was used for the church of Saint
Dimitris and Achiropito
in Thessaloniki and Saint
Sophia and the church of Saint Apostoloi in Constantinople.
This text (extract) is cited May 2003 from the Prefecture
of Evia tourist pamphlet (1997).
ERETRIA (Ancient city) EVIA
Site: Eretria
Type: Gymnasium
Summary: Partially excavated gymnasium of Greek type, with palaestra
and flanking rooms adapted for bathing; located in the north of the city, at the
foot of the acropolis and to the east of the theater.
Date: ca. 350 B.C. - 175 B.C.
Period: Late Clas./Hell.
Plan:
The plan of the gymnasium is irregular: a large colonnaded palaestra which is
entered from the west anchors the plan, and to its north and north-east smaller
rooms are arranged. Immediately to the north of the palaestra is a rectangular
hall, oriented east-west and entered through a colonnade of four columns. In the
north-east corner of this hall, a narrow passage forms the entrance to an elliptical
tholos. A row of three small rooms lies in a north-south direction at the north-east
of the palaestra; within the two northernmost of these rooms were seven stone
basins with connecting U-shaped water channels. To the west of the tholos were
three small rooms, entered through an exterior porch in the unexcavated western
region.
History:
The original gymnasium dates to the fourth century B.C.; elements which belong
to this early phase are the poros foundations, the peristyle palaestra, and some
interior walls with carefully-constructed limestone socles. The gymnasium was
substantially damaged or destroyed by the Romans in 198 B.C. After this, the gymnasium
was restored in the second century B.C. At this time, the tholos was added, and
the northern wall of the palaestra was extended to the east, cutting across the
row of stone basins.
Other Notes:
The gymnasium was a fundamental structure of the late Classical city, with central
palaestra and nearby rooms with some provision for bathing. The incorporation
of a vaulted tholos or steam room may represent the influence of Italic bath architecture
on Greek gymnasia; the construction technique of the vault, however, is rooted
in the Greek architectural tradition, relying on cut stone instead of mortared
cement. The building is securely identified as a gymnasium by a number of inscriptions
referring to the donation of funds for oil, among other benefactions. The small
room to the west of the tholos, with its central base of Eleusinian limestone,
may have been a sanctuary in which a statue of a benefactor of the gymnasium was
erected.
Sarah Cormack, ed.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
Site: Eretria
Type: Heroon
Summary: Inhumation and cremation burials located near West Gate,
surmounted by triangular structure and contained within a peribolos wall.
Date: ca. 750 B.C. - 630 B.C.
Period: Geometric
Plan:
Nineteen burials were located in an area south of the West Gate of the city. Seven
of these were cremation burials, the remaining were inhumation burials. The cremation
burials consisted of bronze cauldrons containing ashes, covered with a lead slab,
the whole area being covered with slabs of stone. Above the burial area was built
a triangular structure, an equilateral triangle of large horizontal stones. The
stone triangle was later circumscribed by a rectangular peribolos wall.
History:
The earliest burials in the area date to ca. 740-730 B.C. At ca. 680 B.C., the
triangular structure was built, effectively marking the end of use of the burial
area. South of the triangle, a large bothros or pit was dug, into which were placed
the remains of sacrifices and banquets which took place at the site throughout
the seventh century. In the late seventh century, a rectangular peribolos wall
was built around the triangle. An oikos or andreion was later built above the
bothros in the archaic period. By the late sixth century, the sanctuary or heroon
was no longer venerated. In the Hellenistic period, the stuccoed walls of the
so-called palace covered the area.
Other Notes:
The area is interpreted as the site of a heroon: the main geometric necropolis
of Eretria lay at least 700 m. to the south, and thus the burials beneath the
triangle of stones represent important, possibly royal, burials. The location
of the burial area, originally outside the city walls but later incorporated within
the fortifications of Eretria, further supports the interpretation that the area
was a sanctuary. The erection of the triangle, and later of the peribolos wall,
indicate attempts to protect and indicate, in a monumental fashion, the burials
below. The presence of the bothros or sacrificial pit also attests to the rituals
which took place. A triangular structure as a feature of burials is rare in the
Geometric and Archaic periods. The triangle is oriented with one of its angles
pointing directly north; this may have been intentional. The triangle appears
to suggest a sacred interdiction of the zone, and its form may be related to the
crossing of ways and the worship of Hekate. Since each burial below was not marked
individually, the triangle also served as a SEMA or sign. The heroon provides
important information concerning the nature of Geometric burials: the form which
the burials took complies with epic, Homeric descriptions of burials of heroes.
