The archaeological site of Akanthos

The archaeological site of Akanthos, in Ierissos. The relics which are visible today are mainly parts of the fortress of the town, public buildings, houses and the foundations of a temple- possibly dedicated to the goddess Athena- on the top of the hill.

The ruins of ancient Akanthos

Ancient Akanthos was extended in three hills of Stratonikos Mountain covering a distance of about 560 decares. The ruins that are visible today are mainly parts of the fortress of the town, public buildings, houses and the foundation of a temple- possibly dedicated to the goddess Athena- on the top of the hill. The excavations in the area started about 40 years ago in the cemetery of Akanthos, right on the top of which current town of Ierissos is built. More than 14.000 findings have been localized and are dated from the archaic era to the roman ages. The majority of the findings are can be visited at the Archaeological Museum of Polygyros. Between the ancient cemetery and the settlement, the laboratories of the ancient town were installed, where, among other things, the commercial amphoras for the transportation of well known by ancient manuscripts “Wine of Akanthos” was produced.