Akanthos, the Ancient Greek City on the Chalkidiki Peninsula
Akanthos (Acanthus in Latin) was an ancient Greek city located on the eastern coast of the Chalkidiki Peninsula, near the present-day village of Ierissos, on the Athos Peninsula. This strategically positioned city, approximately 2.4 kilometers from the famous 'Xerxes Canal', has a rich history tied to Persian invasions, Athenian alliances, and significant trade and cultural influence in the Mediterranean region. The city’s name likely originates from the lush Mediterranean vegetation, specifically Acanthus mollis, a thorny perennial plant with medicinal properties that flourished along the Mediterranean coast. This plant is thought to have been abundant in the area, inspiring the city’s original name.
Map of Chalcidice
Origins and Founding of Akanthos
The city of Akanthos was founded in the 7th century BCE by Greek colonists from Andros. According to the historian Thucydides, these colonists arrived alongside others who established neighboring cities such as Argilos, Sane, and Stagira—the latter of which is famous as the birthplace of Aristotle. Plutarch offers an alternative story, stating that Akanthos was settled by a mixed group of colonists from both Andros and Chalkis. Legend has it that upon the arrival of these settlers, the native inhabitants abandoned the city out of fear. In the competition to claim this now-vacant land, a representative from each group raced to reach the city gates first. The Chalkidian won the race, but the Andrian made a strategic move, throwing his spear into the city gate before his opponent arrived. This led to a dispute resolved by awarding control to the Andrians, who had symbolically claimed the city first.
Xerxes Canal
Akanthos and the Persian Wars
Akanthos gained importance in the region, but it faced repeated Persian invasions. Under King Darius I, the Persian Empire expanded westward, coming into conflict with the Greek states. In 492 BCE, Darius launched a campaign against the Greeks led by his grandson general Mardonius, who captured the Thracian coast and the wealthy island of Thasos. However, part of Mardonius’s fleet was wrecked near Akanthos, highlighting the dangers of the rocky Athos Peninsula and the strategic challenges it posed.
Akanthos played a significant role during the second Persian invasion led by Xerxes I in 480 BCE. Xerxes stopped in Akanthos on his way to Greece and praised the city's residents for their cooperation and willingness to aid his campaign. To avoid the perilous waters around the Athos Peninsula, Xerxes ordered the construction of a canal near Akanthos, designed to allow ships to pass through safely. This ambitious project, known as the 'Xerxes Canal', was a demonstration of Persian engineering power and strategic foresight, though it also served to impress the local population. Despite its historical significance, no remnants of this canal have been conclusively identified.
Coin of Akanthos, Macedon. Circa 470–430 BCE
Akanthos in the Peloponnesian War
Following the Persian Wars, Akanthos became a member of the Delian League, an Athenian-led alliance. However, the city’s allegiance shifted during the Peloponnesian War. In 424 BCE, the Spartan general Brasidas launched a campaign in Thrace, persuading several cities, including Akanthos, to side with Sparta. Thucydides suggests that Brasidas’s threats to destroy Akanthos’s valuable vineyards were more effective than his rhetorical skills in securing the city’s cooperation.
Brasidas’s campaign allowed Sparta to establish a presence in northern Greece, gaining control over much of Chalkidiki. This alliance with Akanthos and other cities marked a turning point in the war, as the Athenians struggled to maintain influence in the region. However, in 421 BCE, the Peace of Nicias temporarily ended hostilities between Athens and Sparta, guaranteeing Akanthos’s independence. Akanthos later attempted to resist domination by the nearby city of Olynthus, which eventually led to the Olynthian War in 382 BCE. To retain its autonomy, Akanthos allied with Sparta once more, a move that would later see the city incorporated into the expanding Macedonian Kingdom.
Archaeological site of Akanthos
Macedonian and Roman Conquest
Akanthos’s importance continued under Macedonian rule. In the early 200s BCE, the Romans launched their campaign against Macedonia, capturing Akanthos and looting it as part of their conquest of the region. This marked the beginning of Akanthos’s integration into the Roman Empire, although the city retained much of its historical significance in regional trade and cultural influence.
Archaeological site of Akanthos - Greek Necropolis
Economic Prosperity and Cultural Influence
The city of Akanthos thrived economically and culturally, benefiting from its fertile lands, protected natural harbor, and access to abundant resources. Akanthos became a major commercial hub, engaging in trade throughout the Mediterranean. It was especially known for its production of wine, which was transported in locally crafted amphorae. Numerous pottery finds from the area confirm the city's extensive trade network, with Akanthos ceramics discovered across the Mediterranean basin. This thriving commerce contributed to Akanthos’s reputation as a wealthy and influential city within the region.
Archaeological site of Akanthos - paved roads
The Byzantine Period and Slavic Invasions
In the centuries that followed, Akanthos became part of the Byzantine Empire. However, in the 6th century CE, the empire suffered from widespread devastation caused by the Justinian Plague. The population decline led to a partial abandonment of the peninsula, allowing Slavic groups to settle in the area. In the 9th century, the Byzantines reasserted control over the region, repopulating it with Greek and Armenian settlers from Asia Minor. These newcomers lived in fortified settlements, known as kastra, to protect themselves from further invasions. Akanthos, now called Ierissos, was one of these fortified towns, and its name evolved to reflect its sacred standing, with “Ierissos” echoing the Greek word Hieros, meaning “sacred.”
Ancient Akanthos Fortification
Archaeological Remains and Modern Ierissos
Today, remnants of Akanthos can still be found near modern Ierissos. These include a small necropolis, sections of an ancient wall that once surrounded the city, and remains of Hellenistic structures. The city’s original layout spanned approximately 60 hectares along the coast, an area that has been systematically excavated since 1973. Excavations have uncovered over 13,000 tombs, indicating the city’s long history of habitation.
Notable finds also include pottery, amphorae, and other artifacts that reveal Akanthos’s role in Mediterranean trade and its cultural connections. Nearby, a Byzantine-era church and two post-Byzantine churches hint at the region’s continued importance as a spiritual and cultural center. In 1932, a major earthquake damaged the original village of Ierissos, leading to the establishment of a new settlement in the valley below. Unbeknownst to the builders, the valley was situated on an ancient cemetery, which had been in use since before the founding of Akanthos and remained active until the 17th century.
Last update: November 5, 2024
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