The presence of weapons as the most common form of grave goods indicates that
a feudal nobility memorialized their dead, who may have died in battle, and commemorated
them with annual (?) sacrifices at the burial location.
Sarah Cormack, ed.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
Site: Eretria
Type: Temple
Summary: Site of the cult of Apollo Daphnephoros at Eretria, with
three principal building phases dating to the eighth, seventh and sixth centuries.
Date: ca. 800 B.C. - 520 B.C.
Period: Geometric
Plan:
The earliest structure at the Apollo sanctuary, an eighth century Geometric hut,
was apsidal in plan, with curving side walls stabilized with posts; this hut-like
structure had a door in its south end, with a porch in front of one central room
or cella. A second structure located just to the east of the first Geometric temple
is interpreted as a hekatompedon of the Geometric period. It is long and narrow
in plan, with an apsidal rear wall and side walls which converge slightly towards
the front (south-east) entrance. There appears to have been no porch. A central
row of posts may have stood in the cella. The early archaic temple is reconstructed
in plan as an Ionic hekatompedon with a peripteros of 6 x 19 columns surrounding
a long, narrow cella without interior colonnade. This temple had neither opisthodomos
nor pronaos. The influence of Ionian temple design is apparent in its plan: the
cella building is related to the peripteros through the alignment of the axes
of the cella walls with the second columns of the facade; similarly, the rear
walls of the cella building are aligned with the second columns on the flanks.
The temple was oriented south-east/north-west, with no apparent explanation for
this unusual orientation. The late archaic temple was a Doric peripteros of 6
x 14 columns, distyle in antis, with pronaos and opisthodomos. Two rows of eight
columns each stood in the cella, aligned with the central two columns of the facade.
The late archaic temple repeats some of the characteristic features of the plan
of the early archaic temple, for example the deep frontal colonnade and the relationship
between the cella building and the peripteral columns.
History:
Four phases of the temple have been recognized: a Geometric hut-like structure
with apsidal walls and a second Geometric temple with apsidal walls, a hekatompedon,
contemporary with or slightly later than the Geometric Daphnephoreion. These structures
are believed to have been levelled at the end of the eighth century B.C. The third
important structure was an early archaic hekatompedon dating to ca. 670-650 B.C.;
the foundations of this early archaic temple lie beneath the Doric peripteral
temple of the late archaic period (ca. 530-520 B.C.) The excavators doubted that
the final temple was completely destroyed by the Persian invasion of 490 B.C.,
as inscriptions indicate that the site remained a cult center in the 4th and 3rd
centuries B.C. The pedimental sculpture depicting Theseus and Antiope fell and
may have been intentionally buried in antiquity, perhaps as a memory of the Persian
destruction. The temple was heavily quarried in the Roman period.
Other Notes:
The earliest structure at the sanctuary, the Geometric period hut, may have had
some sacral function: a foundation deposit was discovered underneath its southwest
anta, and when the Geometric hekatompedon was constructed next to it, the walls
of the apsidal hut were respected, perhaps implying its sacred nature. The absence
of an altar, however, makes the identification of the apsidal hut as a temple
uncertain. An altar located just to the south-east of the Geometric hekatompedon
makes the identification of the structure as a temple almost certain. A building
identified as a bronze foundry dating to the mid-eighth century B.C. was located
ca. 5 m. north of the Geometric hekatompedon; votive figures may have been produced
here. There is little conclusive evidence for the reconstruction of the early
archaic temple as peripteral; the argument for reconstructing columns at this
phase appears to be largely based on an analogy with the second temple of Hera
at Samos. Certain characteristics of the early archaic temple which reappear in
the late archaic temple - wide facade colonnade, relationship of cella building
to peristasis (if it existed in the early archaic temple) - have led scholars
to reflect that these Ionicizing features were already apparent in mainland Greek
architecture of the seventh and sixth centuries B.C. The pediment of the late
archaic temple was decorated with a marble sculptural group depicting Theseus
abducting Antiope, evidence of close political links between Eretria and Athens
at this time.
Sarah Cormack, ed.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains 6 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
Site: Eretria
Type: Temple
Summary: Temple of Dionysos, located in the north-west of the city,
adjacent to the West Gate; forms an architectural complex with the Theater at
Eretria
Date: ca. 350 B.C.
Period: Late Classical
Plan:
The temple is peripteral in plan, with 6 x 11 columns, distyle in antis, with
a deep pronaos and no opisthodomos. The facade pteron is wider than those of the
rear and flanks. The cella building is aligned with the axes of the second columns
of the short sides, and with the second column from the rear along the flanks.
