ARCHEOLOGICAL AREAS HISTORICAL
MONUMENTS

The archeological mattock has brought to light many interesting archeological areas in Amfipolis, which are open to the public.

From the Macedonian Tombs, that were found in the area of Amfipolis, two of them are the most important ones. They are situated on the eastern side of the motorway Thessaloniki-Drama and they are dated back to 3rd century B.C. One of them has a road, an anteroom with one dead-bed and one room with two dead beds in a "Γ" shape. On the dead beds of the room there is a painted decoration featuring Dionysian topics. The second tomb has got a road and only one room with two dead-beds in an "Γ" shape.

The ancient walls of the city create a surrounding wall of approximately 7.450 metres long, which surrounds the city from every side. A smaller surrounding wall of approximately 2.200 metres in length used to be in the Acropolis. Impressive parts of the wall were found, belonging to the classic and Hellenistic period. The most important part of the wall is the one that is situated in the Railway station, close to Strymon river, with fortified gates, large pipe complexes for the rain water sewage and impressive staircases. An also important part is the one situated in the area of the ancient bridge.

The ancient bridge, which was made of wood, is a unique finding. Between the fortified gate and Strymon's bank hundreds of piles were found. Under those piles, in a deeper layer, there were found about 100 piles which were supporting the bridge of the classic period. This bridge must be the same as the one Thucydides mentioned that the Spartian General Vrasidas occupied in 424 B.C.

The Gymnasium is the most important public building in Amfipolis. It is situated in the S Ε part of the ancient city, between the exterior and interior surrounding walls and it is dated back to the 4th century B.C. up to the 1st century A.C. The arena occupies a central position. In the same position there are the indoor baths with water providing systems made of lead and clay pipes and a large sewerage pipe. The staircase that leads to the Gymnasium is very impressive, too. Also, another impressive thing is the stoic building used for training during bad weather. In front of this building there is an open-air area used for training when the weather was good. There has also been discovered a place of worship to Hermes and Hercules, protectors of the Gymnasiums, an altar for sacrifices and outdoor baths.

The Hellenistic house, which is situated between the Gymnasium and the Roman mansion, is dated back to the 2nd century B.C. Two large rooms and a yard with a peristyle were discovered there.

The Roman mansion is in the S. W. side of the Palaeochristian Royals and the most important thing that preserves, apart from a luxurious sample of a private house during the Roman period, is the mosaic floors with mythological depictions of Amymoni, Yla, Europe etc.

The Palaeochristian Royals are four in total and they are situated on the Acropolis' hill. They are decorated with mosaic floors and are dated back to the 5th-6th century A.C. In the same area, there was a discovery of a building which was used as the Bishop's Residence in Amfipolis, with marble floors of the 6th century A.C.

The Lion of Amfipolis, which is one of the most important monuments, not only of Amphipolis but also Macedonias', is next to the west bank of Strymon, close to the bridge. It was restored on a pedestal in the position where it was discovered, after the completion of the excavation. It is an imposing marble lion in a position of a sitted wildcat with its paws up. lt is erected just outside N. Kerdylia, on the national motorway between Thessaloniki and Kavala.

According to some archaeologists, the devastation of the monument took place at the end of the 4th century B.C. It is possible that the monument was destroyed by the Roman conquerors, who in order to take it to Rome, they broke it into pieces. However, the most probable version, seems to be the one that the Lion was destroyed by the Bulgarians in 1204 A.C., who having Ioannitsis as a leader, pillaged all the Macedonian towns.

Many different opinions have been expressed for the purpose or the cause of the monument's construction. The most prevalent one was expressed by the Professor of Archeology, Oscar Brodear who believed that the Lion was erected in honour of Laomedon, son of Larihos and trusty friend of Alexander the Great. Roger claimed that the monument was erected in honour of Nearchos, Admiral of Alexander the Great. Finally, according to another version, the Lion of Amfipolis was erected as a symbolic monument, in order to reflect the tower's power, as it happened with the Lions of Dylos.

Other archeological places which haven't been exploited yet but with good chances for exploitation are those of: Gazoros, Kalokastro, Vergi, Aidonohori, Sidirokastro.

On the imposing, pine-glad hill that overlooks today's city of Serres, another monument is rising, the powerful Acropolis, where the spirit of the Byzantines is vigilant. There, you can clearly listen to the mournful voice, which is emitting from the remains and the strange silence of the countless centuries that follow the visitors with noiseless steps from the rampart of the towers.

