The modern port of Aegina has been built over the
site once occupied by the ancient commercial port to
the north of which was the ancient naval arsenal.
Its northern flank was protected by a promontory
fortified since Neolithic times. On the summit stood
the temple of Apollo, in the Doric style, but only
one of its columns remains standing. It belonged to
the 6th century B.C. There are also the tombs of the
founders of the town, Aeakos and Phokos, the remains
of a theater, a stadium and the Attaleion.
Temple of Aphaia
The temple stands on a height overlooking Aghia
Marina Bay and was dedicated to the Aphaian goddess
Athena. The building is in Doric style and is one of
the best examples of early classical architecture.
The interior was divided by two colonnades with a
second row of smaller, superimposed columns and
housed the gold and ivory statue of the goddess. The
pediments depicted two Greek expeditions against
Troy (those of Hercules and Agamemnon) in which
heroes from Aegina, such as Telamon, Ajar and
Tefkros had gained distinction. Fragments from older
pediment are displayed in the National
Archaeological Museum in Athens. Apart from the
terraced perivolos and the propylaea, there was a
large altar, baths and living quarters for the
priests.
The entire island is one large archaeological site
with monuments dating back to various periods, but,
for the most part dedicated to the lonic worship of
Apollo, which superseded the pre-historic cult of
the Kynthian Zeus. For a thousand years the island
figured as the political and religious center of the
Aegean~an and it was the home of the “Delian”
religious festivals held in honor of Apollo. The
sacred city with the Sanctuary of Apollo and the
lesser temple of the goddess Artemis, as well as the
area of the Sacred Lake (in which swam the Sacred
Swans and Geese of the god) developed in the area
overlooking the Sacred Port. A stately Sacred Way
led from the port to the sanctuary of Apollo. It
contained temples, altars, votive offerings and
miscellaneous buildings. Remains of four temples,
built in the name of Apollo lie in the area, the
oldest of them being the “House of the Naxians” (7th
century B.C.), then came the temple called “Porinos
Naos”, followed by the “Temple of the Athenians”
(5th century B.C.) and finally the only peripteral
temple of the Delians (4th century B.C.). To the
east stands the sanctuary ol the Bulls, a long,
narrow building, while to the north are the
treasuries and the long narrow arcade of Antigonos.
The N.W. corner is the site of the smaller temple of
Artemis in the Ionic style and the tomb of the two
“Hyperborean Maidens”. Further north still, is the
area of the Sacred Lake guarded by the lions along
the Lions Way (of the nine superb archaic statues of
lions, only five survive), the Letoon, the Agora of
the Italians and the Institution of the
Poseidoniasts of Verytos (Beirut) which was an
association of merchants and shipowners who
worshiped Baal, a god they identified with Poseidon.
Further on there are some fine specimens of houses
and a “palaestra”. The Stadium and the Gymnasium lie
about half a km to the N.E. of the Sacred Lake.
In the days of the Ptolemys (3rd and 2nd
centuries B.C.), when Delos became an important
trading center in the eastern Mediterranean and a
world market for that period, a commercial port was
built alongside the Sacred Harbor. The shopping and
commercial center grew up around this port and,
overlooking it, spread the residential area of the
Hellenistic town clearly defined building blocks in
excellent state of preservation, narrow streets and
one high street which began from the shore and ended
at the S.E. extremity of the town where the theater
was located. Fine mosaic paving was discovered in
some of the houses, showing Dionysus riding a
panther, a dolphin and a trident, comical and
satirical masks. On the summit of the hill called
Mount Kynthos, are the remains of a sanctuary
dedicated to the Kynthian Zeus and to Athena, as
well as ruins of pre-historic buildings. On the N.W.
slopes of Mount Kynthos there are ruins of temples
dedicated to foreign deities which had been built by
foreigners residing on the island.
Ancient Thera
The ancient Doric town flourished mostly in the
times of the Ptolemys who reigned in Egypt in the
3rd and 2nd centuries B.C. and converted the island
into an advance naval base in the Aegean. The town
is divided longitudinally by the Sacred Way which
led from it to the temple of Apollo Karneios at the
S.E. extremity. Apart from the clusters of houses
belonging to various periods, it includes market
places, baths, theaters, temples (dedicated to
Egyptian deities, to Apollo, Dionysus, etc.), the
House of Ptolemy the Benefactor (the House of the
Vasilists), the billets of the garrison of the
Ptolemys, tombs of the archaic and classical times,
early Christian relies, etc. Important festivals
were held at the Apollo Karneios sanctuary with
dancing by naked youths, known as “Gymnopaedies”.
The monument of the ancient colonizer of the island,
who was called Theras, stands here. In addition,
among the remains are the Gymnasium of the “Epheboi”,
and the Roman baths. On surrounding rocks, names
have been carved in the ancient alphabet of Thera
mentioning the god Apollo and various men and
youths.
Excavations at Akrotiri
Ruins of a Minoan city were found. It had been
destroyed around the year 1500 B.C. by an eruption
of the volcano of Thera. As in the case of
prehistoric Pompei. two and three- story buildings,
city squares, shops and workshops were buried under
the lava. Marvelous frescoes were found in some of
the houses and they can be seen in the National
Archaeological Museum in Athens. Vases and utensils
in everyday use were also found.
Museum
The exhibits are pre-historic finds (mostly
pottery), a large collection of vases of the 7th and
6th centuries B.C. known for the most part as
“Theraic” vases, a small number of archaic or
classical sculptures, some Hellenistic and Roman
sculptures and some portrait statues.
:
The City Walls
The powerful fortifications which surround the old
city with their bastions, battlements, gates and
moat are fine examples of the art of fortification
in the 15th and 16th centuries A.D.
