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GRÈCE
Nom du bien : Ancient Greek Theatres
Coordonnées :
Date de soumission : 16/01/2014
Critères :
Soumis par : Permanent Delegation of Greece to UNESCO
Liste du PM (nom,id) :
État, province ou région :
Brève description
Theatre of Dionysos in Athens: Region of Attica, Regional Unit of Central Attica 23.727730E, 37.970383N
Theatre of the Amphiareion: Region of Attica, Regional Unit of Eastern Attica 23.845344E, 38.291581N
Theatre of Epidaurus: Region of Peloponnese, Regional Unit of Argolis 23.079200E, 37.596000N
Theatre of Megalopolis: Region of Peloponnese, Regional Unit of Arcadia 22.127258E, 37.410170N
Theatre of Argos: Region of Peloponnese, Regional Unit of Argolis 22.7196E, 37.6316N
Theatre of Delphi: Region of Central Greece, Regional Unit of Fhocis 22.500706E, 38.482450N
Theatre of Eretria: Region of Central Greece, Regional Unit of Euboea 23.790644E, 38.398603N
Theatre of Larissa I: Region of Thessaly, Regional Unit of Larissa 22.415256Ε,39.640315Ν
Theatre of Delos: Region of South Aegean, Regional Unit of Mykonos 25.268105Ε, 37.397040Ν
Theatre of Melos: Region of South Aegean, Regional Unit of Melos 24.421035Ε, 36.737823Ν
Theatre of Lindos: Region of South Aegean, Regional Unit of Rhodes 28.086576Ε, 36.089886Ν
Theatre of Oeniadae: Region of West Greece, Regional Unit of Aetoloakarnia 21.199028Ε, 38.409614Ν
Theatre of Dodona. Region of Epirus, Regional Unit of Ioannina 20.787700 Ε, 39.546492Ν
Theatre of Aptera: Region of Crete, Regional Unit of Chania 24.141436Ε, 35.461272Ν
Theatre of Maronia: Region of East Macedonia and Thrace, Regional Unit of Rhodope 25 ο 31.155΄Ε, 40ο 52.727΄Ν
Theatre construction is a concept and an architectural achievement of Greek civilisation: a plain structure in which
coexist, in a balanced and complete manner, functionality and excellent aesthetics.
An indispensable element of every urban centre from the Classical period onwards, theatres were set in the centre of
political, social and religious life: the acropolis, the agora, the stadium, the bouleuterion, the sanctuaries. Theatres
were distinguished by their simplicity of design, with a circular or semicircular seating layout, which, combined with
the height difference between the tiers, achieved a unique combination of an unimpeded view and excellent
acoustics. The seats of the cavea were usually adapted to the side of a natural hill, its centre dug out of the earth or
rock and banked up on the sides, while in some cases, albeit rare, an artificial elevation was created on level ground
in order to form the basis of the cavea seating.
Early, wooden theatral structures are dated to the 6 th c. BC and are known only from literary sources and vasepainting. Stone structures are found from the 5th c. onwards, while Greek theatres attained their full architectural form
in the 4th c. BC, consisting of three discrete parts: the audience seating area (cavea), the orchestra and the stage
building (scaenae frons), which became ever more complex to meet evolving dramatic needs. Most theatres had
stone seats divided into wedge-shaped sections (cunei) by staircases made of the same material. The cavea is
divided horizontally by a concentric passageway, the diazoma. The upper part of the cavea is known as the
epitheatre. The front-row seats of the lower cavea and epitheatre were reserved for privileged persons. These seats
of honour might stand out by their construction, or even be luxurious stone thrones, sometimes bearing the names of
the dignitaries for whom they were intended (proedriae).
Access to the orchestra was via two entrances on either side, the parodoi. Very often a drainage duct for the
rainwater coming off the cavea ran round the orchestra, in front of the first row of seats.
The stage buildings, in their fully developed form, almost always combine a stage, with a ground floor and first floor,
with a proscenium. The proscenium usually takes the form of a small row of pillars, columns or semi-columns in the
Doric or Ionic style. Paintings were placed in the spaces between the columns of the proscenium, while each of its
three doorways, similarly painted, is conventionally thought to have led to the palace, the countryside or the port. The
stage building always includes an upper storey, its floor level with the proscenium roof. Certain stages also included
side rooms that served as outbuildings, while many stage buildings are connected to porticos (stoai). In some
theatres, an underground passage from the stage to the orchestra, known as the “Charonian steps”, allowed the gods
of the netherworld to appear and intervene in the actions of the characters on stage.
The actors’ performance area, the logeion, was between the stage building and the orchestra. With the passage of
time and the development of the stage building, this was moved to the flat proscenium roof or to special raised
platforms.
In Roman times, most Greek theatres were turned into arenas, adapted to the new types of spectacle which became
popular during this period. Protective structures were added for the audience, while the orchestra area was enlarged
to host gladiatorial combats and wild beast fights. In some cases water cisterns were placed in the orchestra for water
sports and other spectacles.
The theatres were built to host plays, which were originally closely linked to religious rituals. They later evolved
independently of religion, culminating in performances by actors and a chorus (combining recital and dancing), with
all the features of a theatrical production as we would think of it today, involving stage direction, scenery, stage
machinery and theatrical equipment. During the course of their evolution, theatres acquired a central role in the
function of the city-state, and became multifunctional, used not only for dramatic and religious performances but also
for political purposes linked to the institution of Democracy. It is telling that the ancient traveller Pausanias regards
the theatre as one of the basic urban features of a Greek city, along with the agora, the gymnasium and the public
administrative buildings, and an important element in recognising cities in the East as being Greek (Phocis, X 4.1.)
The theatres
1)
Theatre of Dionysus in Athens
On the east part of the south side of the Acropolis stand the imposing ruins of is theatre, directly north of the
Sanctuary of Dionysos. Most of the remains preserved today belong to the monumental structuring of the theatre by
the archon of Athens Lycourgos, in the second half of the 4 th c. BC. The core of the theatre, however, dates back to
the 6th c. BC. That was when the Archaic Sanctuary of Dionysos was erected, while just to the north of it a circular
area was levelled, where the cult performances in honour of the god were carried out. These ceremonies were
watched by spectators sitting on the hillside, where wooden seats were placed shortly afterwards. This circular area
of beaten earth, approximately 25 m. in diameter, formed the first “orchestra” of what was later to become the theatre.
It was from the dithyrambic circle dance of the worshippers of Dionysos that tragedy was born.
The theatral structure of the 5th c. BC must have been a simple one, although its precise form has not been fully
clarified. The cavea seats were gradually replaced by stone ones, while for the first time staircases were constructed,
dividing the cavea into wedge-shaped cunei, and the parodoi of the theatre were delimited. A permanent stone stage
was also built, most probably consisting of a plain rectangular building.
During the time of the archon Lycourgos, in the second half of the 4th c. BC, the cavea of the theatre was constructed
wholly of stone and extended to the foot of the Sacred Rock, incorporating the section of the Peripatos, the path
circling the Acropolis, which passed above the original cavea, and turning it into a diazoma (horizontal passageway).
The part of the cavea above this diazoma formed the epitheatre. It is estimated that during this period the theatre had
a capacity of approximately 15,000-16,000 spectators. The front tier of seats included 67 marble thrones. The stage
was probably a rectangular building with two parascenia. The only major changes during the Hellenistic period must
have been to the stage building, which, however, acquired a particularly monumental form in Roman times.
In 86 BC, during Sulla’s invasion of Athens, the stage building suffered considerable damage, as did the whole
theatre. In the mid-1st c. AD, in the reign of the Emperor Nero, a new stage of impressive dimensions was
constructed. The orchestra was restructured into a semicircle and paved with marble. In the mid-2nd or the 3rd c. AD a
high logeion was added in front of the stage building.
2)
Theatre of the Amphiareion
In the sacred sanctuary of the oracle of Amphiaraos in Oropos, Attica, stood its theatre, where musical and dramatic
contests were held every four years following the establishment of the Greater Amphiareia festival in 332 BC.
The theatre of the Amphiareion preserves elements of at least two different phases: the fan-shaped plan of the cavea
and the circular orchestra date from Classical times, while the proscenium and the five separate inscribed thrones of
the proedria are works of the Late Hellenistic period.
Only a small part of the lower cavea survives, together with the retaining walls of the parodoi. The rectangular stage
building, with a tall proscenium 2.70 m. high, has a façade of eight marble Doric semi-columns, supported on the
inner side on a corresponding number of pillars. An architrave with triglyphs and metopes crowned the colonnade.
The reconstructed proscenium, together with the thrones of the proedria and the dedicatory inscriptions, all form a
particularly instructive group from an important phase in theatre architecture during the Hellenistic period.
3)
Theatre of Epidaurus
The ancient theatre of Epidaurus was built of local stone on a natural slope of Mt Kynortion at the southernmost edge
of the Sanctuary of Asklepios, the seat of the healer-god of antiquity and the greatest healing centre of the ancient
Greek and Roman world. The theatre hosted music, drama and singing contests and poetry recitals, spectacles that
formed part of the festivals in honour of Asklepios.
The theatre of Epidaurus is considered the most perfect theatral structure of antiquity, thanks to the harmony of its
proportions, the symmetry of its parts and its exceptional acoustics. Its symmetry and beauty are praised by
Pausanias, who attributes the monument to the Argive architect Polycleitus.
Until today, the prevailing view was that the theatre was built in two phases, at the end of the 4 th and in the 2nd c. BC,
when the epitheatre was added. Recent research, however, inclines to the view that the cavea was constructed in its
entirety at the end of the 4th c. BC. The theatre appears to have been in use up to and including the 3 rd c. AD.
The theatre was constructed according to a unified design governed by mathematical principles influenced by
Pythagorean philosophy. More specifically, the overall plan is based on a pentagon centered on the orchestra,
around which the cavea is laid out. For the Pythagoreans, this geometric shape expressed the harmony of the parts
of a whole.
At the theatre of Epidaurus the basic parts of the ancient theatre are clearly distinguished: stage building, orchestra
and cavea. The cavea is delimited by two poros-stone retaining walls and is divided by staircases into wedge-shaped
cunei, which radiate out from the orchestra, drawn from three centres, an invention to which the excellent acoustics of
the theatre are due. The cavea comprises 55 tiers of seats in total, which are divided by a paved passageway into
two sections. The front tiers of each section and the last tier of the lower cavea boast luxurious backed thrones. In the
parodoi, two monumental two-door propyla (porticos) led to the stage building and the orchestra.
The orchestra forms a perfect circle with a diameter of approximately 20 m. At its centre is preserved a stone base,
interpreted by scholars as the base of the altar of Dionysos. The stage building was built of poros stone. It originally
comprised the proscenium and a two-storey stage, flanked by parascenia. Colonnades adorned both the façade of
proscenium and the back of the stage building at ground level. In the 2nd c. BC the structure was adapted to the
functional changes of drama. A few statues discovered during the excavations form just a sample of the sculptures
decorating the stage building. Today the stage building is preserved as a low ruin.
The capacity of the theatre is estimated at approximately 13,000-14,000 spectators.
4)
Theatre of Megalopolis
The ancient theatre of Megalopolis, with the largest capacity in Greece according to Pausanias (Paus. 8,32,1), was
designed for a large audience (17,000-21,000 spectators). Set on the left bank of the River Elissonas, in a landscape
of exceptional natural beauty, it is less than 2 km from the modern town of the same name. The theatre was built
circa 370 BC and was used not only for performances of ancient drama, but also for gatherings of the representatives
of the people of Megalopolis and the Arcadian League, as well as festivities connected to the pan-Arcadian worship
of Zeus Lycaeus.
The theatre was constructed using the natural slope of the hillside. The semicircular orchestra was 30 m. in diameter,
while the cavea, with a maximum diameter of approximately 130 m., was divided into three sections. The columned
portico of the Thersilion, built on the south side of the theatre, served as a stage backdrop facing the cavea, a unique
innovation in the architecture of theatres incorporated in the fabric of a city. Originally there was a movable wooden
stage that was removed and stored in the skenotheke (storeroom) that was constructed at the west parodos. The
stone proscenium, whose foundation is preserved today, was built in the Roman period.
5)
Theatre of Argos
Cut into the bedrock of the southeast slope of Larissa hill in the 3 rd c. BC, the theatre of Argos hosted the musical and
dramatic contests of the Nemean Games in honour of Hera, as well as meetings highlighting its political character.
Scholars estimate the capacity of the theatre at approximately 20,000 spectators.
The cavea of the monument, with 82 tiers of seats, is divided by five radiating staircases into four wedge-shaped
cunei. Two entrances, the north and south parodos, facilitated access to the orchestra.
The proscenium was oblong with a façade of twenty columns. Behind it stood the stage building, accessed by two
ramps. The theatre originally had a single entrance on the southeast of the stage building. In 100 AD a second
entrance was added with a ramp on its north side.
On the arrival of the Romans in Argos, the stage building of the theatre was renovated. The monumental façade with
its three entrances, the new logeion with its niches, added under Hadrian, and the symmetrical parascenia
communicating with the raised platform of the logeion, all form part of the interventions of this period. Three
staircases led from the stage building to the logeion.
With the introduction of new spectacles, such as gladiatorial combats and wild beast fights, protective fencing for the
spectators was set up, supported on posts set into holes in the floor of the orchestra. Other holes in the area of the
cavea indicate the presence of a canvas cover (velum) to shade the audience from the sun. North of the central
staircase was constructed a new platform for dignitaries (proedria). In the 3rd c. AD mosaic flooring with geometric
patterns replaced the wooden floor at the ends of the stage.
