CULTURE Nea Anchialos… place of history and tradition
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View Basilica A’ - Agios Demetrios Nea Anchialos is one of the most important towns in Magnesia due to its natural beauty and the remarkable archaeological findings. Built on the ruins of the ancient city Pyrassos, of Achaia Phthiotida. Homer provides us with information about the city, who mentions it in his list of ships (Iliad B695) together with Fylaki and Itona, which belonged to the kingdom of Protessilaos. According to Stravon (IX435), who discusses its topography, Pyrassos was 20 stadiums from the contemporary city Phthiotides Thieves. In Pyrassos there was the famous temple of Demeter. There is a possibility that it has also been an important religious center of the area. Maybe the most identical finding is a small piece of an ancient epigraph, discovered in the debris of the big Basilica D’ with the name “Pyrassos”, clear proof that this is the spot where used to be the great city of Protessilaos and Demeter. Pyrassos ends in 217 BC when it was destroyed by Philip the 5th. In this debris developed later a new city, Phthiotides Thieves. According to the epigraphs, it took its name c.2nd century a.C. and it reached its cultural, spiritual and artistic peak during the Paleochristianic period until the end of 7th century. This fact justifies the term “Christianikae Thive”.
The only excavation which took place in the hill on the southeast of Nea Anchialos proves that the city has been peopled since the earliest Neolithic period (6th millennium) by fishermen-agriculture’s, who developed a remarkable civilization. Pyrassos can only provide us with hypothetical information; an arm from an oversized female statue, which came into light in 1965, was attributed to the statue of Demeter, the goddess adored by the inhabitants of the city. Other relics of unspecified nature lie also in the Basilica D’, which has been excavated in the area where there must be built the public buildings of the Hellenistic Pyrassos, in the center of Nea Anchialos.
Long lasting excavations have brought into light a good number of buildings of the ancient city. There has been an effort to determine the course of its wall which protected the city. The area surrounded by the wall is about 600x480m. Until now there have been discovered ten important monuments of the ancient city: 1) Pyrassos citadel, 2) Elpidius Basilica, 3) Group of public buildings, 4) the Episcopal building, 5) the Basilica of St.Dimitris, 6) burnt bath, 7) Gymnasium and baths, 8) paved street with shops, 9) a mansion and 10) the Basilica of high priest St.Peter. However, outside the wall there are important buildings as well: The Basilica cemetery, the 5th Basilica, mansion of the 34th century by the sea, bath and extensive mosaics, another street with shops, cemeteries with arched graves engraved in the side of the hill or underground arched graves with sarcophagus since the 3rd-6th centuries. The example above represent for the main part art in the area. The various mosaics and their extraordinary technique, make the city the most appropriate place to study that kind of decoration.
Ground Plan of archaeological findings
Pagassitikos Bay
1. Ancient port 2. Pyrassos’ Acropolis 3. Basilica A’ - St. Dimitrios 4. Basilica B’ - Bishop Elpidius 5. Basilica C’ - High priest Peter 6. Basilica D’ - Cemeterian 7. Basilica of torment 8. Bishops building 9. Public buildings 10. Ancient wall (It does not exist)
Nea Anchialos
Fthiotides Thives
Most Important Archaeological Findings
Basilica A’ Agios Demetrios It is situated southeast of the today’s main market on the national highway. The excavation started in 1924 and has been terminated in 1928. Basilica A’ is a three-nave one with vestibule, yard and additional buildings. Characteristic though is the forming of the yard and the buildings surrounding the Basilica, as well as of the baptistery and the vestry. The floors were covered with flat stones out of marble and mosaics. Additional excavations (in 1972 and1973) have brought into light the yard and the buildings south, east and north of the basilica. The name of the basilica has been beard out of a floor mosaic epigraph of the baptistery were it is written «Agios Dimitrios» (Sain Dimitrios). Front view representation of Basilica’s A – Agios Dimitrios (As per G.Sotiriou)
Ground plan of Basilica A’ with its yard, the commercial street east, the additional buildings and the baths complex nd
th
Chronology: 2 half of the 5 century a.C th Under heated bath of the 5 century a.C., northwest of the basilica. th Private mansion of the 5 century a.C., 50 m. north of the basilica Stone covered boulevard with colonnade and shops east of the basilica Cemetery with family and private graves north east of the basilica Under heated bath south of the same basilica Wrestling ring and gymnasium south of the southern baths
Nea Anchialos
Fthiotides Thives
Most Important Archaeological Findings
Basilica B’ Bishop Elpidius Situated next to the national highway to Volos at the foot of Acropolis. It is a three-nave basilica with vestibule, yard and additional buildings. It has been brought into light from 1928-1929. Additional excavations have been taking place in 1960 and 1972. The sanctuary has been kept in very good condition. th The first construction of the building is aged the 5 century a.C. but it seems to have reconstruction later on. th The name of the basilica has been given by a epigraph referring the name Bishop Elpidius (first half of the 6 century)
Fragment of a Wall Mosaic 6th century. Stone and glass tesserae Found in the Basilica of Bishop Elpidos
Found in the Basilica of Bishop Elpidos, Phthiotic Thebes, Nea Anchialos
Ground plan of the Sanctuary Basilica B - Bishop’s Elpidius
Nea Anchialos
Fthiotides Thives
Most Important Archaeological Findings
Basilica C’ High Priest Peter Situated beside the today’s market, next the national highway to Almyros. It concerns the most important monument which has been discovered up to now in Nea Anchialos. The basilica C’ is located close to the southern part of the city walls. The periodical excavations began from 1929 up to 1954 from G.Sotiriou. Another excavation took place in 1969 which has been continued by P.Lazarides. th
There you find three sequentive basilicas. The first one is dated in the half or the second half of the 4 century a.C. The second th one is dated in the half or the second half of the 5 century a.C. and the third one the period of Ioustinianos A’ (532 a.C.). The three sequentive basilicas together with the additional buildings take 7000 sm. and they have been build on ruins of the Mycenaic and after Roman period. The reach decorations, the marble columns and decorative parts, as well as the big variety of the mosaics and the frescos are very interesting characteristics of the period. Special attention should be given at the floors of rd the 3 basilica for the high quality and the theme variety of the mosaics. rd The name given at the basilica C’ «High priest Peter» is due to an epigraph found at the southern part of the 3 basilica.
View of the baptistery Basilica C’ - Phthiotic Thebes, Nea Anchialos
Basilica C’ – High Priest Peter- Phthiotic Thebes Detail of moisaic floor
Annex building with floor mosaic Basilica C’ - Phthiotic Thebes, Nea Anchialos
Nea Anchialos
Fthiotides Thives
Most Important Archaeological Findings
Basilica D’ Sepulchral Situated at the western part of Nea Anchialos, outside of the ancient walls. Basilica D’ or Sepulchral is a three-nave one with vestibule, yard and additional buildings. Very identical are the square rooms which are formed at the two long sides of the building, as well as the arch roofed graves. th
th
The theme of the floor mosaics are very interesting as they present geometrical forms, animals, birds etc. (5 -6 century a.C.). Basilica D’ has been firstly excavated in 1934-1936. Additional excavation took place in 1972, when important findings brought into light.
Basilica D’ - Phthiotic Thebes, Nea Anchialos Mosaic Floor
Ground view of basilica D’ - Cemeterian
Basilical D’ - Design of graves found
Basilica D’ - Phthiotic Thebes, Nea Anchialos General View
Nea Anchialos
Fthiotides Thives
Most Important Archaeological Findings
Basilica Martyrion Situated southern of Nea Anchialos, outside of the ancient walls. The excavations took place in 1971, 1978 and 1979. th It is a three-nave basilica with vestibule, built on the ruins of an ancient buildings (probably dated the 4 century a.C.). The archaeological pickax brought into light the base of the Holly table of the sanctuary and the «synthronon». The eight sided columns of the presbytery are very characteristic. The floors of the northern part of the building as well as the vestibule are covered with mosaics, rich in texture and theme. The basilica took its name «Torment» from an epigraph found at the beast of the presbytery, dated the 431 a.C.
Basilica Marterion - Phthiotic Thebes Detail of a mosaic pavement
Jewish epigraphs with the seven-lighted Lamp
Basilica Martyrion’ - Phthiotic Thebes, Nea Anchialos Ground View
Basilica Marterion - Phthiotic Thebes General View Burial epigraph of Peter of Antiohia
Basilica Marterion - Phthiotic Thebes Mosaic pavement of the narthex Burial epigraph of Notarius Thomas
Basilica Martyrion’ - Phthiotic Thebes, Nea Anchialos Breast with the epigraph
Nea Anchialos
Fthiotides Thives
Most Important Archaeological Findings
Basilica E’
Baptistery th
th
It is situated outside the ancient walls, dated from the 5 -6 century a.C. Under heated baths with well conditioned mosaics at about 100 meters from basilica of Torment Building from the Paleochristianic period, possible another basilica at its northwestern part of the walls.
In 1983 it has been found (southern of the High priest Peters’ basilica) a baptistery, which due to its design and dimensions is considered unique in Greece.
Episcopical Mansion The called Episcopical mansion is situated in the 100 m. western
Basilica F’ Situated at the today’s market, next to the police station. After the excavations of 1978 and 1981, it has been discovered the ninth basilica at the town’s center. Until now only the arch and part of the floors, which are th covered with mosaics and marble. Dated possibly the 5 century a.C.
the Basilica of Saint Dimitrios. It was discovered in the 1937..1939 and 1954 by G. Sotiriou, in 1972 they came into light from the P. Lazaridis other departments of the building. It was two-storied and had important sculptural decor. It belongs in the after Roman times and it was maintained however and used until the 7th century a.C.
Group of public buildings
Three-nave odd small church Discovered during 1982 in a private land. It is dated at the rd th early Paleochristianic centuries, 3 -4 a.C. Most probably it has been built in order to facilitate the religious ceremonies and needs of the few Christians of the Phthiotides Thieves (before the construction of the bigger basilicas)
The revelation began in 1956 from the G. Sotiriou and was continued by the P. Lazaridis in 1960-1698 and 1987. There were pointed out 8 building phases. It is concerned of a public group of market or hospital or some other ordainment, that was used for a lot of centuries. Inside this area, there is bath building with mosaic flooring in a room that can be dated in the 2nd century a.C. From city wall parts of the ancient city Fthiotides Thebes towers, gates that were found or were pointed out sporadically became possible the imprint and the determination of its course and its extent. The wall is distinguished in land and marine. It was surrounding the city of Homeric Pyrassos, the harbor and big extent of the ancient city. Its length was 2000 m. roughly and the area 250000 s.m. but the city was extended outside by the environment of fortification.
Nea Anchialos
Modern History
Nea Anchialos of East Romelya Origin The inhabitants of Nea Anchialos are originated from Anchialos of Eastern Romylia, now a days Bulgaria’s province.
Eastern Romylia Eastern Romylia is the name given by the Berlin’s convention (July 1878), at the Othonan Empire’s territory, which by that time was belonged to them. That name has been given most probably due to the majority of the inhabitants, who were Greeks, and they have had the prevalence of the spiritual, financial and commercial life. By Berlin’s convention (based on ethnic criteria), two hegemonies would be created: 1) Bulgaria, as an independent state (tax payable at the sultan) and 2) Eastern Romylia-as an autonomous territory governed by the sultan. In 1885, the Bulgarians taking advantage at the disability of the Turkish leadership and the toleration of the Big Forces, started to penetrate into Eastern Romylia. Serbia began a war and was bitten. Greece unable to move its forces at the borders, under the pressure of the Big Forces. Since then the Bulgarians planned the destruction of the Greek population, which lasted 40 years, until all of them have been moved away.