Due to the wide facade pteron, the antae of the cella building align with the
front face of the third column of the flanks. The temple is reconstructed as having
a three-stepped stylobate.
History:
The construction of the temple was contemporary with the second building phase
of the Theater at Eretria , in the mid-fourth century B.C. The temple was destroyed
by ca. 200 B.C., when elements of the frieze of the temple were reused in the
West Gate nearby. After this date, the temple was quarried and nothing is preserved
of its superstructure.
Other Notes:
Foundations in front of the temple (to the east) indicate the location of the
altar, and statues. The altar is not axially aligned with the temple, but lies
slightly to the south. It has been proposed that the altar was a religious focal
point for the Theater at Eretria which lies just to the north, as well as for
the temple. The altar was approached by steps which were probably flanked by projecting
walls. The temple combines Doric and Ionic features: the alignment of the antae
of the cella with the second columns of the facade, in Doric fashion, and the
deep pronaos, typical of Ionic temples. The proportions of the cella building,
20:50 attic feet, are also characteristically Ionic.
Sarah Cormack, ed.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
Site: Eretria
Type: Theater
Summary: Theater located inside the West Gate, in the north-west
of the city beneath the acropolis and to the north of the Temple of Dionysos
Date: ca. 400 B.C. - 150 B.C.
Period: Late Clas./Hell.
Plan:
A theater with central circular orchestra and semi-circular arrangement of seats,
divided by stairs into eleven wedges or cunei. In front of the orchestra stood
the stage building with proscenium and parascenia. The auditorium is calculated
to have been able to accommodate ca. 6300 people. A curious feature of the plan
is the presence of a below-ground staircase leading from the rear of the stage
building to the center of the orchestra; characters representing underworld figures
could emerge via this passageway.
History:
Three major construction phases of the stage building have been recognized. The
date of the earliest stage building is disputed: some place it in the fifth century
B.C. (Fiechter 1937, 39); others dispute this early date and place the earliest
stage building, with wooden proscenium, in the late fourth century B.C. (Dinsmoor
1975, 249). The first stage building consisted of a rectangular structure with
five rooms and three central doorways, facing a circular orchestra and an auditorium,
probably of wooden scaffolding. The parascenia or projecting rooms were linked
across the facade by a row of columns, whose stylobate is preserved. The southern
wall of the western parodos is preserved from this early period. In keeping with
the change in dramatic representation required by the demands of New Comedy, this
first stage building was altered. First, a stone substructure elevated the old
(wooden) stage building, transforming it into an episcenium. This lower structure
then received additional alterations, including a new stone proscenium. The most
significant alteration of the second construction phase, however, was the sinking
of the level of the orchestra by ca. 3.35 m., and the removal of the orchestra
ca. 8 m. to the north. A vaulted passageway was built below the second stage building
to connect the new level of the orchestra with the area to the south of the old
stage building. At this time, the seats of the auditorium were also constructed
out of poros. Again, there is uncertainty over the date of this alteration, which
is stated to have taken place either in the mid-fourth or mid-third century B.C.
After the destruction of the city by the Romans in 198 B.C., the theater was again
restored, although it is unclear whether the marble proscenium was built before
or after this destruction. The foundations of the earliest stage building were
again employed, and many reused blocks were used, for example in the thresholds
between the doors of the proscenium.
Sarah Cormack, ed.
This text is cited Nov 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains 6 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
Region: Euboea
Periods: Geometric, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic
Type: Fortified city
Summary: One of the 4 major city states of Euboea.
Physical Description:
Eretria (the ancient city lies beneath the modern town)
is located on the S edge of the Lelantine plain, on the W coast of Euboea, ca.
18 km S of Chalkis. The Classical city walls enclosed ca. 80 ha of flat ground
between the harbor and the prominent acropolis to the N. The city, which was the
most important in Euboea in the late 4th and early 3rd century B.C., was almost
rectangular in shape, with the sanctuary of Apollo Daphnephoros at its center.
The agora is between the Apollo temenos and the shore. Between the acropolis to
the N and the Apollo temenos are the theater, stadium, gymnasium and other sanctuaries.
Excavations at the West Gate (opening on the road to Chalkis) have located sections
of the late Geometric walls and gate and a late Geometric heroon (hero shrine)
beneath a later Hellenistic palace complex.