In the 4th c. AD a cistern was built in the orchestra for use in water sports. The theatre fell into disuse in the 5 th-6th c.
AD.
6)
Theatre of Delphi
The theatre of Delphi is the largest structure within the enceinte of the Sanctuary of Apollo, set in its northwest corner,
very close to the temple of the god which formed the cult centre. It was built in the 2 nd c. BC, although the area of the
cavea had probably already been laid out appropriately at an earlier date, for the musical contests that formed part of
the Pythian Games. An inscription records that the theatre acquired its monumental form circa 160 BC, with funding
provided by Eumenes II of Pergamon. The final form of the theatre dates to the 1st c. BC, while many modifications
and repairs were carried out in the Late Roman period.
The cavea of the theatre is divided into two sections by a horizontal passageway (diazoma). The lower cavea has 27
rows of seats and is divided by eight radiating staircases into seven wedge-shaped cunei. The upper cavea has eight
rows of seats and is divided by seven staircases into six cunei, corresponding to the central cunei of the lower cavea.
The orchestra, 18.24 m. in diameter, is horseshoe-shaped, although it is originally thought to have formed a perfect
circle. The stage building consists of a large room facing south. In the Roman period, the proscenium façade was
decorated with a marble frieze carved in relief depicting scenes from the Labours of Hercules. Dozens of inscriptions
commemorating the emancipation of slaves and acts of the Amphictyonic League were carved on the stone blocks of
the east retaining wall, indicating the public and political character of the monument.
7)
Theatre of Eretria
The theatre of Eretria is in the west part of the city, between the west gate, the stadium and the upper gymnasium,
while the Temple of Dionysus has been uncovered at its southwest end.
The current form of the monument features elements of the three main building phases, according to the recent
excavation data. It is one of the most typical examples of a theatre of the Hellenistic period, whose original form was
not particularly affected by the restructurings of the Roman era.
It is striking that the cavea of the theatre did not exploit the natural slopes of the acropolis, but was set on an artificial
embankment with many retaining walls. It had a total of 30 tiers of seats, divided by 10 radiating staircases into 11
wedge-shaped cunei forming a single block. The upper level of the cavea, corresponding to five or six tiers of seats,
appears to have been intended for standing spectators. Based on this information, the theatre would have had a
capacity of approximately 6,000-6,400 people.
The first building phase of the monument is dated to the late 4 th c. BC. At this stage the cavea probably had no
seating, so the spectators may have sat on temporary structures, while the stage building was on a level with the
orchestra. This single-storey building was shaped like an upside-down Π with the open end facing the audience, and
consisted of a façade with an Ionic colonnade flanked by two parascenia.
The second building phase is dated circa 300 BC. During this phase the stone seats, the staircases and the two
sturdy retaining walls of the parodoi were built. This was also when the stage building and orchestra were set on
different levels, and the vaulted passageway connecting the two, the “Charonian steps”, was constructed, along with
the raised proscenium, one of the earliest examples of its kind.
Following the destruction of Eretria by the Romans in 198 BC, the theatre was rebuilt out of poorer-quality materials
with the addition of two further side structures, and was probably turned into an arena for secular spectacles.
8)
Theatre of Larissa I
The Ancient Theatre of Larissa I, one of the largest and most important theatres in Greece, was built at the southern
foot of Frourio (“Fortress”) Hill, on which the fortified acropolis of the ancient city stood. The theatre was built in the
early 3rd c. BC. During its first centuries of operation, apart from theatrical performances, it was also used for
meetings of the supreme administrative regional body, the Thessalian League. At the end of the 1st c. BC it was
turned into a Roman arena and continued to function in this form until the end of the 3 rd c. AD.
The theatre is a huge monument, constructed almost exclusively of marble with rich relief decoration. The cavea was
formed by the hillside itself, which had been terraced for seating. A two-metre-wide passageway, the diazoma,
divided the cavea into the lower or main theatre and the epitheatre. The epitheatre is now largely destroyed, but we
know that it was divided by 20 small staircases into 22 wedge-shaped cunei with 14 to 18 rows of seats each. The
main theatre was divided by 10 small staircases into 11 cunei with 25 rows of seats each. The orchestra is thought to
have measured over 25 m. in diameter. The two parodoi, together with their retaining walls, are preserved in excellent
condition.
The stage building, consisting of four rooms with three entrances between them, is the best-preserved part of the
theatre. The stage building, 20 m. long and 2 m. wide, was added in the first half of the 2nd c. BC. It had a row of six
jambs and six monolithic Doric semi-columns, and its colonnade supported a Doric entablature, while the whole
structure supported a wooden platform, the logeion, on which the actors performed. In the 1st c. AD, the stage
building was severely damaged, partly due to the transformation of the theatre into an arena. That was when
luxurious marble cladding, semi-columns, pillars and sculptures were added, along with a second storey of as-yetunknown form.
9)
Theatre of Delos
The theatre of Delos was built by the Delians with money from the treasury of the Temple of Apollo, using marble
from a neighbouring quarry and local stone, and also marble imported from the islands of Paros and Tinos. The
construction of the theatre began circa 310 BC and was completed around 70 years later, circa 240 BC. The theatre
was definitively abandoned following the destruction of 88 BC.
The cavea of the theatre is supported by a sturdy marble retaining wall. A passageway running across it divides it into
two sections of 27 and 16 tiers, seating approximately 1,600 spectators. Access to the cavea was via the two parodoi,
two more entrances at the level of the passageway separating the two sections, or by a final one in the middle of the
highest point of the theatre. The semicircular orchestra was closed on its straight side by the skene, a rectangular
stage building with external dimensions of 15.26 x 6.64 m. with three entrances on the east side and another on the
west. In front of the stage building was the proscenium (proskenion), a 2.67-m.-high colonnade with pillars and Doric
semi-columns. The metopes on the proskenion entablature were decorated with alternating tripods and bulls’ heads
in relief. Later a portico was added to the other three sides of the stage building, the same height as the proskenion,
with Doric pillars.
Southwest of the theatre are preserved the remains of altars and sanctuaries dedicated to Artemis-Hecate, Apollo,
Dionysos, Hermes and Pan.
10) Theatre of Melos
The ancient theatre of the island of Melos in the Cyclades is set on the slope of the hill over which the ancient city
spreads, in an impressive site overlooking the bay of Melos. Excavations to date have revealed the orchestra and
part of the cavea, the stage building and the west retaining wall. The cavea, constructed on the natural slope of the
hill, is in the typical horseshoe-shaped layout of ancient Greek theatres. Seven wedge-shaped cunei with up to nine
rows of white marble seats are preserved. Each row contains four to five seats. The orchestra lies approximately 1.70
m. below the level of the paving-stones of the circle, in order to serve as an arena. The vertical rock face between the
arena and the circle was faced with marble slabs. Of the stage building, part of the stage and proscenium is
preserved, as well as scattered architectural members.
The preserved form of the ancient theatre of Melos dates from the Roman period, although it may originally have
been built in Hellenistic times. The architectural elements of the stage building are similar to those of theatres in Asia
Minor.
11) Theatre of Lindos
The ancient theatre of Lindos lies at the foot of the west slope of the rock of the Lindos acropolis, directly below the
temple of Athena Lindia. It is connected to the great city festivals in honour of Dionysos, the Sminthia, which included
dramatic, musical and athletic competitions, processions and sacrifices. The theatre is dated to the 4 th c. BC and had
a capacity of 1,800-2,000 spectators.
The cavea was divided into nine wedge-shaped cunei separated by eight narrow staircases. It had 19 rows of seats,
most of them carved into the rock although some were built, as were the endmost cunei and the side retaining walls,
which do not survive. The staircases led to a passageway (diazoma) above which lies the upper cavea with six rows
of seats. The upper cavea is more steeply inclined, in order to provide even the non-privileged spectators with a good
view.
The seats of honour, or thrones, were arranged in a circle on a projecting band of rock. The orchestra of the theatre is
circular and also carved into the rock. The stage building was at least 19 m. long and 4.80 m. wide.
Today only the rock-cut parts of the theatre are preserved: the circular orchestra, the three central cunei of the upper
cavea together with parts of the two cunei on either side, and the central section of the upper cavea.
12) Theatre of Oeniadae
The theatre of Oeniadae, built on a steep hillside, offers spectators an unrivalled view of the Acheloos river valley
running down to the Ionian Sea.
The monument is architecturally unique, due to the fact that the orchestra, cavea and staircases are drawn from three
different centres, and also thanks to its excellent acoustics. The east part of the cavea is carved into the bedrock,
while the rest is built of limestone. It has a horseshoe-shaped plan and preserves 27 rows of seats and 10 wedgeshaped cunei, divided by 11 staircases, without an intervening passageway. The orchestra is 16.34 m. in diameter,
with a covered stone rainwater drainage duct running around it. All that survives of the stage building is the
foundations of the proscenium, 26 m. long, and those of the parascenia, measuring 5 x 16 m. each.
Three building phases have been identified, mostly connected to restructurings of the stage building, the earliest
phase of which is dated to the mid-4th c. BC. The proscenium was added during the Hellenistic period.
13) Theatre of Dodona
The theatre of Dodona was built in the early 3rd c. BC, in the reign of King Pyrrhus (297-272 BC), and is one of the
largest theatres in Greece, with a capacity of approximately 15,000-17,000 spectators. It is set in the natural
surroundings of the Sanctuary of Zeus, west of the temple. It was built to host the Naia festival, held every four years
in honour of Zeus Naios. It may also have accommodated the activities of the Epirote League, of which the Sanctuary
was the seat during the period 330/325-233/2 BC.
The excavation finds indicate four building phases. To the first phase (297-272 BC) are dated the cavea, with 55 rows
of seats, the circular orchestra and the stage building. Four passageways (diazomata) divide the cavea into three
sections of 19, 15 and 21 rows of seats respectively. Ten radiating staircases divide the cavea into nine wedgeshaped cunei. The upper part of the cavea is subdivided by intermediate staircases into 18 cunei to provide
spectators with better access, and culminated in large orthostats (stone blocks) on a three-stepped base. Two large
staircases on either side of the cavea led spectators straight up from the two parodoi to the upper passageways of
the theatre. Above the central cuneus, a wide exit, secured with a movable grille, was used to let the audience stream
out en masse after the performance. The lowest seats with the proedria (seats of honour), as well as the corridor
paving, were later removed when the theatre was turned into an arena.
The earthen orchestra, 18.72 m. in diameter, formed a perfect circle. At the centre is preserved the base of the
thymele, the altar of Dionysos.
The rectangular, two-storey stage building was fronted by a row of pillars and flanked by a pair of square rooms, the
parascenia. In the south wall of the stage building was a doorway with an arched lintel, leading to a Doric colonnade
with a façade of 13 eight-sided pillars.
During the second building phase, following the destruction of 219 BC, the two square rooms on either side of the
stage were connected by a stone proscenium consisting of 18 semi-columns. The parodoi were flanked by two
monumental porticos with twin entrances and Ionic semi-columns.
In the third building phase, repairs were carried out to the stage building following the Roman destruction of 167 BC.
Some of the proscenium semi-columns were replaced by rough-built walls.
Finally, during the fourth building phase, the theatre was turned into an arena. The front rows of seats were removed
and the floor of the orchestra was filled in and raised, covering the thymele, the drainage duct and the remains of the
proscenium.
14) Theatre of Aptera
The theatre of Aptera is built in a natural declivity, facing south towards the White Mountains (Lefka Ori) of Crete. It is
situated in the south part of the city, close to the corresponding entrance. The excavation and architectural
information to date indicates that there were three building phases: Hellenistic, Roman I (1 st c. AD) and Roman II (3rd
c. AD).
Of the cavea, only the seats in the central section remain, along with a sizeable part of their stepped foundations.
The retaining walls of the parodoi, mostly dating to the Hellenistic building phase, have partly collapsed, probably in
the great earthquake of 365 AD. Many of their stone blocks are lying in the parodoi.
The front of the stage building has the typical scenae frons layout, with three large niches corresponding to three
entrances. The three construction phases of the monument are combined in the stage building, whose walls are
preserved to a height of half a metre above the floor.
15) Theatre of Maronia
In the southeast part of ancient Maronia, against the wall of the city and among its ancient buildings, stands its
theatre, built on the slopes of two hills between which a seasonal stream once ran.
The cavea of the theatre, facing southwest, is constructed of hard yellowish poros stone, while the stage building is
made of local limestone. The cavea was divided into nine wedge-shaped cunei, of which the first rows of seats are
visible. The capacity of the cavea is estimated to have been no more than 1,300 spectators. Around the horseshoeshaped orchestra ran a large marble drainage duct that led the rainwater off the cavea into the main channel of the
stream.
The theatre formed part of the urban plan of the Hellenistic city, dating it to the end of the 4th c. BC. The rectangular
stage building was constructed in the Roman period. It was divided into three parts, with a proscenion with a
colonnade, preserving 13 bases of semi-columns.
During the next building phase, in the Early Christian era, the theatre was turned into an arena. The front row of seats
was removed and a protective balustrade was placed around the orchestra. The monument fell into disuse in the 4 th
c. AD.
Nom du bien : Ancient Lavrion
Coordonnées :
Date de soumission : 16/01/2014
Critères :
Soumis par : Permanent Delegation of Greece to UNESCO
Liste du PM (nom,id) :
État, province ou région : Region of Attica, Regional Unit of Eastern Attica
Brève description
The Lavreotiki area, at the SE end of Attica, was the largest silver-mining centre in both ancient and modern Greece.