Palace of the Grand Masters of the Order of Saint
John
The castle is located in the old city and is
separated from it by an internal wall. The main
functions of the Order of Saint John were organized
within this medieval group of buildings. There was
the Palace of the Grand Master, the Hospital and the
Inns of the various “Tongues”, as they were known,
meaning the billets of the various nationalities of
Knights forming the Order. Most of these were in the
Street of the Knights. The Inn of Auvergne is a
magnificent 15th century building set in the Square
of the Amory The Palace of the Grand Master, now
fully restored with its fine wooden ceilings and
floors paved with marble in various colors or with
ancient mosaics brought over from Cos and alabaster
windows, contains an interesting collection of
furniture of 16th and 17th century West European
craftsmanship.
Archaeological Museum
The Museum is housed in the Hospital of the Knights
and displays a collection of coins, pottery and
sculpture among which the Kneeling Venus and Rhodes
is of particular note (Ist century B.C.) and the
stale from the tomb of Timarista and Krito (5th
century B.C.). There is also a Decorative Arts
Museum, containing folkloric exhibits from all over
the Dodecanese and a Byzantine Museum.
The Citadel of Rhodes
On the eastern slope of Smith's Hill, there is a
restored stadium of unusual shape in that it is
square. There are also traces of two ancient temples
dedicated to the Pythian Apollo and to the goddess
Polias Athena.
The Citadel of lalissos (Filerimos)
The foundations of the temple of the lalysian Athena
(3rd century B.C.) are visible while excavations
along the slope of the hill revealed a burial ground
with 500 graves of the late : Mycenaean, Geometric,
Archaic and Classical periods. In the archaeological
site there is also the monastery of Panaghia of
Filerimos, built by the Order of Saint John.
Kamiros
This is regarded as the Pompei of Rhodes. There is a
3rd century B.C. sanctuary with remains of a temple
in the Doric style. This was the starting point for
the road which led to the ancient city, built
amphitheatrically. Excavations uncovered dwellings,
an Agora, ruins of a temple of Athena, etc.
The Acropolis of Lindos
A spacious arcade marks the beginning of a stately
flight of steps which leads to a raised terrace on
which stand the remains of 5th century B.C.
Propylaea. Past this, the way leads to the sanctuary
of the Lindian Athena with its charming 4th century
B.C. amphiprostylon temple perched on the edge of
the cliff.
Knossos-Phaestos
The first palace buildings were constructed at
Knossos, Phaestos and Malia around the year 1900
B.C. but, some two centuries later, they collapsed
in an earthquake and were rebuilt more stately and
luxurious. Their final destruction came in 1450 B.C.
when the volcano on the island of Thera erupted.
However, the palace at Knossos continued to be
inhabited for more than 50 years after this event
until it was finally gutted by fire. In Minoan
times, the palaces were not only the royal residence
but also served as the administrative and religious
center for the entire district.
At Knossos, the ruins of the Minoan capital
comprised the palace of King Mines, the houses of
the state officials and priests which surrounded it
(the Small Palace, Royal Villa, Caravanserai, the
House of the Frescoes, etc.), the dwellings of the
ordinary citizens and cemeteries. The palace was an
intricate structural complex, built around a central
core (or courtyard) from which the various
apartments extended. This multi-story grouping which
occupied an area of 21,000 square meters (with
stairways, light shafts, corridors, balconies,
windows and colored columns supporting the roof),
contained not only the official quarters such as the
Throne Room, the Royal Suites of the King and Queen
and sacred places of worship, but also the Treasury,
artists' workshops, food stores, the arsenal and a
theater. Excellent frescoes contributed towards the
interior decoration of these buildings.
The palace buildings at Phaestos which was the
second palace-city in order of importance in the
Minoan world and the citadel of the mythical
Radamanthes, are similarly the core of a city
inhabited since Neolithic times. The architectural
layout is the same as at Knossos. The palace rooms
are likewise grouped around a central, paved
courtyard. In contrast, however, to the Knossos
palace, mural decoration was relatively poor but
this shortcoming was amply compensated for by the
flooring and the lining of the walls with slabs of
snow-white gypsum stone.
The Heraklion (Iraklio) Museum
This Museum is unique in the world in that it
contains a concentration of almost all the
discoveries which have been made on Minoan
civilization. The exhibits are classified into the
following main categories:
- Ceramics. Vases belonging to the Vasiliki
style, the multicolor vases from the Kamares
Caves, the vases of plant and marine style and
those of the palace style are especially
notable.
- Stoneware. Mainly vases made of marble or
semi-precious and precious stones. Those which
come from the sacred treasuries of the palaces
at Knossos and Zakros are outstanding. A special
category is formed by the stone utensils used in
religious ritual which carry various
representations in relief.Seal stones.These have
been usually carved out of semiprecious stones.
- Miniature sculpture. Clay figurines.and
others made of stone or precious materials.
- Goldsmith's work and ornaments in general.
- Metalwork. Household utensils, tools,
weapons and ceremonial axes.
- Frescoes from the large and the small
palaces, villas of the wealthy classes and
mansions. Mural paintings combined with reliefs
form a category of their own.
- Sarcophagi. The one from Aghia Triada, made
of stone, is unique.
- A small section of the Museum has been given
over to the finds which cover Greek civilization
up to Early Christian times.
The Archaeological Sites at Gortis, Tilissos, Malia,
Gournia, Aghia Triada, Arhanes, Lissos, Zakros,
Late, the Archaeological collection at lerapetra,
the church of Panaghia Keras Kritsas Merambellou,
the Psychrou Cave-Dictaio Cave.
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