Ancient city of Acanthus

Ancient Acanthus has been a top city - port of eastern Halkidiki and one of the most important of the whole of Macedonia. He holds a privileged position between two sea shores, next to Ierissos and on the road to Ouranoupolis - Athos. The Acanthus, a colony of Andros according to Thucydides (IV 84.1) or Andros and Chalkis according to Plutarch (Greek Aitiai 30), developed in the mid-7th century. B.C. able prehistoric settlement. The city is known by the wide circulation of coins in antiquity. As a main source of the city's wealth agriculture must be considered. Historically, or Acanthus made its appearance during the Persian wars, when in the side of the Persians, first in 490 at the side of Mardonius and then in 480 BC on the side of Xerxes, which helps in the construction of the canal in the peninsula Coast. Later he participated in the Delian League and helped the Athenians in the Peloponnesian war. After the Peace of Nicias in 421 BC, Acanthus enjoyed a short period of independence until the spread of the Macedonians, and finally entered the 4th century. B.C. under their control. The city was plundered by the Romans around 200 BC (Livy, 31.45.15 ff), but the port continued to operate. In the imperial period the city became a roman region (conventus for roman citizens). Silver coins were minted for the first time in Acanthus around 530 BC in large quantities during the Euboean standards. Around 424 BC a change in the coinage observed in Acanthus, where most wearer Phoenician standards. The latest cuts of nomismatokopoeiou of Acanthus can be dated to the mid 4th

Working hours

Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 14:30 (Only covered area of ​​the ancient cemetery)

Disabled
There is access for people with mobility problems (only for the covered area of ​​the ancient cemetery).

Access to the archaeological site
Saturday - Sunday: the covered area of ​​the ancient cemetery is closed.