The mine workings cover an area of 120 km2, from Mt Paneion in Keratea to Cape Sounio and Legraina. Most of the
Lavreotiki is protected by law and is a designated archaeological site, an area of outstanding natural beauty and a
historical site, while the area around Sounio is a National Forest planted in the mid-20th century (Natura 2000 site
totalling 36,000 m2, of which 4,900 m2 are its core). Aleppo pines (Pinus halepensis) cover most of the forest. The
flora also includes Mediterranean plants such as wild olive trees, strawberry trees, lentisc, kermes oak, cyclamen and
an endemic species of knapweed (Centaurea laureotica), while the local fauna consists of various reptiles, mammals
such as hedgehogs, hares and foxes, and many bird species. The forest also contains the impressive “Chaos”
sinkhole, a basin-shaped karstic depression 55 m deep and 120 m in diameter.
The Lavreotiki is a mineral and chemical museum, as its subsoil contains over 265 types of mineral, 6.8% of those
known worldwide. Of these, the silver and lead ores (cerussite, galena) were heavily exploited in both ancient and
modern times, while zinc and iron-manganese ores were particularly mined in the latter.
The systematic exploitation of the mineral wealth of the area began during the transitional period from the Neolithic to
the Bronze Age (3200 BC). In the Bronze Age, the mines of Lavrio supplied the great civilisations of the Aegean
(Cycladic, Minoan and Mycenaean) with silver, lead and copper. During the Classical period (5 th and 4th c. BC) the
exploitation of the mines by the city of Athens became extremely important to the creation of the great Athenian fleet
and the financing of the major building projects of the Athenian Hegemony. The silver of Lavrio set the foundations of
the city-state of Athens, making it possible to mint the famous silver “Owl” coin of Athens, and thus transported by
trade to all parts of the known world.
Throughout the area, underground galleries, kilns, ore washeries, large water cisterns and the ruins of metallurgical
workshops dated to the Classical period testify to the intense mining activity carried out by thousands of slaves.
Scattered settlements-industrial villages, secular and religious buildings (including the Temple of Poseidon at
Sounio), fortifications and cemeteries make up the overall operation of the site: economic, military, religious, cultural
and administrative.
From the 3rd c. AD the area entered a period of decline, and in the 6 th c. AD the mines were abandoned. However,
Sounio and Lavrio continued to be reference-points. Greek and foreign travellers from Late Antiquity to the 19 th
century visited the Lavreotiki and recorded their impressions on paper and canvas.
The regeneration of Lavrio began in 1860 with the exploitation of the ancient tailings and slags, the exploration of
ancient galleries and the opening of new ones, the development of transport services (the railway in 1885, the
construction of a port), and the construction of modern metallurgical plants based on the cutting-edge technology of
the time. A period of political, economic and social upheaval (the Lavreotiki Affair) led to the establishment of two
companies, the Greek Lavrion Metallurgical Company and the French Compagnie Française des Mines du Laurium,
ushering in a new period of prosperity. Specialists were hired from all over the world, while the numerous local labour
force was also mobilized. New villages, churches and schools were built. Mores and customs were transformed and
Lavrio became a multicultural industrial centre, one of the largest in the Mediterranean.
After the Second World War, the mines began to fall into disuse, closing down in the 1970s. Mining activity in the
area finally ceased altogether in 1990. Since 1994, the site of the Compagnie Française plant has been occupied by
the Lavrio Technological and Cultural Park, run by the National Technical University of Athens.
Nom du bien : Ancient Towers of the Aegean Sea
Coordonnées :
Date de soumission : 16/01/2014
Critères :
Soumis par : Permanent Delegation of Greece to UNESCO
Liste du PM (nom,id) :
État, province ou région :
Brève description
Cheimarros Tower, Naxos: Region of South Aegean, Regional Unit of Naxos 25.519974E, 36.995901N
Tower of Agios Petros, Andros: Region of South Aegean, Regional Unit of Andros 24.759528E, 37.894729N
Tower of Agia Triada, Arkesini, Amorgos: Region of South Aegean, Regional Unit of Naxos 25.801391E ,36.792445N
White Tower, Siphnos: Region of South Aegean, Regional Unit of Melos 24.738005E, 36.932551N
White Tower, Serifos: Region of South Aegean, Regional Unit of Melos 24.451975E, 37.147270N
Tower of Agia Marina, Kea: Region of South Aegean, Regional Unit of Kea-Kythnos 24.303191E, 37.616622N
Drakanou Tower, Ikaria: Region of North Aegean, Regional Unit of Samos 26.361214E, 37.687285N
Tower of Kastellorizo: Region of South Aegean, Regional Unit of Rhodes 29.576937E, 36.147995N
Tower of Ro: Region of South Aegean, Regional Unit of Rhodes 29.502804E, 36.156801N
Tower of Strongyli: Region of South Aegean, Regional Unit of Rhodes 29.630578E,36.107820N
The numerous ancient towers scattered across many Aegean islands (Amorgos, Andros, Thasos, Ikaria, Kea,
Kythnos, Mykonos, Naxos, Serifos, Sifnos, Skiathos, Paros, Tinos, etc.) and the mainland, constitute a particular type
of ancient building with various uses. The vast majority of the towers are dated to around the mid-4th c. BC and up to
the first quarter of the 3rd c. BC. Despite their numbers and dispersal, they present common architectural features,
such as their circular, square or rectangular plan and their sturdy construction of local stone.
The towers were built in non-urban areas, in order to serve a wide range of needs depending on circumstances and
location. The main motive for their construction was defence in the wider sense, i.e. the protection of people, animals
and goods. The towers sometimes formed part of a wider system of defences and refuges, while others functioned as
watchtowers and lighthouses. They are also often found in areas where mining activities are attested. One notable
use of towers is as points in an early communication system consisting of networks of beacons (fryktoriai), for the
transmission of light signals between towers in direct line of sight, in some cases covering extremely wide
geographical areas. Sometimes the towers formed the main building of farmhouses owned by wealthy citizens.
Towers of later date in the Cyclades, built to serve similar needs, are almost identical parallels to these.
A multitude of ancient towers, dominating the characteristic island landscape, are preserved in the Aegean. Many
preserve their integrity to a striking degree, while a major project for their restoration and promotion has been
undertaken in recent years.
The towers
1) Cheimarros Tower on Naxos
The Cheimarros Tower is located on the SE side of the island of Naxos. It is a circular marble tower of the 4th c. BC,
measuring 9.20 m. in diameter and preserved to a height of 14 m., with an estimated original height of 17 m. The
tower is built with double walls, its two faces joined with bondstones extending through the full thickness of the wall.
The interstices are filled with mud and rubble. Inside are four storeys connected by a marble staircase set into the
wall. The entrance is on the south side. The few openings, the single window 10 m. above ground level and the
arrow-slits highlight the defensive nature of the structure, which is surrounded by an almost square fortification wall
measuring 35 m. on a side. Workshops (olive presses) and storerooms of the Late Roman period have come to light
within this enceinte.
2) Tower of Agios Petros on Andros
On the hillside below the small village of Agios Petros Gavriou on Andros rises the imposing mass of the cylindrical
tower of the same name. The tower, dating from the Hellenistic period (4 th/3rd c. BC), is one of the best preserved in
the Cyclades, together with the Cheimarros Tower on Naxos.
The monument is preserved to a height of approximately 21 m. and is built of large ashlars of local stone. It is set on
a circular base, approximately 20 m. in diameter and 4 m. high. The main entrance (on the east) is low (1.30 m. high)
and square, framed by four blocks of masonry, two of which form 2-metre-thick door jambs. There was a second,
smaller entrance at first-floor level.
The ground floor consists of a single room with a vaulted roof. On the upper storeys are windows and narrow
openings. A spiral staircase leads from the first floor to the upper part of the tower. The second storey is 2.30 m. high
and it seems that the monument would have had at least another five storeys.
The area around the tower was mined for iron in antiquity, continuing into the modern era (19 th-20th c.). There is
evidence that in antiquity there would have been a settlement here, probably connected to the mining activity. The
tower was presumably built to protect the local mines, and was a good observation post overlooking both the interior
of the island and the sea.
3) Tower of Agia Triada at Arkesini on Amorgos
The Tower of Agia Triada (the Holy Trinity) is located in the countryside of ancient Arkesini and constitutes a
characteristic example of Hellenistic architecture. It is a rectangular fortress built of local limestone in irregular
coursed masonry. It consists of two rectangular structures of unequal height (the tower and the paved courtyard).
Access is via an elevated archway, while there is also a low exit door at the back of the tower. The location of the
baths and latrines has been securely identified, while other areas were the andron (men’s quarter), the atrium, etc.
The tower water supply and drainage system is also interesting. The main tower was accessed by a staircase, of
which the lowest steps survive. The area around the monument also includes the remains of an ancient olive press
and a cellar, while the movable finds demonstrate that the site has remained in use from antiquity to the present day.
The remains of the early modern era are also impressive: modern built structures linked to agricultural installations,
collection channel systems, a rainwater collection cistern, a built oven, an olive press and a byre, all indicating the
continued use of the site through the ages.
4) White Tower on Sifnos
The White Tower (Aspros Pyrgos) is located in the southern ore-bearing zone of Sifnos, close to ancient gold-mining
galleries. It dominates the hilltop of Cape Pounta, with an unimpeded view of the east and southeast Aegean and the
interior of the island. It is one of the largest, best preserved and best known of the 77 identified towers on Sifnos. It is
a circular structure, with an outer diameter of 13m. and a preserved height of 5.50m. (12 visible courses of masonry).
It is built of coursed masonry, with rectangular and trapezoid blocks of white, and more rarely grey, marble, their size
diminishing with height. On the inner side is a second course of well-built marble blocks.
Two parallel inner walls divide the interior of the tower into three rooms; the north room is the only space in which
beam-holes to support the floor of the upper storey remain. In the south room, against the outer wall, to the left of the
entrance, is a staircase of 10 steps which used to lead to the upper storey. The central room has three triangular
niches on the west face of the inner surface of the outer wall, opposite the entrance. This room also contains the
remains of an olive press next to a built platform, a stone vessel set into the floor, a block of stone with two mortises
and an underground cistern.
The tower entrance is on the SE, with doorposts formed of vertically and horizontally placed blocks of stone. In the
inner corners of the doorposts are mortises corresponding to the sockets in the threshold for closing the door. There
are two unique cylindrical marble elements on the inside of the doorposts, perhaps to support the wooden beam used
to bar the door.
There are traces of outbuildings in the area around the tower, although their presence has not been confirmed by
excavation. The monument is dated to the 4th c. BC, mainly on the basis of elements of the masonry. The White
Tower is a landmark for modern-day Sifnians, a symbol linked to beliefs and legends, a source of inspiration for
painters and poets.
5) White Tower on Serifos
The ancient tower known as the White Tower (Aspros Pyrgos or Aspropyrgos) is built high on the rocky ridge of the
line of hills delimiting Koutalas Bay on the northwest. It is a fortified structure that stood alone in the Serifos
countryside, dominating the southwest part of island, the richest in metal ores.
The tower is built of local white marble and its foundations are set firmly into the sloping rock. It is circular in plan with
an external diameter (at the base) of 8.54 m. Its masonry is particularly well built and the double outer wall, 1.05 m.
thick, is built of well-dressed marble ashlars, laid without the use of mortar, in courses whose height diminishes
progressively as they rise. The ground floor is preserved to a height of 4.20 m. Based on the building material found
fallen inside the tower, scattered around it, set into the walls of nearby buildings and used in drystone walls (over 500
marble blocks), it is estimated that the tower would have been three storeys and approximately 12 m. high. There are
no attached annexes and no traces of an enceinte or outbuildings have been found in the immediate environs. The
entrance is on the southeast side, while there appear to have been arrow-slits and windows on the upper storeys.
The roof was probably flat. Inside and immediately to the right of the entrance is a spiral staircase that led to the
upper storeys. The five lowest marble steps are preserved in situ, but the rest of the staircase may have been of
wood. On the ground floor, a transverse party wall isolates the stairwell and divides the room in two.
The features of the White Tower - solid construction, prominent position overlooking the surrounding area, visual
contact with other towers (Psaropyrgos, Tou Choirou i Trypa) - indicate its defensive character and multiple uses,
simultaneous or otherwise, as a watchtower, beacon tower and guardhouse. Its presence in this area - where there is
evidence of active mines, at least during the Late Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods - also means that it was
connected to their activities and protection.
The White Tower would have been built in the 3 rd c. BC, while its final period of use is dated to Late Roman times,
specifically the 4th c. AD.
6) Tower of Agia Marina on Kea
The Tower of Agia Marina still rises to its original height and is the best-preserved example of an ancient square
tower in Greece. It is located in the interior of western Kea, in the middle of a valley between the two ancient western
cities of the island, Korissos and Poiessa. The building appears to have stood alone, while in the modern era it was
incorporated into the post-Byzantine Monastery of Agia Marina.
The tower was square, measuring 9.90 x 9.90 m., and built of ashlars of local stone (schist and grey dolomitic
marble) in irregular trapezoid masonry, with small plaque-like plugs in the gaps. The inside of the tower was laid out
on five storeys, which were connected by a stone staircase set into the external tower walls, and divided into smaller
rooms. On the fourth storey is a small, isolated balcony on the south side of the building, while on the upper storey a
circular balcony supported on stone corbels runs right around the tower.
The tower entrance is on the south side, at a height of 2.00 m. above the ground. On the south, east and west sides
are windows with white marble frames and cornices, while on the north side there were only narrow slits, widening on
the inside. It is still uncertain whether the roof was flat or pitched.
