AKANTHOS: THE CITY AND THE CEMETERY
It was the most important city of eastern Chalcidice and a significant port of the northern
Aegean Sea.
The city was situated in a fertile area, near forested mountains and rich copper and gold
resources.
According to Thucydides it was a colony of the inhabitants of the island of Andros and it was
founded in the middle of the 7th century BC (Thuc. IV.84.1). The excavation of the modern
village Ierissos that was built on top of the ancient city and the cemetery brought to light
architectural remains of an earlier settlement (apsidal building of the Early Iron Age) and
pottery of the same period. Thus, it seems that there was a settlement there before and the
colonists came to this settlement.
Akanthos prospered economically. She struck coins in 530 BC and their circulation is found in
the whole Greek world. T
Akanthos did not decline during the Macedonian occupation in the Hellenistic period. She
remained a very important economic centre throughout the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
There are a very few remains of the ancient city: part of the fortification wall and the
foundation of a temple of the Classical period and part of a late Classical – Hellenistic private
house. Furthermore, a great part of Classical and Hellenistic ceramic workshops producing
amphoras for wine and oil have come to light near the ancient cemeteries.
A great part of the cemetery of the city has been excavated, due to the building of the
modern village in the area of the ancient cemetery. More than 13.000 graves have come to
light up to now and their number is being increased constantly. 50-70% of the burials
belonged to children. The cemeteries have similarities with cemeteries of Macedonia, Attica,
Euboea, and the Cycladic islands.
There are all types of graves which contain both inhumations and cremations. The
commonest graves were simple pits, with walls sometimes coated with clay. Most of them
did not contain grave goods. The pit graves covered with tiles and the burials inside pots
(enchytrismoi) constitute other categories. Most of the latter contained burials of children or
infants. Clay or marble sarcophagi were more uncommon. Among them some were
imported from Ionia and were very elaborate with painted parts. Finally, cist graves are also
present in the cemeteries of Akanthos.
The grave goods were personal belongings of the deceased or gifts offered by the relatives
and friends. They were placed inside or on top of the grave. There were mainly terracotta
vases, metal jewellery for the women, weapons for the men, clay figurines and toys for the
children.
The study of the cemeteries provides evidence on the economy, trade relations, social
organization and other aspects of the life in the ancient city.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
M. Zahrnt, Olynth und die Chalkidier, Vestigia 14, München 1971.
H. Trakosopoulou-Salakidou, “Archaia Akanthos: 1986-1996”, Archaeologiko Ergo ste
Makedonia kai Thrake, 10A, 1996, 313-32.