This Byzantine Acropolis was built in an ancient fort which was used to defend the city in the 7th and 6th centuries B.C. During the Byzantine period it had been quoted in many golden bulls of different Byzantine emperors as "Castle". However, as time went by, the word "Castle" ended up including the whole city. That is the reason why, at the beginning of our century the people of Serres were called "Kastrini" by the inhabitants of the villages round Serres. From the Prankish conquest and onwards the name "Kasteli" prevailed for the Acropolis and remained until the years of the Turkish domination. The Turkish were calling it "Bas Koule" (top tower), probably because of the large tower on the west side. The present name "Koulas" (tower) derived from that Turkish name.

The Acropolis was surrounded by a wall which stretched from the West to the East, in the Byzantine period. It surrounded all kinds of different Byzantine buildings, such as the homes of the governors and officers of the country. Also, the provost marshal, called "castle guardian", who was appointed by the Byzantine authorities was living in the Acropolis. A well known castle guardian was Leon Azanitis, who countersigned in golden bulls in the first half of the 14th century. According to the Turkish traveller EvliaTselebi, the wall of the Acropolis had two gates which were situated on the east and west sides of the castle, very close to the towers. Some remains of the second gate can still be seen today, close to the large tower on the western side.

As it was expected, high and stiff towers were boosting the defensive strength of the wall. From those towers only the stiff and splendid tower on the western side, "the tower of the king" was preserved, destroyed only in its highest part. This huge tower, reaching no less than 20 metres in height, had a dual purpose: from one side to protect the city that was nearby and from the other side it was the last point of defence in case the enemy stormed the rest of the Acropolis. This last defence point exists, no matter what, in all the Medieval Acropolis', either in the form of fortified enclosure walls as the one in Servia or in the form of small fort, such as Eptapyrgio in Thessaloniki's Acropolis, or finally as isolated multistored tower, like the Acropolis in Philipi.

A sign in the right end of the tower of the king attracts great interest and according to the most prevalent standpoint, says: "ΠΥΡΓΟΣ ΑΝΔΡΟΝΙΚΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ON ΕΚΤΙΣΕΝ OPEΣΤΗΣ " (King Andronikos' tower which was built by Orestis).

The establishment of the Byzantine Acropolis is referred in the 9th century A.C. That is the first time is mentioned from historical sources that the Emperor Nikiphoros Fokas had fortifications built in the city of Serres. The resistless Acropolis had a better luck than the wall of the city: it managed to preserve itself from terrible barbaric irruptions and horrifying devastations. Even in 1204 A.C., when the city's walls were completely demolished, the Acropolis escaped untouched. However, with the total subjugation of Serres to the Turks in 1383,the abandonment and gradual dilapidation began, because the Turks were planning the devastation of the castles so they wouldn't become hot spots of resistance in case of a revolutionary movement of the unredeemed Greeks.

At the N.E. end of the castle there is the exquisite Byzantine church of St Nikolaos, which was restored and renewed in 1937. Until 1926 many mural remnants and jewel remnants were kept in the inside of the church with the usual technique and topics of the Palaeologi period.

In the east side of the church, under the bilobed window of the apse there is the entrance to a crypt, in which you can get to via a small staircase. This crypt served the purpose of a cemetery, in other words it was a place were the guards of the castle were buried after they were murdered or had died in it from a disease or any other cause. The cemetery character of the crypt of St. Nikolaos is reinforced by the few graves' remnants and people's bones that were found in it.

According to a Statement of 1339-1342 A.C. and also the shape of the church's stonework we can conclude that the Church of St. Nikolaos was built before the Serbon occupation and more specifically in the first half of the 14th century (Palaeologi period).

In the centre of the old town (Varosi) and in the depths under the ground's surface, there is the brilliant old cathedral of St. Theodores, big rectangular Royal. According to a tradition, it was built on the remains of an ancient church. The cathedral was commissioned in 1224 A.C. by the Sovereign of Epirus, Theodore Angel Komninos in memory of the glorious victory against the Franks, just outside the city. The first reference to the Old Cathedral was made in a golden bull of Andronikos the senior in 1321 A.C. It is described in details by the orator Theodore Pediasimos, who comes from Serres, in his brilliant essay "expressions about the Sanctum of Feres (i.e. Serres)" (14th century).

A plinth sign on the southern side of the church's wall states the following: "EN ΕΤΕΙ ΕΨΚΕ + Ο ΤΑΠΕΙΝΟΣ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΙΤΗΣ ΣΕΡΡΩΝ ΣΤΕΦΑΝΟΣ Ο ΚΤΙΤΩΡ", testifing that the wall was demolished and rebuilt in 1725.

St. Theodores' church is mostly well known for its mosaics, from which after the fire of 1913 the only one that was rescued was the one that shows Apostle Andreas and the hands of Apostle Loukas.

This historical church has been repaired and renovated during the years, which had as a result the transformation of its original shape. During the great fire of 1913 the church got almost completely burned. Its restoration took place later under the watchful eye of the Archeological Authorities.

The picturesque monastery of Saint George the Kryoneritis is situated on the eastern part of the city, on the way to St. John. The name "Kryoneritis" derives from the cold water spring that used to be close to this area. The monastery was founded before 1298 and became a monastery dependency of the Monastery of St. John the Baptist in 1344, when Ypomoni, the wife of Sakellarios Mourmouras, sovereign of Serres, donated it to the Monstery of St. John the Baptist. The monastery was destroyed by the Turks in 1572, when its elegant dome collapsed. It was replaced later by a hemispherical roof which was internally covered by a quadrilingual pyramidical roof. Most probably this roofing was made during the constructions in 1864, which is engraved on the stone sign which is located on the western outer side of the monument.

The two icons, which decorate the contemporary icon screen, are of great importance. One of them depicts the Virgin Mary holding the baby under the name "Pantanousa" (1694) and the other one depicts Christ Pantocrator under the sign "Δέησις του δούλου του Θεού Ακακύου μοναχού".

In a steep ravine of Paggeo Mountain there is the Holy Monastery of Icosifinissa in luxuriant and immaculate forests, where a mysterious silence reigns and is interrupted only by the whisper and the chirping of the birds. The Monastery has great historical value for many hundreds of years and it is commemorated in the name of the Virgin Mary, whose icon, not made by human hand, is kept there, painted from time immemorial and attracts the Christians from all over Macedonia.

The repartee of the Monastery's name, according to one version, comes from the word "είκοσι φοίνικες" (twenty phoenix). According to another version Germanos, the first founder, who showed despair about the water shortage problem and was thinking of building the Monastery in a different place, he had a vision, in which the Virgin Mary sent a blackbird (cossyfon), which discovered water between copious bushes. From that moment onwards the Monastery was named Cossyphinissa and Cossynitsa. According to another, more prevalent version, the Monastery took its name from the icon not made by human hand, which was red.

According to a tradition, the Monastery was founded in 518 A.C. by venerable Germanos who had a vision of God senting an angel and ordering him to establish the Monastery in Macedonia.

The second founder of the Monstery is considered to be Dionysus, who served as Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (1472-1478). He was appointed a Saint by our Church and his relics are still kept in the Monastery.

From 1805 and onwards the Reverend Fathers Chrysanthos( 1805), Nectarios of Constantinople (1816-1818), Hatziananias (1818), Kyrillos (1821-1822) and Benjamin (1833-1834) consisted the body of National Resistance. Finally, it was in that Monastery that Emmanouil Papas put his men under oath.

The Holy Nunnery of John the Baptist is 9 km east of the city of Serres, in a ravine of Menikio mountain, surrounded by a picturesque and pious setting, where the soul is truly distracted from every prosy concern and raised to eternity. There you can experience the piece of sight and the poetry of biblical tranquillity. You can experience an intact part of the Byzantine world, devoted to John the Baptist. The Nunnery is surrounded by an atmosphere of eternity and real charm.

The Nunnery was built in 1270 A.C. by Ioannikios, who served as Bishop of Ezeve (Dafni). Afterwards, his nephew, Joakem, Metro-polite of Zihni, during the year 1300 surrounded the Nunnery with high, solid walls and endowed it with royal donations (monastery dependency and land).

In 1345 A.C. the land belonging to the Nunnery was almost destroyed by the invasion of the Serbs. Only due to Helen, wife of the Serbian Krali Stefanos Dousan, the land wasn't completely destroyed.