The Tower of Agia Marina is dated, based on the evidence available today, to the 4th c. BC. The Monastery of Agia
Marina was founded circa 1600 AD and the ancient tower was incorporated into the enceinte and used for lodging,
storage and defence until 1837, when the monastery was abandoned.
7) Drakanou Tower on Ikaria
At the northeast tip of Ikaria, on Cape Fanari, stands the ancient Drakanou Tower, a round marble tower with an
external base diameter of 8.4 m. and a maximum preserved height of almost 13 m. It is built on rock, approximately
51 m. above sea level with an uninterrupted view. Two sides of the enceinte wall, approximately 2.4 m. thick,
converge on the tower at an angle of 34◦. Drakanou Tower is the best-preserved ancient Greek tower in the Aegean.
It is three storeys high with a wall approximately 1 m. thick at the base, progressively diminishing to 0.85 m. as it
rises. The ground-floor entrance, with a free opening 1.32 m. wide and a maximum 2.33 m. high, is on the east side,
while a little to the north is an entrance to the first storey, 1.26 m. wide and 2.80 m. high. There are three arrow-slits
on both the ground floor and the first storey, and six windows on the second storey. No traces of the staircases
connecting the storeys remain. Presumably they were wooden and have been destroyed along with the floor-beams.
The tower is built of massive marble ashlars, varying in colour from white to grey. The original total height of the tower
is estimated to have been 13.5 m., so it would have had another two courses of stones.
The tower would have served a variety of needs simultaneously. Due to its position, it is an excellent watchtower and
beacon tower. The fortified part of the cape is defended on the east and north by the steep rocky cliffside, for
gathering and defence in case of attack. The walled area would have been a particularly safe refuge and a protected
area in which to collect goods. The tower is dated by the archaeological evidence to the 4 th c. BC.
8) Ancient towers of Kastellorizo - Ro - Strongyli
Palaiokastro is the main and largest fortified site of ancient Megisti, modern-day Kastellorizo. It stands on a hill on the
west side of the island, the closest to the Asia Minor coast opposite, in order to control the sea routes and the port on
the north side of the island. It consists of an enceinte fortified by three towers on the southeast side and a smaller
inner tower, which is proposed for inclusion in the list.
The inner tower, measuring 11.6 x 5.6 m., is built in coursed masonry of dressed ashlars and is preserved to a height
of 8 courses (approximately 4 m.), while in the enceinte the original ashlars are only visible in the foundations.
Numerous rainwater collection cisterns have been cut into the rock and faced with clay and lime plaster. On the west
side of the tower, on a sheer rock face, rectangular niches were intended to house votive reliefs.
In the Byzantine period and the era of the Knights of Rhodes, the site continued in use as a fortress and a refuge for
the local population in case of danger. Outside the walls, a small wine press indicates that people engaged in
agricultural activities in times of relative peace. The fortress would have housed a small permanent garrison, to
control the seas. It would have communicated with the other towers on the island, which were in line of sight, and
also with the corresponding watchtowers on the opposite coast. The strategic position of the tower was also exploited
in the modern era by the Italians, as evidenced by the three gun emplacements built during the Second World War.
Palaiokastro would have had lines of sight to both the ancient harbour fortress and the beacon towers (fryktoriai) on
the two islets below Kastellorizo, Ro to the west and Strongyli to the east.
The fortress on the islet of Ro is set on a hilltop and covers a small area of 30 x 25 m. Access is from the south side,
while there are steep cliffs on the north. The fortress consists of a double enceinte, parts of which survive on the
southwest and southeast sides, and an inner rectangular tower measuring 12.5 x 13 m., both built in coursed
masonry of dressed ashlars. The central tower is preserved to a height of approximately 4 m. Inside there is a
rainwater collection cistern faced with clay and lime plaster, approximately 5.5. m. in diameter. The remains of a wine
press outside the tower and a stone conical vessel indicate engagement in agricultural activities to supply the small
garrison posted there. In the early modern era, Lambros Katsonis used the fortress as his base of operations during
the Ottoman rule (1788-1792). That must be when the upper course of small stones was added to the west wall.
The islet of Strongyli with its tower, east of Kastellorizo, completes the southeast end of the chain of watchtowers
operated by the Rhodian state. The foundations of an ancient tower are preserved on the west peak of the island. A
double enceinte protects mainly the north side, while on the south are cisterns cut into the rock and faced with clay
and lime plaster, and the remains of an olive press. The central rectangular tower covers an area of approximately
7.5 x 8.5 m. and is built in coursed masonry of dressed ashlars. Only a single course of stones of the superstructure
is preserved. The tower has not been built on the highest peak of the island, but watches the opposite shore unseen,
while also being situated at the closest point to the port.
The three towers of Kastellorizo, Ro and Strongyli comprise the main links in a dense network of watchtowers
constructed by the Rhodian state during the Hellenistic period, to control the sea routes and the Lycian coast across
the water.
Nom du bien : Archaeological site of Ancient Messene
Coordonnées :
Date de soumission : 16/01/2014
Critères :
Soumis par : Permanent Delegation of Greece to UNESCO
Liste du PM (nom,id) :
État, province ou région : Region of Peloponnese, Regional Unit of Messenia
Brève description
The archaeological site of ancient Messene lies in a fertile valley approximately in the centre of the Regional Unit of
Messenia, south of Mt Ithome. Ithome was the strongest natural and manmade fortress of Messenia, controlling the
valleys of Stenyclaros to the north and Makaria to the south. (Strabo compares it to Corinth as regards strategic
importance). The first installation on the site dates to the Late Neolithic or the Early Bronze Age, while in the 9 th-8th c.
BC the cult of Zeus Ithomatas was established on the peak of Mt Ithome. A heroon shrine was founded in the lower
city during the Geometric period (800-700 BC), along with the first sanctuary of Artemis Orthia, Asklepios and
Messene. All the sacred buildings belonged to a town named Ithome. The Spartan annexation of the area following
the First Messenian War (743-724 BC) put a stop to the evolution of the town into a more complex urban organism
and the development of an urban outlook. The Spartan occupation, however, did not result in a total loss of national
consciousness among the inhabitants, who were now helots.
The city of Ancient Messene was founded in 369 BC by the Theban general Epaminondas (after the Battle of Leuctra
in 371 BC, which resulted in Spartan defeat and the establishment of the Theban Hegemony). It became the capital
of the free Messenian state following a long period (about four centuries) of occupation of the Messenian territory by
the Spartans.
Strong fortification walls with towers and gates are preserved along a course of 9.5 km, surrounding the city and Mt
Ithome, where the sanctuaries of Zeus Ithomatas (9 th-8th c. BC), Artemis Limnatis and Eileithyia (3rd-2nd c. BC) stood.
On the site of the city are preserved public and religious buildings, many of them reconstructed to a large degree. The
extensive complex of the Asklepieion (3rd-2nd c. BC) stands out, with the Doric sanctuary of Asklepios, which is
surrounded by stoai of buildings of a religious and secular-funerary nature. A series of reconstructed monumental
structures, such as the Ecclesiasterion-Odeion, the Bouleuterion, the Theatre, the Arsinoe Fountain, the Agora and
the Stadium, as well as an extensive group of funerary monuments and heroons, including the reconstructed
monumental Saithid Mausoleum (1st c. BC-1st c. AD), bear witness to the size of the city and its political, religious,
economic and social importance. Particularly luxurious Roman villas with mosaic floors complete the urban plan,
while a multitude of inscriptions sheds light on hitherto unknown facets of the historical events that took place during
the period of the Alexander’s Successors, the Macedonian Kingdom, the Achaean League, the Koinon of the
Arcadians and the Aetolians, and Roman interference in Greek affairs. A plethora of statues, vessels and other
moveable finds is on display at the nearby Archaeological Museum, testifying to the thriving society of Messene.
Nom du bien : Archaeological site of Nikopolis
Coordonnées :
Date de soumission : 16/01/2014
Critères :
Soumis par : Permanent Delegation of Greece to UNESCO
Liste du PM (nom,id) :
État, province ou région : Region of Epirus, Regional Unit of Preveza
Brève description
A. History: The city of Nikopolis was founded following the victory of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (Augustus) in
the naval battle of Actium in 31 BC. The city is associated with the effort to establish Roman dominion and the whole
process of “Romanizing” Greece. The province of Nikopolis extended southwards from the mountains of Cassopeia
to the province of Roman Patras, and northwards from the river Acheloos to Leucas (present-day Lefkada). Augustus
Caesar granted the city substantial political and economic privileges and adorned it with magnificent monuments,
while also reviving the Actium Games. The name of King Herod I of Judea and those of many Roman officials such
as Germanicus, Nero and Hadrian are associated with donations to Nikopolis. Nikopolis was the capital of Epirus and
Acarnania during the first three centuries of the Roman Empire. Built at the crossroads of commercial land and sea
routes, it was the centre of Greek culture and a meeting point between the eastern and western worlds. It was the
seat of Epictetus’ school of philosophy, while a Jewish community lived within the city. Between the 3 rd and 5th
century AD the city underwent a period of relative decline and stagnation, while from the mid-5th century AD Nikopolis
became the administrative, artistic, spiritual and religious centre of the area with a Christian character. According to
tradition, the Church of Nikopolis was founded by Paul the Apostle. During the early Christian period the city
experienced a major economic and spiritual boom, a fact demonstrated by the fortification programme instigated by
Justinian and the plethora of monuments which adorned the city. The administrative reorganization of the Byzantine
Empire in the 9th century and the transfer of the capital of the Theme of Nikopolis from Nikopolis to Nafpaktos led to
the city’s decline and abandonment, which was completed during the 13 th century.
B. Monuments: The city, with the fortification walls and the cemeteries, occupies a fertile strip of land between the
Ionian Sea to the west and the Ambracian Gulf to the east, where two of the three city harbours were located. The
third harbour ran along both sides of the inlet known as Ormos Vathy at the north edge of the modern city of Preveza.
The city occupies an area of approximately 375 acres. The plan of the city was the rectangular grid with the
Decumanus (the main east-west street) and the Cardo (main north-south street) intersecting at its centre. Nikopolis
was planned within walls with four main gates at the compass points. The southern quarters of the city were mainly
composed of residential houses but also included the Odeion, while the northern section saw the construction of the
Monument of Augustus, the Theatre, the Gymnasium and the Stadium. This area, known to ancient writers as the
“Suburb”, is located outside the Roman fortification walls, on the hills, with a magnificent view of the Ionian sea and
the Preveza peninsula. The city had a very effective water-supply system. An impressive 50-km-long aqueduct,
consisting of a series of arches (arcade) and tunnels, carried water from the Louros springs to the Nymphaeum, from
where it was distributed within the city. In Early Christian times the city was reduced to almost a sixth of its previous
size, and strong fortification walls, known as the Christian (Byzantine) Walls, were built. Two great basilicas and a
Bishop’s Palace built around this time reveal that the city flourished during this period. The most important public
buildings are the following: -The Monument of Augustus: Founded by Octavian to commemorate the battle at Actium.
-The Theatre: The stage building is tall, probably two stories high, with three arched doorways. The performances
took place on a stage platform between the stage building and the orchestra. Three corridors allowed the spectators
access to the auditorium, which was supported by three semicircular porticos. -The Odeion: It consists of the
auditorium, the orchestra and the stage building. Three semicircular porticos achieve the inclination of the auditorium.
It was built in the 1st c. AD and remained in use until the second half of the 3rd c. AD -The Nymphaeum: It lies on the
west side of the Roman fortification walls and consists of two U-shaped brick structures with plain external façades
and internal niches. These cisterns stood at the terminus of the aqueduct which brought water to the city from the
Louros springs, 50 km away; possibly built at the time of Hadrian. -The North Thermae: Roman public building,
situated on the west side of the Roman fortification walls. It consists of circular and square rooms, decorated with
niches and arches. -The Basilicas: There are seven notable Christian basilicas. Four lie within the perimeter of the
Byzantine Walls. Basilica A was founded by Bishop Doumetios (525-575 AD) and is decorated with elaborate
mosaics, combining floral and pictorial motifs. Mosaics are also found in Basilica B, built at the time of Bishop Alkison,
who was active during the reign of Emperor Anastasios (491-518 AD). A century later (575-600 AD), another basilica,
Basilica C, was built in the northern part of the Byzantine fortification, while in the south a fourth Basilica, Basilica ST
(F), was discovered in 1981. Two other basilicas - the Asyrmatos Basilica and the Basilica of the Holy Apostles - are
situated outside the perimeter of the Byzantine walls.
Nom du bien : Fortress of Spinalonga
Coordonnées :
Date de soumission : 16/01/2014
Critères :
Soumis par : Permanent Delegation of Greece to UNESCO
Liste du PM (nom,id) :
État, province ou région : Region of Crete, Regional Unit of Lasithi
Brève description
Spinalonga is a barren, arid rocky islet, with an area of 85,000 sq. m., lying in the mouth of the natural harbour of
Elounda in Lasithi Prefecture, Crete. The islet was fortified in antiquity, to protect the ancient city of Olous. Towards
the end of the 16th century, the Venetians, as part of their great fortification works to defend Crete, built on
Spinalonga one of the most important bastion-type seaward fortresses of the Mediterranean, designed according to
the bastion system of fortification by Genese Bressani and Latino Orsini. At strategic points in the fortifications are set
the Michel and Moceniga or Barbariga demilunes, major works of fortification architecture.
During the Cretan War (1645-1669), refugees sought shelter on the islet, as did rebels (“Chainides”) who used it as a
base to harrass the Ottomans. Under the terms of the treaty for the surrender of Chandax (Heraklion) in 1669,
Spinalonga remained a Venetian possession. In 1715, following a siege, the islet was surrendered to the Ottomans,
the Venetian garrison left and the remaining 600 inhabitants were taken captive.
From 1715 onwards, Spinalonga was settled by Muslims, who built their houses on the foundations of the Venetian
buildings. The village flourished after the mid-19th century, until by 1881 it housed a population of 1,112 and was the
largest Muslim commercial centre of Merabello Bay.
The village houses were arranged in a stepped pattern across the west and south sides of the islet. At the end of the
19th century it is estimated that there were approximately 200 homes and 25 shops or workshops on Spinalonga.
Today many well-built two-storey houses and shops remain; their morphology and symmetrical proportions are
indicative of the principles of local and Balkan architectural tradition.
In 1904, during the period of the Cretan State, Spinalonga was chosen as the site of a Leper Hospital. Sufferers who
were sent to live on the island survived on State funding and charitable donations. Their hard, wretched life did not
weaken their will to live. They organised their home, fell in love, married, had children.
After the Leper Hospital was shut down in 1957, the islet remained deserted and uninhabited. In 1976 it was
designated an archaeological site. Today it is an organised archaeological site with hundreds of thousands of visitors
each year.
Nom du bien : Gorge of Samaria National Park
Coordonnées :
Date de soumission : 16/01/2014
Critères :
Soumis par : Permanent Delegation of Greece to UNESCO
Liste du PM (nom,id) :
État, province ou région : Region of Crete, Regional Unit of Chania
Brève description
The Samaria Gorge is the acknowledged natural site and symbol of the island of Crete. It holds a unique and
distinguished position in Cretan, Greek and Mediterranean history, as a place that has served throughout history as
an ark for life and a haven of freedom. It is also identified with the unceasing production of the material and
immaterial cultural heritage of Crete through the ages.
The Lefka Ori (White Mountains), the largest and westernmost mountain range of Crete, dominate the southwest part
of the island, covering almost 7% of the total surface of the fifth-largest island in the Mediterranean. More than 50
peaks of the impressive mountain range exceed 2,000 meters in altitude, while the highest, Pachnes, reaches a
height of 2,453 meters above the Libyan Sea to the south and the Sea of Crete to the north of the island. The island
of Crete is, justifiably, called a land of gorges, being cut by dozens, mainly running north to south. No other gorge,
however, has the glamour and uniqueness of the Samaria Gorge.
The Lefka Ori and the gorges that intersect them are a paradise for biodiversity and form a landscape of unique
geological value and beauty. There, isolated from human presence, singular ecosystems have evolved, with dozens
of endemic species and subspecies, providing shelter to the famous Cretan Agrimi Goat (Capra aegagrus cretica)
and other rare species such as the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), the
Cretan Wildcat (Felis silvestris cretensis), Blasius’ Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus blasii), as well as the endemic plants
Zelkova abelicea and Bupleurum kakiskalae. The Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus) is found in the
sea caves on the south coast of the National Park.
The Samaria National Park delimits the core of the Lefka Ori, in which all these elements can be found in their full
glory. The path of the Samaria Gorge from the north to the south entrance is 13 km long. Visitors set out from
Xyloskalo, on the edge of the Omalos Plateau, cross the Cretan countryside vertically, and end up at the village of
Agia Roumeli on the Libyan Sea. From there they can make out, on the edge of the horizon, the island of Gavdos, the
southernmost point of Europe.
The Samaria Gorge has already been subject to National Park protection status for 50 years. Since its designation as
a National park in 1962, people from all over the world have crossed the Gorge and realized why it has been famous
since the era of earlier travellers, such as F.W. Sieber, Robert Pashley and Victor Raulin. Today, the Samaria Gorge
is one the most important pillars for the sustainable development of the entire island of Crete and is supremely
important to the local communities living around the National Park. The Greek State has been responsible for the
management of the area through the Forest Directorate of Chania since the National Park was founded. In 2008 the
Samaria National Park Management Body was established with European Union funding, participating in the
management of the Park while promoting the design and implementation of the Specific Environmental Study and the
Management Plan for the area.
The management of the Park aims to become the best example of viable administration in Greece, with the ultimate
goal of protecting the integrity of this unique area. Moreover, under the threat of climate change, the role of the
Samaria Gorge and the Lefka Ori as a whole as a natural ark for the entire island of Crete will be highlighted further.
Nom du bien : Late Medieval Bastioned Fortifications in Greece
Coordonnées :
Date de soumission : 16/01/2014
Critères :
Soumis par : Permanent Delegation of Greece to UNESCO
Liste du PM (nom,id) :
État, province ou région :
Brève description
SITE
Corfu
Zakynthos
Koroni
Methoni
Bourtzi-
REGION
Ionian islands
Ionian islands
Peloponnese
Peloponnese
Peloponnese
PalamidiAkronafplia
Heraklion
Chania
Rhodes
Mytilini
Crete
Crete
South Aegean
North Aegean
REGIONAL UNIT
Corfu
Zakynthos
Messinia
Messinia
COORDINATES
19.928385 E, 39.624538 N
20.891944 E, 37.789444 N
21.961826 E, 36.794382 N
21.700 E, 36.8150 N
22.790586 E, 37.569689 N
Argolis
22.804472 E, 37.561486 N
Heraklion
Chania
Rhodes
Lesbos
22.795028 E, 37.563869 N
25.136743 E, 35.344548 N
24.013659 E, 35.518245 N
28.2270 E, 36.4450 N
26.561829 E, 39.110116 N
With the appearance and establishment, in the 15th century, of the use of gunpowder, a new, powerful and
destructive means of warfare, city fortification practices changed. Since medieval fortifications were unable to
withstand the constantly increasing artillery power, additional defensive structures began to be added to existing
fortresses. This change was completed in the 16th century, establishing the “bastion system” or “fronte bastionato”,
based on the principle of “flanking fire”. In the 17th century, the need to confront even greater artillery firepower led to
the construction of a multitude of smaller fortifications outside the main moat, whose aim was to keep the enemy as
far away as possible from the main fortifications. Finally, up to the end of the 18th century, fortification architecture
would continue to be based on the principles of the 16th century, while of course following the development of
artillery. This development is documented by a series of fortifications on Greek territory.
These fortifications are mostly found in areas that passed into Latin hands, such as the Peloponnese, the coasts of
Western Greece, the Ionian Islands, Crete and the Dodecanese. Most were built on the site of older, ancient and/or
Byzantine fortifications, but their main phase was constructed during the various phases of Latin domination.
These are particularly well-preserved fortification works, which largely retain their integrity and original layout intact to
the present day. This is very significant, given that they were built by the leading engineers of the time and closely
follow developments in the field of defensive art. In recent years restoration projects for their protection and
enhancement have taken place preserving however their particular character and their relation to the surrounding
area.
The fortifications also contribute to the study of the urban areas of which they form a part, providing valuable
information on the organisation of urban planning, which they determined in several cases.
The proposed fortifications are strategically positioned on the hubs of the trade routes between West and East and
also North and South, and therefore played an important part as trading stations in the East Mediterranean basin.
PROPOSED FORTIFICATIONS
1. Methoni Fortress
The fortress of Methoni, a typical example of a citadel, built on an exceptional natural harbour, was in medieval times
a stop on the pilgrimage route to the Holy Land and a port for cargo ships voyaging from the West to the East.
Together with Koroni, the ports are known as the “two eyes” of the Serenissima.
The city reached the peak of its prosperity in the two centuries after 1204, when it became a Venetian colony and
international trading station. That was when the fortress assumed its present form with two fortified enclosures, the
south one protecting the city and the north one covering the side facing the interior. The fortress came under Ottoman
dominion from 1500 to the early 19th century, with a brief interlude of Venetian rule (1685-1715). In 1828, when
Ibrahim Pasha surrendered Methoni to the French expeditionary corps, the inhabitants moved to the present-day
town outside the walls.
The fortress covers an area of approximately 9.3 hectares. The walls are defended by a wide dry moat and reinforced
with towers at intervals. Two bastions rise below the main gate with its elaborately decorated posts. The fortress has
another six gates which open onto the ground floors of towers and are protected by portcullis and machicolations.
Bourtzi, an octagonal tower on the sea, forms part of the Methoni seaward defences, serving various functions
through the ages.
Within the walls are preserved various buildings such as the church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour (1685-1715),
a square building with a pyramidal roof that served as a powder-magazine (1500-1686), two Ottoman baths and the
ruins of the episcopal cathedral of the city, which was dedicated to St John the Divine and turned into a mosque after
1500.
2. Koroni Fortress
The fortress of Koroni, together with neighbouring Methoni, was one of the most important harbours of La
Serenissima. The fortress, covering an area of approximately 4 hectares, was built in Byzantine times on the site of
ancient Asine. In 1205 it was conquered by the Franks, before passing into the hands of the Venetians (1206-1500 &
1685-1715) and the Ottomans (1500-1685 & 1715-1821) due to its strategic location. For a brief period it was taken
by the Genoese (1532-1534), while in 1770 it was held by the Russian Orlov brothers. In 1825 it was conquered by
Ibrahim Pasha and in 1828 it was surrendered to the French expeditionary corps, before being ceded to Nikitaras,
first garrison commander of liberated Koroni.
The two centuries of the First Venetian period (13th-15th c.) were the peak of Koroni’s power, and most of the
fortifications date from that time. There are two fortified enclosures, one on the west, landward side and a larger one
on the east. The enclosures are separated by a wall with rectangular towers, which is probably the only remnant of
the Byzantine fortifications. This layout of the fortress was preserved unaltered throughout its long history. Today the
west enclosure is occupied by the Monastery of John the Baptist (founded in 1920). The east side of the fortress was
reinforced during the First Ottoman period (1500-1685) with a dry moat and two round bastions, of which the north
bastion, now ruined, was used as a powder magazine and blown up by the Germans in 1941.
Within the fortress there stands today the church of St Charalambos, which was built in the late 17th c. as a Catholic
church, was turned into a mosque (1715-1821), and later became an Orthodox church. The ruins of a three-aisled
8th- or 9th-century basilica, dedicated to St Sophia in early modern times, are also visible. It is worth noting that there
are still people living within the walls of Koroni, as well as in the traditional village outside them.
3. Akronafplia - Bourtzi - Palamidi (Fortresses of Nafplio)
Akronafplia
Akronafplia fortress formed the walled burg of Nafplio from antiquity to the end of the 15th century, when the
Venetians built the lower town of Nafplio. During the Frankish period it was divided by a wall into two parts, the
fortress of the Franks and the fortress of the Greeks, while in the First Venetian period another fortress, the “Castello
di Toro”, was built at the east end of Akronafplia.
Bourtzi
This is a seaside fortress built by the Venetians circa 1470, on a rocky islet in the mouth of Nafplio harbour, which it
was designed to protect. In the centre rises a tall tower with three floors, with two smaller vaulted structures below it
which served as canon batteries (gun emplacements), one facing the sea and the other the land. Thick chains were
stretched out from the two sides of the fortress across the harbour, which is why it was known as “Porto Catena”.
Palamidi
The fortress of Palamidi was built by the Venetians and is a true achievement, as regards both the time taken to
construct it (1711-1714) and its fortifications. It consists of eight bastions, one of which was left unfinished and was
completed by the Ottomans, while the last was wholly constructed by them. The bastions were independent, with
their own storerooms and water cisterns, and were connected by a wall.
4. Corfu
The Old Town of Corfu, strategically located at the entrance to the Adriatic Sea, has been inscribed on the List of
World Heritage Properties since 2007. It is one of the most important fortified towns in the Mediterranean. Its
fortifications, technical works on a huge scale, are among the most perfect examples of Venetian fortification
architecture. The present form of this impressive complex is mainly the result of the work of Venetian engineers
(1386-1797), with modifications and additions dating from the period of the British Protectorate (1814-1864).
The basic core of the fortifications (Old Fortress-New Fortress-Perimeter Wall-Peripheral Forts) is preserved in good
condition today. The oldest part of the fortifications is the Old Fortress, which has been through all the phases of the
defensive art since Byzantine times. In its final form, it was linked to Michele Sanmicheli, who applied the “bastion
system” to the west side of the walls, where the monumental gate of the Fortress stands.
The massive project of walling the town, completed in the late 16th century, included the construction of the New
Fortress and the line of defence that isolated the town from the countryside and the sea. The fortifications of the New
Fortress, which had two gates, one to the harbour and one to the town, were laid out on two levels. The first, lower
level consists of a pentagonal bastion which protected the harbour. The Castello della Campana controls the ascent
to the second level, where rise the twin bastions of the “Epta Anemoi”(Seven Winds) and one more known as
Skarponas. The defences of the town were reinforced by the fortification of the three hills to the west in the first half of
the 18th century and the fortification of the Vido islet by the Imperial French (1807-1814).
5. Zakynthos
The Venetian fortress at the top of the naturally fortified hill that rises over Zakynthos harbour is built on what was,
according to travellers’ accounts, the site of the ancient acropolis of the island, although no traces of its fortifications
remain. There is no evidence of the medieval fort that stood on the same site, except for the Byzantine church of the
Saviour, part of which survives inside the Venetian fortress, and which is known to have been used as the Latin
cathedral. The walls and fortifications preserved today were built in 1646-47 under the direction of Venetian
engineers.
Zakynthos Fortress is a typical example of fortification architecture of the period. The enceinte is trapezoidal in shape,
with an inner passageway for the movement of soldiers along the weaker east side, where most of the bastions are.
The British contributed significantly to the conservation of the walls and the public buildings of the fortress, when they
installed their garrison there in 1812. The fortress was abandoned by its inhabitants for good following the Union of
the Ionian Islands with Greece in 1864. Excavations have brought to light archaeological material from prehistoric
times to the Post-Byzantine period, demonstrating that the fortress is the longest-surviving settlement on Zakynthos.
Inside the fortress there are also two Venetian powder magazines and the ruins of churches dating to the Venetian
period, as well as the remains of the British government building and barracks.
6. Heraklion
Following its occupation of Crete in 1211, Venice originally preserved the existing Byzantine fortifications of the city.
With the change in siege technique, it was decided to reinforce the fortifications and construct a new, extended
fortified enceinte. The new Venetian walls of Heraklion (known as Candia to the Venetians) are among the greatest
Venetian fortifications in the Mediterranean. They are built according to the principles of the bastion system. Their
construction began in 1462, with constant modifications, supplements and additions up to the end of the Venetian
period (1669). The basic design was drawn up by Michele Sanmicheli and rendered definitive by Giulio
Savorgnan.
The fortified enceinte, with a perimeter of approximately seven kilometres, is triangular in shape, with the base of the
triangle on the seafront, and the apex (the Martinengo Bastion) pointing inland. It consists of seven heart-shaped
bastions (Sabbionara, Vitturi, Jesus, Martinengo, Bethlehem, Pantocrator and San Andrea) which defended the
intervening straight sections of the fortifications, the curtain walls. For better supervision of the surrounding area,
raised cavaliers shaped like truncated cones were constructed on the bastions (Martinengo, San Andrea, Vitturi,
Zane). The walls were surrounded by a deep dry moat, while the system was completed by the earthen
counterscarps and the outwork of San Demetrio. The main gates (St George or Lazaretto, Jesus, Pantocrator)
leading out of the city into the surrounding countryside were set, for reasons of defence, in the sides of the bastions.
Other, smaller military gates led up sloping galleries to the low squares of the bastions.
Set into the walls all around the perimeter of the fortifications are relief plaques bearing the winged lion of St Mark the
Evangelist, patron saint of Venice, and the coats of arms of Venetian noblemen and officials.
The defences of the coastal front were further reinforced by the sea fortress (known as the “Rocca a Mare”, “Castello
a Mare” or “Castello” during the Venetian period and as the “Su Kulesi” or “Koules” during the Ottoman period) at the
harbour entrance, and the fortress of Paleokastro on the north coast of Heraklion Bay, both also constructed
according to the “bastion system”.
7. Chania
The design of the Venetian fortifications of Chania was entrusted to the Veronese Michele Sanmicheli. The work on
Chania began in 1538 and continued up to the Ottoman conquest of the city, in 1645.
The form of the fortifications followed the basic principles of the bastion system, the natural terrain and the
boundaries of the city outside the walls, which would have to be protected. The fortifications also included the harbour
and a round tower from the original harbour fortifications built by the Genoese in the early 13th c. The walls formed a
rectangle, parallel to the seafront, reinforced by four heart-shaped bastions and an equal number of cavaliers. These
are the bastions of: a) Salvatore or Gritti, b) San Andrea, c) Piattaforma and d) Santa Lucia, and the cavaliers of
Priuli, Lando or Schiavo or San Demetrio, San Giovanni and Santa Maria. Access to the city was via three gates, the
Porta Retimiotta, the Sabbionara and the San Salvatore Gate. Further north, facing the sea, were the Sabbionara and
Mocenigo bastions, and the harbour breakwater, with the bastion of San Nicolò del Molo. The breakwater ended in
the small tower of the Pharos (Lighthouse), which was lower than the present-day structure, built after 1830. On the
opposite side, the Rivellino del Porto, with the Firkas Fortress, protected the harbour mouth. Inside, the fortress was
laid out with barracks buildings and military stores, while it was also the seat of the military governor of the city.
During the Ottoman period, some parts of the Venetian fortifications were restructured and added to.
8. Rhodes
The medieval city of Rhodes, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1988, is an outstanding example of an
architectural ensemble illustrating the major period of history in which a military hospital order, founded during the
Crusades, survived in the eastern Mediterranean area, in a context characterized by an obsessive fear of siege.
Rhodes, from 1309 to 1523, was occupied by the Knightly Order of St John of Jerusalem, who transformed the island
capital into a fortified city able to withstand sieges as terrible as those led by the Sultan of Egypt in 1444 and Mehmet
II in 1480. It was later that the island came under Turkish and Italian rule.
The ramparts of the medieval city, partially erected on the foundations of the Byzantine enclosure, were constantly
maintained and remodeled between the 14th and 16th centuries under the Grand Masters Giovanni Battista degli
Orsini (1467-76), Pierre d’Aubusson (1476-1505), Aiméry d’Amboise (1505-12), and Fabrizio del Carretto (1513-21).
With the Palace of the Grand Masters, the Great Hospital and the Street of the Knights, the Upper Town is one of the
most beautiful urban ensembles of the Gothic period. In the Lower Town, Gothic architecture coexists with mosques,
public baths and other buildings dating from the Ottoman period.
9. Mytilini
The fortress is set on a peninsula, between the two harbours of the city: the ancient (north) and the modern (south)
harbour. The fortress, which covers an area of 9.1 hectares, stands on the site of the ancient acropolis of Mytilini and
was one of the strongest fortresses in the Mediterranean. It was originally built in the 6th c. during the reign of the
Emperor Justinian, although only three features of the Byzantine phase survive: a small Byzantine gate on the north
side of the walls, the east wall of the keep and the water cistern in the Middle Fortress.
In 1355 Lesbos passed into the hands of the Gattelusi family, who completely repaired the fortress in 1373, along the
general lines of the existing Byzantine fortifications. The area is divided into two parts, now known as the Upper and
Middle Fortress, where the lords lived and where most of the religious and administrative buildings stood, while the
local population lived in the fortified suburb of Melanoudi. All that survives of this phase today is the central fortified
keep (the donjon) and the ruins of the church of St John.
The major earthquake of 1384 devastated both city and fortress. The two last Gattelusi, Domenico (1445-1458) and
his brother Niccolò (1458-1462), carried out reinforcement works to the fortress, placing the first cannon there and
constructing bastions and revetments, embrasures, dry moats and watchtowers.
In September 1462 the Ottomans took the city of Mytilini, after a brief but violent siege. In 1501, in the reign of Sultan
Bayezid, and again in 1643/44, under Sultan Ibrahim Khan, the ruined fortifications of the north harbour were
repaired, two new large, round fortification towers with gun ports were built, new walls were constructed and a dry
moat was dug. The most important of the Ottoman buildings inside the fortress are the Medrese (Ottoman religious
school) which included a public soup kitchen and hospice (Imaret), and the Teke (Ottoman monastery), all dated to
the first half of the 16th century.
New, extensive repair works were carried out after an earthquake in 1765/66. During the course of the 19th century,
the barracks next to the Medrese were constructed, together with the neighbouring powder magazine.
Nom du bien : Minoan Palatial Centres (Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, Zakros, Kydonia)
Coordonnées :
Date de soumission : 16/01/2014
Critères :
Soumis par : Permanent Delegation of Greece to UNESCO
Liste du PM (nom,id) :
État, province ou région : Region of Crete, Regional Units of Heraklion, Lasithi and Chania
Brève description
Knossos: 27.163122 E, 35.297778 Ν
Phaistos: 24.814633 Ε, 35.051103 Ν
Malia: 25.493153 Ε, 35.292869 Ν
Zakros: 26.261061 Ε, 35.097981 Ν
Kydonia: 24.019375 Ε, 35.516278 Ν
Crete, prominently and strategically located in the East Mediterranean Basin, formed the bridge between the peoples
and cultures of three continents, Europe, Africa and Asia, and was the cradle of a splendid prehistoric civilisation in
the land of Greece, the Minoan civilisation.
The civilisation was named “Minoan” by Arthur Evans, the excavator of Knossos, which, according to myths
preserved by ancient writers, was the seat of King Minos. The Minoan civilisation is connected to a great chapter in
Greek mythology: the abduction of Europa by Zeus in the form of a bull, the ingenious Daedalus and his son Icarus,
the Minotaur and the Labyrinth, the seven youths and seven maidens sent from Athens as tribute to Minos, the
Athenian hero Theseus - who, with the assistance of Ariadne, rid his city of this blood-tax - the bronze giant Talus and
the Argonauts, are all inextricably linked with the civilisation of Crete and its palaces, and have been a source of
inspiration not only for ancient Greek culture but also for world art, music and literature.
The archaeological excavations carried out on Crete from the 19th century onwards continue to reveal, from one end
of the island to the other, from east to west and north to south, this age-old civilisation in all its glory. Its elements
have been identified even outside its geographical boundaries, since the maritime superiority of the Cretan seafarers
and their expansion across the Mediterranean brought them to prominence, at the beginning of the 2 nd millennium
BC, as a leading power. From their contact with the peoples of the Mediterranean coast through the flourishing transit
trade, they absorbed elements of contemporary civilisations, shaping a singular and special cultural foundation that
exercised a tremendous influence on the Mycenaean and, through it, the later Greek civilisation.
The Minoan civilisation that developed over the course of two millennia (2800-1100 BC) culminated in a high peak for
its time, boasting marvellous buildings, a ground-breaking water and drainage system, equal participation of men and
women in religious and social life, and masterpieces of art. The major earthquakes that hit Crete shortly before the
end of the Middle Bronze Age resulted in the destruction of many Minoan centres, but also led to the rebuilding of yet
more splendid palaces in the immediately ensuing period.
The palatial centres played a vital part in the evolution, development and propagation of Minoan civilisation and
marked the social transformation from the proto-urban communities of the Early Bronze Age to a multifaceted and
hierarchical society. The political, social, economic and religious reorganisation, the transformation of private life, and
the unprecedented cultural development that emerged from the gradual centralisation of power and the accumulation
of wealth, were focussed on the palatial centres, each of which covered a large populated area of Crete.
The Minoan palatial centres stand out for their unique monumental architecture, with its complex internal
organisation, which passed into ancient Greek memory as the “Labyrinth”. They constituted the administrative,
economic and religious centres of a wider geographical area and housed multiple activities. They not only contained
the residences of the rulers and the priesthood, but were home to a multitude of people: artisans (metalworkers,
potters, weavers, etc.), merchants, scribes. Various events and contests were held around the palaces.
Most of the palatial centres share common architectural features. They consist of a large, rectangular central court,
around which are set multi-storey wings (sometimes reaching four storeys), which house the various activities:
residential apartments, reception areas, archives (which have produced tablets incised with the famous Linear A and
Linear B scripts, the oldest forms of writing in Greece), treasuries, sanctuaries, large storerooms, kitchens,
workshops, theatral areas, all providing a picture of a small, vibrant city.
The wings were furnished with propyla (porticos), verandas and colonnades that opened onto light wells and inner
courtyards, ensuring that the inner rooms were well lit and aired. The walls were faced with marble orthostats and
brilliant frescoes. In the workshops, the palace artisans produced masterpieces in gold and ivory, bronze and faience,
sealstones, figurines, clay and stone vessels, many of which were destined for export to the countries of the Aegean
and the East Mediterranean.
Notable centres of power in the Minoan age were the palatial centres of Knossos, Phaistos, Malia, Zakros and
Kydonia, which are distributed in different geographical units, from the eastern to the western end of Crete.
1) PALATIAL CENTRE OF KNOSSOS
The palace of Knossos, the most important centre of the Minoan civilisation, is located in the Regional Unit of
Heraklion. It stands on the “tou Tselebi i Kephala” hill, west of the River Kairatos, and covers an area of
approximately 20,000 sq.m. Originally uncovered by Minos Kalokairinos in 1878, the palace was excavated by Sir
Arthur Evans in the first three decades of the 20th century, and is still being investigated by the British School of
Archaeology today. The earliest human habitation was in the Neolithic period, on the site later occupied by the
Minoan palace.
The palace was founded circa 2000 BC (Protopalatial period) and, following many destructions, was rebuilt on the
same site and flourished in the Neopalatial period (1750-1430 BC). In the Postpalatial period (1400-1100 BC) it was
the only Minoan palace that was still partly inhabited. It even preserved its administrative character, as the discovery
of an archive of Linear B writings indicates.
The palace consists of wings set around a rectangular paved court, while the West Court was an important point of
reference in the whole architectural complex. The West Wing housed the storerooms, the sanctuaries and the Throne
Room, while the East Wing contained the private apartments and the workshops.
The city spread out over a wide area around the palace, with particularly important monuments and buildings, roads,
cemeteries, workshops, quarries and sacred spaces. The wider archaeological area of Knossos also flourished in
Historic times.
2) PALATIAL CENTRE OF PHAISTOS
The palace of Phaistos is one of the largest palaces in Crete and is located in the Regional Unit of Heraklion. It came
to light during the excavations carried out by the Italian archaeologist F. Halbherr in the last two decades of the 19 th
century, while the Italian School of Archaeology continues investigations in the area today.
In the Minoan period, Phaistos was the control centre of the south coast of Crete, and is mentioned by Homer as the
kingdom of Minos’ brother Rhadamanthys, son of Zeus and Europa, who took part in the Trojan War and later
became one of the three judges of the dead in Hades. The palace was originally built circa 1900 BC, at the western
end of the Mesara, the largest plain in Crete. In the later Greek world, Phaistos was known as the home of the great
sage Epimenides.
