Anastasiopolis-Peritheorion

Iasmos, Greece

Anastasiopolis-Peritheorion is an archaeological site located in northern Greece, southeast of the village of Amaxades. Today you can still see parts of the fortification walls of the ancient city of Anastasiopolis (5th – 9th centuries) and Peritheorion (9th century). It is unclear whether these are two different cities or a single one that has been renamed in the meantime. The ancient city was an important port on the Aegean Sea and station on the Via Egnatia.

Since no archaeological excavations were carried out, the approximately 7.3 hectare area of the city is in a wild state. The ruins are in the middle of a forest, which, however, only emerged since the 1970s. The most important archaeological remains are the walls, some of which are several meters high. City gates have been documented to the northwest and southeast, as well as eight predominantly rectangular, but partly also round, wall towers in the east. In the brickwork of some towers, monograms of the imperial family of the Palaiologoi have been preserved by means of integrated bricks, which can be dated to around 1341 and thus attest at least to construction work in this phase. However, the wall that is preserved today also shows traces of older construction phases, so that the older city wall, which dates back to late antiquity, probably also had the same course.

Despite the overgrowth of the entire city area as well as the wall to the Rhodope Mountains, at least one circular path is kept free, which leads to the ruins. There is no precise signage from the street. On the Xanthi-Komotini route, turn off at the underpass of the highway in the village of Amaxades and follow the paved dirt road. The remaining 2 km of dirt road are easy to drive without a 4WD. The entrance gate is on the north side. Since it is usually locked, you enter the ruins through the loose grille in the gate.

References:

Comments

Your name



Address

Amaxades, Iasmos, Greece
See all sites in Iasmos

Details

Founded: 5th century AD
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Greece

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

User Reviews

Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Château de Foix

The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.

In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians.