ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΟ ΕΡΓΟ ΘΕΣΣΑΛΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΕΡΕΑΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΑΣ 5 (2015), 2020
A picture of the history of Pharsalos can best be gained from the recently discovered evidence on... more A picture of the history of Pharsalos can best be gained from the recently discovered evidence on the ancient and byzantine acropolis on top of Profitis Ilias hill. The acropolis is oblong, has an E-W orientation and consists of two flat-topped crests connected by a narrow saddle. It occupies an area of approximately 3h. The oldest finds found on the acropolis consist of Neolithic stone tools. The Bronze Age is represented mainly by good-quality Mycenaean pottery dating from the period 1300-1100/1050 BC, while very few artifacts have been discovered from the Geometric and Archaic Eras. To the late 6th or early 5th century BC is dated the first phase of the fortification wall, which appears to have been renovated in the later part of the 4th century BC. To the same period probably is dated the circular cistern that has been explored between the two gates. The most important finds from the Hellenistic Era consist of typical pottery of the period, fragments of clay figurines and coins. In contrast, very few objects have been found from the Roman period. The ancient fortifications were repaired, according to Prokopios, by the emperor Justinian; in the area of the saddle in particular, the fortification wall was reinforced with three square towers, probably built on top of older ones. Between the two gates, a cross-wall sealed off the eastern plateau of the acropolis and this wall, too, may have been constructed above an ancient one. During the Middle and Late Byzantine Era the city took the shape of a kastron; although the excavations carried out so far are quite limited, parts of stone-paved streets, together with remains of secular and religious buildings have been unearthed. In the Ottoman period the acropolis was abandoned. Travelers who made precious descriptions and drawings of the ruined fortifications were the only visitors of the acropolis during the 19th century.
ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΟ ΕΡΓΟ ΘΕΣΣΑΛΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΕΡΕΑΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΑΣ 5 (2015), 2020
A picture of the history of Pharsalos can best be gained from the recently discovered evidence on... more A picture of the history of Pharsalos can best be gained from the recently discovered evidence on the ancient and byzantine acropolis on top of Profitis Ilias hill. The acropolis is oblong, has an E-W orientation and consists of two flat-topped crests connected by a narrow saddle. It occupies an area of approximately 3h. The oldest finds found on the acropolis consist of Neolithic stone tools. The Bronze Age is represented mainly by good-quality Mycenaean pottery dating from the period 1300-1100/1050 BC, while very few artifacts have been discovered from the Geometric and Archaic Eras. To the late 6th or early 5th century BC is dated the first phase of the fortification wall, which appears to have been renovated in the later part of the 4th century BC. To the same period probably is dated the circular cistern that has been explored between the two gates. The most important finds from the Hellenistic Era consist of typical pottery of the period, fragments of clay figurines and coins. In contrast, very few objects have been found from the Roman period. The ancient fortifications were repaired, according to Prokopios, by the emperor Justinian; in the area of the saddle in particular, the fortification wall was reinforced with three square towers, probably built on top of older ones. Between the two gates, a cross-wall sealed off the eastern plateau of the acropolis and this wall, too, may have been constructed above an ancient one. During the Middle and Late Byzantine Era the city took the shape of a kastron; although the excavations carried out so far are quite limited, parts of stone-paved streets, together with remains of secular and religious buildings have been unearthed. In the Ottoman period the acropolis was abandoned. Travelers who made precious descriptions and drawings of the ruined fortifications were the only visitors of the acropolis during the 19th century.
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and byzantine acropolis on top of Profitis Ilias hill. The acropolis is oblong, has an E-W orientation and
consists of two flat-topped crests connected by a narrow saddle. It occupies an area of approximately 3h. The
oldest finds found on the acropolis consist of Neolithic stone tools. The Bronze Age is represented mainly by
good-quality Mycenaean pottery dating from the period 1300-1100/1050 BC, while very few artifacts have
been discovered from the Geometric and Archaic Eras. To the late 6th or early 5th century BC is dated the
first phase of the fortification wall, which appears to have been renovated in the later part of the 4th century
BC. To the same period probably is dated the circular cistern that has been explored between the two gates.
The most important finds from the Hellenistic Era consist of typical pottery of the period, fragments of clay
figurines and coins. In contrast, very few objects have been found from the Roman period. The ancient fortifications
were repaired, according to Prokopios, by the emperor Justinian; in the area of the saddle in particular,
the fortification wall was reinforced with three square towers, probably built on top of older ones. Between
the two gates, a cross-wall sealed off the eastern plateau of the acropolis and this wall, too, may have
been constructed above an ancient one. During the Middle and Late Byzantine Era the city took the shape of
a kastron; although the excavations carried out so far are quite limited, parts of stone-paved streets, together
with remains of secular and religious buildings have been unearthed. In the Ottoman period the acropolis
was abandoned. Travelers who made precious descriptions and drawings of the ruined fortifications were the
only visitors of the acropolis during the 19th century.
and byzantine acropolis on top of Profitis Ilias hill. The acropolis is oblong, has an E-W orientation and
consists of two flat-topped crests connected by a narrow saddle. It occupies an area of approximately 3h. The
oldest finds found on the acropolis consist of Neolithic stone tools. The Bronze Age is represented mainly by
good-quality Mycenaean pottery dating from the period 1300-1100/1050 BC, while very few artifacts have
been discovered from the Geometric and Archaic Eras. To the late 6th or early 5th century BC is dated the
first phase of the fortification wall, which appears to have been renovated in the later part of the 4th century
BC. To the same period probably is dated the circular cistern that has been explored between the two gates.
The most important finds from the Hellenistic Era consist of typical pottery of the period, fragments of clay
figurines and coins. In contrast, very few objects have been found from the Roman period. The ancient fortifications
were repaired, according to Prokopios, by the emperor Justinian; in the area of the saddle in particular,
the fortification wall was reinforced with three square towers, probably built on top of older ones. Between
the two gates, a cross-wall sealed off the eastern plateau of the acropolis and this wall, too, may have
been constructed above an ancient one. During the Middle and Late Byzantine Era the city took the shape of
a kastron; although the excavations carried out so far are quite limited, parts of stone-paved streets, together
with remains of secular and religious buildings have been unearthed. In the Ottoman period the acropolis
was abandoned. Travelers who made precious descriptions and drawings of the ruined fortifications were the
only visitors of the acropolis during the 19th century.