The hill of Phaistos was first inhabited during the Late Neolithic period, circa 4500 BC. The first palace was built in the
Protopalatial period (1900 BC), covered an area of approximately 8,000 sq.m. and extended over the three stepped
terraces of the hill. It was destroyed by an earthquake circa 1700 BC. On the ruins of the old palace was constructed
the new palace, which survived until 1450 BC, when it was destroyed and never rebuilt. The city of Phaistos, as a
whole, extends over three hills and was already very large in the Old Palace period. It continued in use after the
destruction of the New Palaces. It flourished once more in Geometric and Hellenistic times, but was destroyed in 150
BC by the neighbouring city of Gortys, which became the new great power of south Crete.
3) PALATIAL CENTRE OF MALIA
The palace of Malia is located on the north coast of Crete, in the Regional Unit of Heraklion. It is the third-largest
Minoan palace and was, according to tradition, the seat of Sarpedon, the youngest brother of Minos. The first
excavations were carried out in the early 20th century by the archaeologist Iosif Hatzidakis, but the systematic
excavation of both the palace itself and the Minoan city was continued by the French School of Archaeology.
The palace was originally built circa 2000-1900 BC. It was destroyed at the end of the Protopalatial period (1700 BC)
and rebuilt circa 1650 BC on the same site, following the basic layout of the old palace. Some alterations were made
in later periods. The palace was totally destroyed at the same time as the other palatial centres, around 1450 BC,
while there was a brief period of re-occupation in the 14th to 13th c. BC.
The palace of Malia covers an area of approximately 7,500 sq.m. and its layout is similar to that of the palace of
Knossos. Various quarters and individual town houses of the town have been excavated, the most important being
Quarter Z, Houses E, Da, Db and the major Quarter M. Surviving port installations on the coast indicate that the
palace of Malia was a gateway to the Aegean Sea during the Minoan period.
4) PALATIAL CENTRE OF ZAKROS
Zakros is located at the southeast end of the Regional Unit of Lasithi, on a natural bay. In 1961 N. Platon began the
archaeological excavation of the site, bringing to light a palace with impressive finds, as it had remained unlooted
after its destruction.
The palace of Zakros preserved today was founded in the Neopalatial period (c. 1600 BC). Like all the palaces known
to date, it consists of four wings set around a rectangular central court. The building, which was at least two storeys
high, was bounded by an enceinte, forming gardens inside.
The economic peak of the palatial centre of Zakros was obviously due to the part it played in the maritime “trade” of
Minoan Crete with other centres of the Aegean and the East Mediterranean. Evidence of its links with the East is
provided by the discovery, in a storeroom in the West Wing, of four elephant tusks and six bronze talents, imported
on the same overseas journey.
Around the palace, on two hills, extended the settlement. Approximately 35 houses have been excavated, considered
to be annexes to the palace. Between the houses ran paved stepped streets with rainwater drainage ducts, delimiting
large building blocks. The town was densely populated, so there were no open spaces.
The palace and the town were suddenly destroyed in 1450 BC, at the same time as most of the settlements of Crete,
marking the end of the Neopalatial period.
5) PALATIAL CENTRE OF KYDONIA
The Minoan palace of Kydonia, discovered by Greek, Danish and Swedish archaeologists, is located in the modern
city of Chania in northwest Crete. The low Kastelli hill, rising above the natural harbour and the plain of Chania, was
selected during the Prepalatial period (c. 3500-2000 BC) as the most convenient site for the establishment of the first
organised Minoan settlement in the Chania area. Present-day Chania lies on the site of Minoan and Classical
Kydonia, while the excavation data support the view that the latter was the most important city of west Crete, in both
the prehistoric and the historic period.
The Neopalatial (c. 1700-1450 BC) and the Mycenaean (1450-1200 BC) settlement of Chania forms one of the
palatial centres of Minoan Crete, on the basis of the large number of tablets inscribed in Linear A and B, and of seals
which have come to light, revealing a centralised authority and bureaucratic organisation. The very important
buildings of the period indicate the existence of a meticulous urban plan, which includes at least one particularly
notable sanctuary.
The location of Chania as the closest major Cretan settlement to the centres of the Peloponnese and mainland
Greece, played a determinative part in this. The contacts of the city were not limited to the rest of Crete, mainland
Greece and the Cyclades, but extended as far as Cyprus, Canaan, Syria, Egypt, Italy and Sardinia.
A particularly revealing fact as regards the history of Kydonia was the discovery of tablets in Linear B script, one of
which refers to a sanctuary of Zeus at which Zeus and Dionysus were worshipped.
Nom du bien : National Park of Dadia - Lefkimi - Souflion
Coordonnées :
Date de soumission : 16/01/2014
Critères :
Soumis par : Permanent Delegation of Greece to UNESCO
Liste du PM (nom,id) :
État, province ou région : Region of East Macedonia and Thrace, Regional Unit of Evros
Brève description
Situated at the southeast end of the Rhodope mountain range, at the crossroads of two continents, the National Park
of Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli Forest (DNP) is of exceptional ecological significance at European level.
Characterised by a rich habitat mosaic on a network of low hills in a transitional climate zone between the
Mediterranean and the continental, the DNP extends over an area of 42,800ha in Evros Prefecture. It is located at the
easternmost edge of a huge forested area that extends all the way west and north along the Rhodope mountain
range, while major forested areas are absent for hundreds of kilometres eastwards. Pine trees predominate in the
area of the National Park, forming coniferous forests of Pinus brutia, with P. nigra found at the lowest altitudes of its
known distribution, while mixed and deciduous forests also occur over a large expanse. Geologically, the northern
part of the DNP is dominated by Tertiary ophiolith complexes, while the south mainly consists of Paleogene volcanic
and sedimentary rocks.
The location of the DNP, on one of the most important migration routes for birds of the Western Palearctic, makes
this forest one of the few regions in Europe cohabitated by 36 out of the 38 European raptor species, where three of
the four European species of vulture (Aegypius monachus, Neophron percnopterus and Gyps fulvus) co-exist. The
resident Black Vulture population in particular is of great importance, as it is the last remnant of an initially large
population of the species within the Balkan region, while the presence of the endangered Egyptian vulture is also
significant.
Nom du bien : Petrified Forest of Lesvos
Coordonnées :
Date de soumission : 16/01/2014
Critères :
Soumis par : Permanent Delegation of Greece to UNESCO
Liste du PM (nom,id) :
État, province ou région : Region of North Aegean, Regional Unit of Lesvos and Limnos
Brève description
Located on the island of Lesvos (North Aegean Region), one of the most important natural heritage monuments in the
world, the Petrified Forest of Lesvos, is a unique testament to the ecosystem that once existed in the Aegean region
during the Miocene Epoch. The forest consists of hundreds of fossilized trunks, standing or downed, coniferous or
fruit-bearing, which are scattered over an area of 15,000 hectares in major concentrations within the protected region
and at many other sites in the layers of volcanic rocks. To protect and promote the wonders of this ancient forest, the
Greek state declared the area a Protected Natural Monument in 1985 (Presidential Decree 443 /1985). It has also
been included in regions protected by the Barcelona Convention (Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against
Pollution, OG235/A/1978).
The area of the Petrified Forest is also part of the European “Natura 2000” network (GR. 41100003).
The Lesvos Petrified Forest constitutes a fossilized forest ecosystem. It flourished in the Aegis region during the
Burdigalian Period, in the Lower Miocene, approximately 18.5 million years ago. This forest was a mixed sub-tropical
forest with a wide variety of vegetation, mainly conifers and fruit-bearing trees, which formed consecutive vegetation
zones according to the morphology of the landscape.
During the Miocene, the whole area of the Aegean was a continental land with intense calc-alkaline volcanic activity
that formed a series of volcanoes due to the subduction of the African tectonic plate under the Eurasian tectonic
plate.
When the products of the volcanic eruptions blanketed the plants of the forest, all the plant organs were covered and
fossilized in turn. Thus today, throughout the region, one can find fossilized branches and twigs, fruits, root systems
and pieces of tree roots, as well as impressive fossils and imprints of leaves and animals living within or around the
forest. The anatomical characteristics of the plants, such as the growth rings visible in cross-sections, the external
part of the trunk, and the internal wood structure, are well preserved in all the fossils. The fossilized flora of the
Petrified Forest includes large numbers of conifer and angiosperm (fruit-bearing) plants, with a smaller showing of
pteridophytes. The fossilized trees include the highest standing fossilized tree in the world, with a height of 7.20
meters and a circumference of 8.58 meters. Trees in the petrified forest of Lesvos reach circumferences of 15
meters.
Nowadays the volcanic landscape of Lesvos Island presents a unique tomography of the crust, showing the complete
sequence of the volcanic structures such as laccoliths, veins, necks, domes, cones and calderas, lava and pyroclastic
flows, etc.
Thousands of visitors and students visit the area annually in order to admire and study the petrified forest through
organized visits, to participate in special events and educational programs, and to see temporary exhibitions and
activities. Additionally, the distinct geographical location of Lesvos island, in the vicinity of the Asian coast, contributes
to the rich biodiversity of the area, as it is a meeting place of the European and Asian flora and fauna, where several
Asiatic species reach their western limits of expansion.
The vegetation of the area consists of phrygana (dominant species are Sarcopoterium spinosum, Centaurea spinosa,
and Ballota acetabulosa) and forests of Pinus brutia, Pinus pallasiana ssp. nigra and Quercus macrolepis. In the west
part of Lesvos there are riparian plant communities, along stream banks, with Rhododendron luteum accompanied by
Osmunda regalis, Nerium oleander, Pteridium aquilinum, Juncus sp. and Platanus orientalis.
The presence of Rhododendron galleries dominated by Rhododendron luteum Sweet as dominant species is
considered very important for both Greece and Europe. Ruta montana L.: Very rare plant of the Greek flora.
Osmunda regalis L.: This calcifuge fern is quite common in W. Europe but very rare in Greece. Pancratium
maritimum L.: This used to be a common species of sandy shores but its populations are gradually decreasing.
Haplophyllum megalanthum: Recently reported (1993) by Hansen and Nielsen as new for Greece. A very rare
endemic East Mediterranean species. Anthemis cretica ssp. cretica is a Balkan endemic (it currently includes the
species A. panachaica and A. meteorica which are included in the IUCN list of threatened plants as rare and are
protected under Greek Law - Presidential Decree 67/81). All the orchid species listed under “other important species”
are protected by the CITES Convention.
The first references to the fossils of Lesvos can be found in Theophrastus’ works. Theophrastus of Eressos, who was
born was born circa 371 BC in the area of the Petrified Forest of Lesvos, was one of the greatest thinkers, scientists
and philosophers of antiquity and the first scientist to consider fossils, to which he devoted special attention. A
charismatic, observant and systematic genius, he is unquestionably considered the founder of many branches of
science, such as botany, ecology and mineralogy. Diogenes Laertius refers to an index of approximately 240 works
attributed to Theophrastus. The topics of these works are drawn from many areas of cognition, metaphysics, logic,
ethics, politics, rhetoric, poetry and the natural sciences.
Later, the first scientific references to the Petrified Forest were made by the Austrian botanist Franz Unger (18001870), who made the forest known to the scientific community. Unger described the fossilized trunks in his books on
the Past World (1841-1847) and in articles describing his trip to Greece (1862). Unger’s publications inspired large
numbers of researchers to visit Lesvos and the Petrified Forest in the 19th century to study the natural monument.
Nom du bien : The Area of the Prespes Lakes: Megali and Mikri Prespa which includes Byzantine
and post-Byzantine monuments
Coordonnées :
Date de soumission : 16/01/2014
Critères :
Soumis par : Permanent Delegation of Greece to UNESCO
Liste du PM (nom,id) :
État, province ou région : Region of West Macedonia, Regional Unit of Florina
Brève description
The Prespa National Park (PNP) is situated in Northwest Greece, in the Region of West Macedonia; it covers an area
of 327km2 and is part of the Transboundary Prespa Park, which is shared between Greece, Albania and FYROM.
The PNP consists of the lakes, Megali and Mikri Prespa, and the lake basin which extends to the tops of the
surrounding mountains. The two lakes are separated by a narrow isthmus called “Koula”. Mikri Prespa has a
maximum depth of 8.4 m and covers an area of 47.7 km2, of which 43.5 km2 belong to Greece and 3.9 km2 to
Albania. Megali Prespa is 55m deep and covers an area of 259.4 km2 which is divided between Greece, Albania and
FYROM. The PNP has approximately 1,500 inhabitants.
The region of Prespa preserves various monuments and many remains of settlements created through the long-term
human presence in the area. The archaeological data show that people have lived in the Prespa valley for over four
thousand years, but documented human presence does not emerge until the 2nd century BC. Inscriptions found on
the island of Agios Achilleios, dated to the Hellenistic era, refer to Julius Crispus and the independent city of Lyca. In
Classical times the Prespa region formed part of ancient Lyncus, and the lakes were called Little and Great Brygeis.
In 148 BC Prespa became part of the Roman Province of Upper Macedonia. In the Early Christian period it belonged
to Macedonia Deutera as a part of Illyricum Prefecture. In the late 8th and early 9th century AD the region belonged
to the Theme of Thessaloniki. In the 10th century, Agios Achilleios became the first seat of Czar Samuel
Comitopoulos’ government. He founded the basilica of Agios Achilleios, in which he placed the relics of Saint
Achilleios. In 1018 the Byzantine Emperor Basil II reconquered the territory, built two fortresses, Vasilida and
Konstantion, and established the seat of the Archbishop of Ohrid. In 1072 the Alamani and Franks passed through
Prespa and ravaged the church of St Achilleios. In the 12th century Prespa was referred to as Province of Prespes in
the chrysobull of Alexios III Angelus. For a while, the region of Prespa remained under the control of the Despot of
Epirus, Michael II Angelus, before passing into the rule of the Emperor of Nicaea, Michael VIII Palaeologus. During
the 14th century Prespa was incorporated into the kingdom of Stephen Dusan and was conquered in circa 1386 by
the Ottomans. The region remained under their rule for 526 years.
