In the crystal-clear waters of the Ionian Sea, 47 nautical miles east of Italy’s Cape Santa Maria di Leuca, lies Othonoi (Οθωνοί in Greek), an island that blends history, mythology, and unparalleled natural beauty. Recognized as the westernmost point of Greece, Othonoi is the largest and most populated of the Diapontia Islands. For mythology enthusiasts, […]
Greek Islands
Posted inAncient Greece, Travel
The colossal Portara of Naxos is all that remains of what was to be the largest temple in the Aegean
The Portara is one of the most iconic monuments on the Greek island of Naxos, located in the Cyclades. This gigantic marble gateway, which stands on a small peninsula facing the city of Naxos, is all that remains of an ambitious architectural project: a temple (never completed) dedicated to the god Apollo, at the very […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Findings on the Greek islands of Despotiko and Tsimindiri in the Cyclades include a tomb from the late 4th millennium BC and other structures
This year’s archaeological campaign on the Greek islands of Despotiko (the ancient Prepesinthos) and Tsimindiri, in the Cyclades, concluded with significant discoveries that shed new light on the region’s history. This excavation, led by archaeologist Giannos Kouragios under the supervision of the Directorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades, was conducted over six weeks, from May […]
Posted inBronze Age Archaeology
Two Deep Ritual Wells from the Bronze Age Sealed with Calcium Carbonate, Discovered on the Island of Cephalonia
In a strategic location on the island of Cephalonia, in the “Kotroni” Lakithra region, significant archaeological findings have emerged. Under the direction of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Cephalonia and Ithaca, archaeological investigations have focused on this area due to its potential to reveal significant remains from the Late Bronze Age. The excavation began following […]
Posted inBronze Age Archaeology
Mycenaean Purple Dye Workshop Discovered on Greek Island of Aegina
An archaeological discovery on the Greek island of Aegina has unveiled a Mycenaean purple dye workshop from the Late Bronze Age, offering new insights into the ancient production of this valuable pigment. This significant find was reported in an open-access study in the journal PLOS ONE by Lydia Berger from the Paris Lodron University of […]
Posted inAncient Greece
Lelantine War, the First Conflict Involving Greek Cities that no One won and whose Existence is Disputed
In ancient Greece, between 710 and 650 BC, a significant military conflict known as the Lelantine War took place. The main players were the city-states of Chalcis and Eretria, located on the island of Euboea. According to ancient sources, the initial cause of the conflict was a dispute over control of the fertile Lelantine Plain, […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
Excavations at Sanctuary of Zeus on Aegina’s Mount Hellanion Reveal it Was Used as Refuge During Destruction of Mycenaean Palaces
A team from the Piraeus and Islands Antiquities Inspection and the Swiss Archaeological School in Greece has been exploring the summit of Mount Hellanion, the highest mountain in Aegina, since 2021. Where the Church of the Ascension now stands overlooking the Saronic Gulf, there once was a sanctuary dedicated to Zeus, whose main buildings are […]
Posted inClassical Archaeology
8 Different Types of Ancient Amphorae Recovered from a Byzantine Ship Sunk in the 5th Century AD in Greece
In September 2023, the eighth season of underwater archaeological research in the Fourni archipelago, conducted by the University of Thessaly and the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities of the Greek Ministry of Culture, was completed. The research focused on the excavation of an early Byzantine period (5th-6th century AD) shipwreck located at the Aspros Kavos cape, […]
Posted inArchaeology
Archaeological Research in the Kasos Strait Ends with 10 Ancient Shipwrecks and Finds from Prehistoric to Ottoman Periods
In late October 2023, the multi-year underwater archaeological study in the marine area of Kasos was completed. Since 2019, the research team from the Hellenic National Research Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, conducted four research expeditions in areas of special interest, using archaeological and historical evidence, sources, testimonies, and reports on the […]
Posted inAncient Greece
Theagenes of Thasos, the Athlete who Became a God
The Greek island of Thasos is located in the northern part of the Aegean Sea, near the Thracian coast, and its capital, also called Thasos, is located in the northern part of the island. It was founded around 680 B.C. by settlers from the island of Paros. One of the most famous athletes of antiquity […]