Description:
Eretria was listed in the Homeric Catalogue of Ships, but the
location of the earliest city remains uncertain. The Mycenaean and Dark Age settlement
at Lefkandi has been proposed as the site of "Old Eretria," but also as the site
of "Old Chalkis." The earliest evidence for the situation of Eretria at its present
location dates to the late Geometric period. In the Geometric period, Eretria,
along with Chalkis, led the cities of Greece in establishing colonies abroad.
The maritime competition and possibly land disputes between Eretria and Chalkis
may have caused the Lelantine War, one of the earliest reported conflicts between
Greek city-states, which, according to tradition, continued throughout the 8th
century B.C. One outcome of the war may have been the establishment of Eretria
at its present location. The earliest remains at the city, including the West
Gate Heroon, and sections of city walls and city streets (below the Classical
levels) date to the 7th century B.C. In ca. 500 B.C. Eretria contributed ships
and aid to the Ionian Revolt. This resulted in the Persian retaliation in 490
B.C. which caused the destruction of Eretria and enslavement of many of the inhabitants.
In 480 B.C. Eretria had recovered sufficiently to join the Greek forces for the
defeat of the Persians. Eretria then became a member of the Delian League and
remained allied to Athens until 411 B.C. In 411 B.C. Eretria joined (or perhaps
led) the rest of Euboea in a Spartan inspired revolt from Athens. During the short-lived
period of the Euboean League, the city of Eretria flourished. But by the early
4th century Eretria had reestablished good terms with Athens and during the rest
of the century Eretrian political allegiance wavered between Athens and Thebes.
By the end of the century Eretria was under the control of the Macedonians. In
198 B.C. the city was plundered by the Romans and after this time no new building
took place. In 87 B.C. it was finally destroyed in the Mithridatic wars and abandoned.
The area reverted to and remained swamp land until a refugee settlement (Nea Psara)
was located on the site in 1824 A.D.
Exploration:
Cyriacus of Ancona, the traveler, made drawings of sections
of the city walls and the theater in 1436 A.D. Excavations: C. Tsountas, 1886;
C. Waldstein and the American School, 1891-1895 (theater, temple of Dionysos,
2 gymnasia, and parts of city wall); K. Kourounotis between 1897 and 1917 (temple
of Apollo and Archaic West gate); N. Papadakis, 1915; I. Konstantinou, 1952-1956;
and since 1964 joint excavations by the Greek Archaeological Service and the Swiss
Archaeological School.
Donald R. Keller, ed.
This text is cited Oct 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains 32 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
KARYSTOS (Ancient city) EVIA
Region: Euboea
Periods: Dark Age, Geometric, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman,
Byzantine, Modern
Type: Port city
Summary: Main city state of southern Euboea.
Physical Description:
The modern town of Karystos, built in the 19th century
A.D., is located on the N shore of the large Karystos Bay, at the S base of Mt.
Ochi. The definite location of the ancient city has not been determined by excavation.
Recent topographical research, however, indicates that the earliest city, of the
Geometric and Archaic periods, was situated just north of the Plakari Ridge at
the NW edge of the bay. During the Hellenistic and later periods the city of Karystos
was centered at modern Paliochora, 3 km N of the modern town. The exact date and
reasons for the transfer of the ancient city from Plakari to Paliochora remains
unknown. The harbor of post-Archaic Karystos was probably located at the small
bay of Geraistos, ca. 14 km to the E of Paliochora.
Description:
Karystos was listed in the Homeric Catalog of Ships and the
nearby Sanctuary of Poseidon at the harbor of Geraistos was recorded by Homer
as the first safe stopping place for the ships returning from the Trojan War.
Very little is known, however, about the early history of the Karystia. Karystos
is strategically located at the S entrance to the Euripos Channel and it was a
major objective of the first Persian advance in 490 B.C. In contrast to the other
Greek islands and states along the Persian route, however, Karystos did not submit
to the Persians without a fight. The Persians easily defeated the Karystians and
in 490 B.C. In 480, when the Persians returned the second time, Karystos surrendered
without a battle. After the defeat of the Persians on the mainland, Athens forced
Karystos into the Delian League, seized the Karystian port at Geraistos, and probably
imposed an Athenian clerouchy on the territory. With the exception of a short
period of Spartan influence in Euboea at the end of the 5th century B.C., Karystos
remained first subject to and then allied with Athens until Greece became a part
of the Macedonian empire after 322 B.C. Karystos, due largely to its important
maritime location and in part to its natural resources, remained prosperous throughout
the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
Exploration:
G. Papavasileiou carried out minor excavations in 1903-1910.
A long-term Canadian survey and excavation project began in 1984.
Donald R. Keller, ed.
This text is cited Oct 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
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