Nom du bien : The broader region of Mount Olympus
Coordonnées :
Date de soumission : 16/01/2014
Critères :
Soumis par : Permanent Delegation of Greece to UNESCO
Liste du PM (nom,id) :
État, province ou région : Regions of Central Macedonia and Thessaly, Regional Units of Pieria and Larissa
Brève description
Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece (the highest peak is 2,918 m. above sea level), rises on the border of
Macedonia and Thessaly, between the provinces of Pieria and Larissa. Owing to its specific microclimate, which is
partly due to the short distance from the sea and the steep increase in height above sea level, it stands out for its
great diversity in terrain, climate and vegetation.
The shape of the massif and the majestic peaks, covered in fog and low-hanging clouds, which often bring storms, in
conjunction with its diverse and changeable natural beauty, have always induced awe and admiration. In this eerie
landscape, the ancient Greeks placed the residence of the Twelve Gods of Olympus (with Zeus at their head), the
Muses and the Graces. There, according to Hesiod, Zeus fought Cronus and the Titans and, after winning, settled
there and became lord all the gods, demigods and humans. The myths and traditions collected by Homer and Hesiod
were passed on throughout the ancient Greek and Roman world, making Olympus the epicentre of ancient Greek
mythology and a symbol of Greek civilization.
According to ancient Greek tradition, the twelve gods lived in the gorges – or ‘folds of Olympus’ as Homer calls them
– where their palaces were situated. On the highest peak was the throne of Zeus.
On the rounded and hospitable summit of Agios Antonios, south of Mytikas, an open-air sanctuary has been
uncovered - the oldest finds dating to the Hellenistic period - which has been identified as the Temple of Olympian
Zeus mentioned by ancient writers. This is probably the sanctuary Plutarch was referring to when, in the 2nd century
A.D., he wrote that regularly occurring processions led small animals to a peak on the Macedonian side of Olympus
and there sacrificed them to Zeus. The god’s share of the sacrificial meat was burned in the altar fire and the ashes
were gathered in a pile upon which letters were inscribed. When the procession ascended the following year, they
would find everything intact and the letters in the ashes just as they had left them, since neither wind blew to erase
them nor rain fell to dissolve the pile. Antiquities have also been found on other peaks, but these have not been
excavated.
Since Olympus was the home of the Gods, human settlements were restricted to the foothills of the mountain. The
cities of Herakleion/Platamon, Pythion, Petra, Pimpleia and Leivithra (where, according to tradition, the grave of the
mythical Orpheus was located), are some of the ancient cities neighboring the realm of the Gods.
The history of Olympus has been a tumultuous one. Even since ancient times, the surrounding area, apart from being
a site of sacred pilgrimage, formed a battlefield for the control of access from Thessaly to Macedonia.
On Mount Olympus one can find the chapel of the Prophet Elias, on the peak of Prophitis Elias at 2,803 m. This is the
highest elevation upon which a chapel has been constructed in the whole Orthodox world. It was built in the 16 th
century by Hosios Dionysios of Olympus, reportedly constructed upon ancient ruins. The same saint founded the
most important monastery in the region, the Old Monastery of Hosios Dionysios, located at an altitude of 820m within
the gorge of the River Enipeas.
Owing to its outstanding natural beauty, Olympus was the first area in Greece for which a special protection scheme
was implemented, with its proclamation as a National Forest in 1938.
The forest itself features an anarchic succession of vegetation. As the altitude increases, the vegetation of Olympus,
and particularly its distribution, presents many peculiarities. Thus, while in the neighbouring mountains of Pieria,
Titaros, and Ossa there is a clear sequence of vegetation zones, on Olympus one witnesses an anarchy in zone
succession due to its great variety of microclimates, which are due to the bedrock, slope, altitude above sea level,
steep gradients and general terrain.
Generally speaking, there are four discernible zones of vegetation. The first, ranging from 300 to 500m, is comprised
of evergreen sclerophyllous vegetation and includes shrubs and low trees such as holm oak (Quercus ilex), Greek
strawberry tree (Arbutus adrachne), Kermes oak (Quercus coccifera), and prickly juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus).
There are also certain characteristic deciduous species such as manna ash (Fraxinus ornus), smoke tree (Cotinus
coggyria), Montpellier maple (Acer monspessulanum), Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum), turpentine tree (Pistacia
terebinthus) and others.
From 600 to 1400m, which is the zone of beech-fir and montane conifers, we come across black pine (Pinus nigra
var. pallasiana) in unmixed and compact stands, or in mixed stands with beech (Fagus sylvatica). Beech forms small
clusters, unmixed or mixed with fir, Bosnian pine or black pine, and occupies the richer and wetter soils. In small
clusters and scrubs we encounter Macedonian fir (Abies borissi-regis), oriental hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis), wych
elm (Ulmus glabra), common hazel (Coryllus avellana), dogwood (Cornus mas), yew (Taxus baccata), as well as a
significant variety of herbaceous plants. In the gorges and ravines are found oriental plane trees (Platanus orientalis)
and willows (Salix eleagnos).
From 1400 to 2500 meters the zone of boreal conifers emerges, dominated primarily by Bosnian pine (Pinus
heldreichii), a rare species of pine, which makes its appearance at an altitude of around 1,100 meters. Gradually
replacing black pine, it forms unmixed stands up to nearly 2,000 meters. The areas where Bosnian pine grows are
usually dry with rocky slopes. The vegetation that grows in the region is adapted to specific local conditions and is
represented by characteristic shrubs, grasses, chasmophytes, etc., while the flora includes many endemic Balkan
species.
Above 2,500 meters, the highest treeline in the Balkans, we no longer find forests but a variety of sub-alpine
ecosystems of low-growing vegetation with many rare wildflowers, most of which are endemic to Olympus, Greece or
the Balkans.
Nom du bien : Zagorochoria – North Pindos National Park
Coordonnées :
Date de soumission : 16/01/2014
Critères :
Soumis par : Permanent Delegation of Greece to UNESCO
Liste du PM (nom,id) :
État, province ou région : Region of Epirus, Regional Unit of Ioannina
Brève description
Zagori (“the place behind the mountains”, from the Slavic za “behind” and gora “mountain”) constitutes a distinctive
geographic and cultural unit of great architectural and environmental interest. Its own inhabitants divide it, based on
the natural boundaries traced by the local rivers, into four subunits: Vlachozagoro, Lakka Zagoriou (the villages in the
Zagoritikos river valley), the Villages of the Ano Vikos Valley and the Villages of the Voidomatis Valley. These four
subunits form a single territorial unit, Zagori. Its first settlements, its oldest core, lie in the west part of present-day
Zagori (Papigo and Pedina). The two other parts developed later. Most of the modern villages were established
during the Ottoman period, while most of the villages of East Zagori were founded in the 15th century. All the villages
have been through periods of prosperity and decline, so their numbers have not been constant. Zagori was never
inhabited by occupying forces, but always remained a self-governing community (“To Koinon ton Zagorision”, The
Common of the Zagorisians). During the Ottoman period, Zagori established a special relationship with the Ottoman
administration: it was self-governed, autonomous and enjoyed tax exemptions, in return for sending a number of
youths (called voiniks) to Constantinople to work as grooms of the Sublime Porte. As a result of this complex
historical experience there were no tsiflikia (tsiftlik: a big landed property created under a specific law provision of the
Ottoman Rule) in Zagori. Another outcome of the historical evolution in the area was that due to the restricted
financial opportunities available to the inhabitants, handicraft production (pre-industrial mass production of goods for
trade) was not developed in large scale, unlike in other parts of Epirus. The local economy was based on livestock
farming, forestry, farming and revenues coming from emigration. Fertile, cultivatable lands are few and found in the
east, as are the dense forests, while the central and western regions are more suitable for livestock farming. Due to
the Zagorisians travelling abroad, the area became rich and prosperous. From the 18th century onwards, the
emigration of male inhabitants became widespread, while farming and herding activities were left in the hands of the
women.
The communities of Zagori are self-sufficient and autonomous, but also open to immigration and modern ideas. There
are various social groups: the Zagorisians (autochthonous), the Metoikoi (people from other places of the Epirus
region who were assimilated after years of permanent settlement; most of them came from Lakka Souliou; there were
also a few Gypsies who settled on the outskirts of villages), the Sarakatsani (nomad pastoralists), and a large
population of Vlachi (transhumant pastoralists and farmers, mainly in the villages of northeast Zagori).
The particular socioeconomic conditions (wealth and cultural influences from Zagorisian emigrants, community selfmanagement/autonomy), and the specific historical experience of nomadic and transhumant pastoralism (Sarakatsani
and Vlachi respectively), gave rise to an important and unique cultural capital, the intangible cultural heritage of the
region.
The architecture of the Zagorochoria (“Zagori villages”) is exceptionally interesting. In a dialectic relationship with the
intact natural environment and the particular climate conditions, it constitutes a unique combination of cultural and
natural heritage. The villages are densely built and defensive in character. They are monocentric, with a single
centre, the mesochori (village square), where all public functions are gathered - the church, the school,
the kafeneion (coffee shop, the place were men used to socialize), the vryssi or krini, the name given to the village’s
source of fresh water (coming from a nearby spring or well); this sort of fountain is usually decorated with traditional
motifs sculpted on stone or marble; most of the fountains are of exceptional architectural value and were a place for
social interactions mainly between women. The houses are arranged around the square, in different neighbourhoods
(mahalades). Despite their basic common features, the villages in the four subunits of Zagori present some
differences in their vernacular architectural style, due not only to the natural environment and building materials, but
also to the discrete social character and tradition of each area. In the east, forests and wood predominate. Along with
the predominance of the nomadic and transhumant pastoral way of life in the east, the architectural forms here are
less austere, freer and more pleasant. To the west the dominant features are the hard, rocky surfaces of Mount
Pindos and a stricter social organisation, with a corresponding effect on the architectural form. The Sarakatsani used
to move mainly in the Alpine zone (although since the 1930s they have settled permanently in the Zagori lowlands).
The Vlachi move through and inhabit the forest zones, while the rest of the Zagorisians live in the cultivatable areas,
woodlands and pastures. On the village outskirts live the Gypsies, who are musicians and specialist craftsmen
(smiths, basket-weavers). The Metoikoi engage in auxiliary professions. From the outset of Zagorisian emigration
(1750 onwards), the Vlachi and Zagorisians became merchants, supplying Zagori with wealth and education. They
brought the ideas of the Enlightenment and contributed to the national awakening of the region.
The traditions and economic functions connected to emigration and nomadic and transhumant pastoralism
contributed to the preservation of the natural environment: the rules pertaining to the use of the sacred forests of the
area (vakufika), are an excellent example of sustainable development.
The natural environment, particularly in the area of the North Pindos Protected Park, displays a steep and varied
terrain with great differences in altitude, ravines, gorges, rivers and numerous streams, each forming its own valley
with completely different ecological and climatic characteristics. The bridges of Zagori, unique examples of the
builder’s art, connect the river beds and link the network of paths and cobbled roads into a whole of singular beauty.
The river water is a source of energy: mills are built on the banks, often close to bridges. The natural elements make
up an impressive mosaic of biotopes, which in turn hosts a variety of ecosystems presenting high biodiversity at every
level, both horizontal and vertical. This great variety is, of course, also expressed in the local flora. The Zagorisians
are well aware of the medicinal properties of plants and this knowledge was cultivated reaching high performance by
the famous Vikogiatroi (literally meaning “Doctors coming from Vikos”). They are folk healers whose knowledge is
transmitted orally, from generation to generation, and heal people with the herbs they gather from the valleys of the
River Vikos.
A particularly important and ecologically significant feature of North Pindos is the fact that it includes primary (native)
ecosystems of remarkable genetic, ecosystem and species biodiversity, which are of value not only for Greece but
globally:
· Large forests of conifers and beech at medium and high altitudes, and extensive oak forests on flysch and molasse.
· A large ophiolitic mass, largely modified into serpentine. The study area is the only site in Greece where this
sublayer also extends into the Alpine zone and therefore hosts a unique variety of serpentine endemic plants.
· Impressive limestone formations, mostly vertical rockfaces and ravines. These formations are extremely important
for the local bird life and terrain.
· Large numbers of self-sown plant species, particularly interesting with regard to their spread, population, biotopes
and vulnerability.
· Rare and endangered faunal species, including Bear (Ursusarctos), Otter (Lutralutra), Wolf (Canislupus), possibly
Lynx (Lynx lynx), Chamois (Rupicaprarupicapra), Roe Deer (Capreoluscapreolus), Blue-throated Keeled Lizard or
Pindos lizard (Algyroidesnigropunctatus), and the VipersViperaursiniigraeca andViperaberusbosniensis, as well as an
impressive variety and density of bird life.
The Pindos region hosts over 1,800 plant species, many of them endemic. The names Pindicus and Pindicola of
some species known to date are descriptions indicating that the locus classicus of the species is on Pindos. The
rarest plants are found on mountain peaks. Many of these are endemic to the Pindos range, or even to a single
mountain in the range. The National Park is home to many rare, endemic and protected plant species.
The Aoos River System is the only place in the world where the Pindos Stone Loach (Oxynoemacheilus pindus) lives,
a species which is not protected by law, although neither is it directly endangered. It is also the only Greek habitat of
the Albanian Roach (Pachychilon pictus), an endemic species of the south Balkans, designated “rare” in Greece.