What was the name of this mysterious city?

In the footsteps of an ancient city of the Lower Valley of Strymonas in the "Paleokastro" location of Terpni in the municipality of Visaltia, with a lifetime from the end of the 6th century BC to the 6th century AD, is the systematic archaeological research that is being conducted for the second year in the area by the Serres Ephorate of Antiquities in collaboration with the French School of Athens.

The archaeological research reveals impressive monuments and complements not only the knowledge of the archaeologists but also the puzzle of the ancient map of the area. As the Head of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Serres Dimitria Malamidou states, "the Paleokastro site is identified with one of the ancient cities of the lower Strymonas valley known from ancient historical sources".

"We hope that with the new research, there will be findings (inscriptions, coins) that will allow her name to be safely identified. However, it is already clear that its strategic position between the fertile valley of the river Strymonas and the slopes of the ore-rich mountains of Kerdyllion and Vertiskos contributed to its long-standing successful historical course. It's no coincidence that among the oldest finds there is an inscription that mentions the word "adamas", a term that refers to gold and probably to its exploitation", points out Ms. Malamidou.

Excavations on the hill have so far revealed building phases of the Hellenistic period, including part of the fortification, a Roman basilica (public building) with a complex of thermal baths, and a workshop area with wine presses.

The views of the archaeologist Efthimios Rizos, archaeologist of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Serres and member of the excavation team of the project in Terpni, are in the same climate.

"We know from the sources that various cities flourished here in ancient times, but for many reasons, most of these cities cannot be identified with certainty. We do not know which city each of these settlements is in. The settlement of Terpni, with its archaeological research, has given us clear evidence that its life began at least in the archaic era, perhaps even earlier. What we can say for sure is when the life of this city stops where it is after the end of the 6th century AD. In no case was it inhabited during the Byzantine era.

The name of the city is still one of its mysteries. What we are hoping to have is some epigraphical confirmation to give us her name. There is an inscription that confirms that in the Roman imperial years, this settlement had the status of a city and had political institutions. So it is indeed one of the ancient cities of ancient Visaltia", emphasizes Mr. Rizos, pointing out that this settlement flourished because of the exploitation of gold.

"The reason this settlement thrives at this point is the exploitation of the gold that was carried down by the adjacent stream. This may explain, to some extent, the city's prosperity in both the Roman and early Byzantine periods. Some of the inscriptions from the Roman era give us the basis to say that here we have a systematic exploitation of gold", says the archaeologist.

What the archaeological findings in the area reveal

"This geographical zone was initially under the control of the Thracian wing of the Visalts but quickly attracted the interest of the Greeks from the cities of the South and the Macedonian kingdom. The findings of the excavations prove the presence of Greek ceramics as early as the 6th century, e.g.

Excavations on the hill have so far revealed building phases from the Hellenistic period, part of the fortification, a Roman basilica (public building) with a complex of thermal baths, a laboratory area with wine presses (lineonas) from Roman times, and two Christian churches in the three-bay basilica type. So it is a city with a life span from the end of the 6th century BC until the 6th century AD.

Several tombs from different eras have been excavated from time to time on its territory, as well as a "Macedonian" type tomb that belonged to the brothers Hipponaktas and Dioskouridis, sons of Apollodorus, who was, according to historical sources, a partner of Alexander the Great," points out the Head of the Serres Ephorate of Antiquities.

When did archeological research begin?

As Mrs. Malamidou narrates, "the first investigations in the area were carried out by Eugenia Iouris in 1965, with the excavation of a "Macedonian-type" tomb at a distance of about 2 km east from the Paleokastro site. It was dated according to a coin around 328 BC, and according to the inscriptions engraved inside the burial chamber, it belonged to the brothers Hipponaktas and Dioskouridis, members of the Macedonian aristocracy, sons of Apollodorus, who is probably identified with the one settled in Amphipolis a partner of Alexander the great.

Shortly afterwards, in 1981, extensive leveling work caused damage to the top of Paleokastro hill, bringing to light parts of ancient buildings, architectural members, reliefs, as well as a 3rd c. inscription. A.D. The first exploratory excavations carried out in 1985 revealed a Roman building and lower walls from the Hellenistic period.

In 1993, under the direction of Marianna Karaperis, an archaeologist of the then 13th EPKA Kavala, the first systematic excavation was carried out at the site". A total of three zones were investigated at the time:

A 1.70-meter-wide part of the fortification was uncovered, which, on the northern side of the hill, is preserved at a height of 1.80 m.

In its sector, the excavation of a part of a Roman building that includes linums and sublinums, tanks, and pithos, a set that is obviously related to wine production, continued. At greater depth, the excavation reached Hellenistic-era walls. Several coins from the beginning of the 4th to the 1st centuries BC are included among the finds.

In the sector that suffered illegal leveling operations in 1981, a large building with a typical Roman basilica plan and floors paved with marble slabs was revealed, in the immediate vicinity of a thermal installation. An inscription of the 2nd-3rd century AD which is today in the Museum of Serres and probably comes from the cemetery of the ancient city, refers to the building of a basilica with the assistance of Iulia, from a bequest of her husband Philippou under the supervision of Poplius Ailios Klaranos Alexander. It is quite possible that this is the building revealed by the excavation. The building seems to have been in use for quite a long time, from the 2nd to the beginning of the 4th c. AD, with several phases of reconstruction and its possible conversion into a Christian church that functioned at least until the 6th century", emphasizes the Head of the Antiquities Ephorate.