Ialysos

Ialysos, Greece

The ancient city of Ialyssos extended around the hill of Filerimos, which was the ancient acropolis where there are remains of buildings from the Archaic, Byzantine and Knights' periods. The temple of Athena Polias, which dates to the 3rd-2nd centuries BCE, was built over the site of an earlier Classical temple, to judge from from the evidence of a 5th century BC floor and terra-cotta antefixes found there. The depository on the west side produced pottery and votive offerings dating from the 9th to the 5th centuries BC.

In addition to the cult of Athena Polias, in Ialyssos there are also references to a cult of Zeus Polias. In the Early Christian period (5th-6th centuries AD) a three-aisled basilica with an atrium was built on the remains of the ancient temple, in the north aisle of which a single-aisled church with a cupola was constructed in the 10th century.

In the time of the Franks this site was occupied by a medieval monastery and church.

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Founded: 3rd century BCE
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Greece

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