Anchialos of Easter Romylia Built by the city near it Appolonia (Sozopoli) 540 BC, which was one of the colonies of the Ionic city Militos. It has been constructed on one of the Black Sea’s peninsula, at a place where Pyrgos is situated. It was an independent city with its own laws and currency. Apollo was the god adored by the inhabitants and the Militos buffalo was decorating their coins. During the period of the Roman Empire, it has been named «Oulpia or Oulpian Anchialos», referring to emperor Trainon family name.
At the Byzantine empire’s period, its name change again to «Ahelo» corruption of which is «Anchialos». The name Anchialos is composed of «Anchi = next,close» and «alos = sea». Indeed, Anchialos was a city of the sea, and it has been characterized as the «Nymph of the Black Sea». By that time it was a big development, specially in the commerce; it has been a big commercial port, since it was exporting to Venice and Genoa. Anchialos was the center of defense of the northern borders of the Byzantine Empire, since it was one of the most powerful cities near Konstantinoupolis (Instabul). The city preserved its Greek character for 2,5 thousand years, which brought about prosperity, declining catastrophes, submission. For the last 200 years there is a great vivid tradition which speaks for itself. By the annexation of the East Romylia to Bulgaria (1885), Anchialos became a Bulgaria prefecture.
But even then the people of Anchialos continued to consider themselves pure Greeks.
Nea Anchialos
Modern History
Nea Anchialos of East Romelya (from Agathopolis), Paramanas (because a relative was working as “paramana” = governess). The main occupation of the local people was vine growing, commerce, salt production, shipping and fishing. They used to be divided into two local social classes: The “tsorbatzides” that is to say prosperous and the “badarakides” the people. Anchialos early adapted the bourgeoisie style of life. fashion came strictly from Paris.
Anchialos population was about 6000 people. Apart from the Greeks, who were the biggest part, there were also a few Bulgarians as well as Turks and gypsies. Except for the local people Anchialos was also inhabited by Greeks from other parts, such as Mesembria, Sozopolis, Pyrgos, Crete, Moria, Minor Asia, islands... This fact can be easily justified by examining the people’s surnames, which used to show their origin or their profession: i.e. Tzoumerkiotis (from Tzoumerka), Mesimbrinos (from Mesembria), Agathopolitis
When our ancestors arrived here, they have been given 54,000,000 square meters by the Greek government, bought from a local farmer, but only the 34,000,000 finally were useful as the other part was swamp. Due to swap and the mosquitoes, they have to deal with tremendous problems such as malaria and haematuria. The number of dead people was so big that they had to fill two cemeteries of 10 acts each. Some of the people left and some of them went back to Bulgaria. During the second world war, Nea Anchialos has been destroyed completely by Italians (27 April 1943, three days after Easter). A few years later (2 March 1948), during the civil war, the town has been destroyed once more from the rebels. Couple of years later, phylloxera destroyed all the vineyard of the area (approximately 4,000,000 sm.). They have been thinking to buy the American type but it was tremendously expensive. In 1954, the earthquake demolished the biggest part of the city. But in spite of the hardship and sufferings they managed to survive. Undoubtedly life in Greece, difficult as it was, changed lots of things, which influenced even the character of the people. However, there still remain a lot of elements in the mentality and they communicated them to the local people of Thessaly.
People’s behavior was very modern. As a consequence all these weakened the bond with the tradition. The citizen of Anchialos is good and peace-full, hardworking and social. He loves joking, entertainment, dancing, singing, going to the theater. Deeply democratic, brave patriot. As far as the woman is concerned, she was always been a great help in the house and the society. However, the excellent laying out of the city with its friendly population was totally burnt on the 30th of July 1906. The great city of Efxinos Pontos was gone for ever but not the culture and the local civilization which continued in two other cities: Anchialos of Macedonia and Nea Anchialos of Thessaly.
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Nea
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