ANCIENT THERA
 Ancient
Thera, the Classical city of the island is located on Mesa Vouno,
396 m. above sea level. It was founded in the 9th century B.C. by
Dorian colonists whose leader was Theras, and continued to be
inhabited until the early Byzantine period.
The preserved ruins belong to the Hellenistic and Roman phases of
the city. The residential area and the larger part of the cemeteries
were excavated by German archaeologists between 1895 and 1902. The
cemeteries on the NE and NW slopes of Sellada were excavated by N.
Zapheiropoulos in the years 1961-1982.
The
most important monuments of the site are:
The Sanctuary of Artemidoros, entirely hewn in the rock, was
founded by Artemidoros of Perge. Engraved on the face of the rock
are epigrams and inscriptions, as well as the symbols of the gods
worshipped: an eagle for Zeus, a lion for Apollo, a dolphin for
Poseidon. Also engraved is the portrait of the wreathed Artemidoros,
the founder of the sanctuary. The whole structure is dated to the
end of the 4th or the beginning of the 3rd century B.C.
The Agora lies almost at
the centre of the city. Its southern part was actually the
commercial centre and the middle one was the administrative centre.
The northern part was added in the Roman period and included a
portico, monuments and temple-like buildings, erected in honor of
distinguished persons.
The Royal Stoa (46 x 10 m.) was built in the time of Augustus
(1st century A.D.), in the SW part of the Agora. The main entrance
is on the east side, towards the Agora and the roof was supported by
an interior Doric colonnade along the axis of the building. Statues
of members of the Ceasar's family were erected in the north part.
Two inscribed slabs built in the west wall, record that the portico
was repaired in A.D. 149 by Kleitosthenes, a rich Theran.
Temple of Dionysos. Small, Doric temple with a small cella
and pronaos, built on an artificial terrace to the north of the
Agora. The facade and roof were made of marble while the rest of the
building was of local stone. Dated to the 3rd century B.C.
(Hellenistic period).
Sanctuaries at the SE edge of the city. The area is occupied
exclusively by sanctuaries, open-air or roofed (such as the
sanctuary of Apollo Karneios, of Hermes and Heracles, of Ptolemy III
etc.) and the square, where the Gymnopaediae (dances of nude boys)
were held in honor of Apollo Karneios. Engraved on the rocks are
numerous inscriptions dating from the Archaic to the Roman period,
referring to deities and youths.
The Sanctuary of Apollo Karneios, dated to the 6th century
B.C., is partially hewn from the rock and partially built on an
artificial terrace. It includes:
a. the temple with pronaos and cella
b. a square courtyard with an underground cistern, the roof of which
was supported by six large monolithic pillars and
c. a small building, probably a repository.
Gymnasium of the youths. It lies at the south edge of the
city and dates from the 2nd century A.D. A small cave, partially
hewn from the rock, was dedicated to Hermes and Heracles.
Cemeteries of Ancient Thera. They are located on the slopes
of the Sellada, on either side of the roads that led to the north
and south harbours of the ancient city, the modern villages of
Kamari and Perissa, respectively. The graves uncovered span the long
period between the Geometric and Roman times.
The Theatre lies to the SE
of the Agora. It was constructed in the Ptolemaic period (3rd
century B.C.) and in its original form had a circular orchestra.
During alterations in the 1st century A.D., the stage was extended
and took over part of the original orchestra.
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