During the Turkish domination the Nunnery had the great honour of welcoming the first Patriarch Gennadios Shcolarios after the fall of Constantinople. According to history, Gennadios was a Patriarch for 3 years, from 1453to 145 7 and then he resigned and came to the Nunnery. In 1462 he was invited to the Patriarchal throne for the second time, which lasted only for one year. In 1464 he returned to the Patriarchal throne for the third time, but he was replaced by Joasaph the 1st, not having even completed one year and as a result he returned to the Nunnery, where he died in 1472. According to tradition, Gennadios' grave was in the middle part of the catholic church of the Nunnery, close to the graves of the Founders. The removal of his relics took place in May 1854 and now are placed in a box. Close to the grave there is a marble sign, engraved with an honourable epigram by the poet Helias Tantalidis, which was sent by the Patriarchate of Constantinople, at the time of the removal of the wise Patriarch's relics.

The Nunnery has been the centre of an uninterrupted painting movement. There are icons of the 14th century, some of the most interesting in our country and also beautiful wall paintings from the year 1630. There is also a wonderful icon screen made out of walnut wood and very artistically engraved in 1804.

In the square ancient tower of the Nunnery, that was converted into a Library, there were 100 handwritten volumes in vellum, 200 handwritten volumes in paper, 1500 volumes of different kinds of books, 4 golden bulls of Byzantine Emperors, in vellum, 5 patriarchic sigils, 4 old codes and many other religious articles that were stolen by the Bulgarians during 1913 and 1917.

Chionohori is positioned on the steep slope of Menikio mountain. It's a real ark, where an original part of our Byzantine tradition is kept with great respect. That is the Byzantine country church, carved on a rock, where the visitor can experience a real atmosphere of the first centuries of monastic life. According to historical tradition, Joannikios, the founder of the holy nunnery of John the Baptist and his nephew Joakim, took shelter in this country church. However, the damp climate started to damage the health of this great ascetic, so he had to move to the other side of Menikio mountain, where he founded the wonderful Nunnery of John the Baptist.

A place of great historical interest is the last remains of a castle, which is in the village called Dafni. It is the preserved, high Tower (Pyrgos), known to the locals as "Pyrgos of Maro". Ma-ro, from whom the Tower got its name, was the wife of Mourat II and the daughter of the Serbian sovereign Georgio Brakovits. Her mother was a granddaughter of Matheos Kantakouzinos and niece of Helen, wife of David Komninos, the last emperor of Trapezounta.

Maro, after the death of Moural II, inherited the large village, Dafni, whose ancient name was Ezeve, where she settled down and lived in great luxury and dominance.

In the Old Code of the Cathedral of St. Theodores (of Serres), where the registration of holy vessels and vestments takes places, it is mentioned as "Icon of Maro which was made of the Holy wood". In other words, she had donated to the Cathedral an icon of the Virgin Mary which was made from Holy wood.

Even though Maro was so far away from the Sultanic court, she kept on influencing Turkey's policy, something that brought envy to the Turks, who sent people to Dafni to kill her. However, she managed to elude them and hide in a village nearby, where she died not long after.

Three Turkish Monuments are preserved in very good condition in Serres. Zintizirli Tzami (Mosque) is a place of great interest because it is obviously influenced by Byzantine architecture. A beautiful Pulpit of fine marble which shows great analogies and similarities to the old christianic pulpits of the Byzantine churches, is preserved there.

The temple of Ahmet Pasas, close to the torrent of Saints Anargyros, was built, according to a sign on the monument, in 1492 by Mehmet Bey, son of Seliml. This temple, because of its elegancy and measured similarity to the Christian churches, was named "Saint Sofia"by the people of Serres. The beautiful Mausoleums of the conquerors are positioned next to the temple. The grave of Ismail Bey's family is in these Mausoleums. Ismail Bey was one of Serres1 governors.

Bezesteni, a building from the 16th-17th century is in the central square of the city and operates as an Archeological Museum, where all the archeological wealth of the Prefecture has been housed. Bezesteni, was built according to the model of byzantine markets and probably by a Greek architect. Its name means "fabric market". Those indoor markets (Bezestenis), were very popular and typical of Muslim towns. Their example was followed by the conquered Byzantine cities. A Turkish sightseer of the 17th century wrote in his book that "there is a wonderful stone-built building, covered in lead and this is Bezesteni".

Today in Greece there are only two Bezestenis that are still preserved: one in Thessaloniki and the other one in Serres.