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Viotia
Greece
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Orchomenos
The
archaeological research at Orchomenos has offered rich evidence for the
habitation at the site. In the Neolithic period the houses were circular
huts 2 to 6 ms in diametre, while in the Early Bronze Age, (2800-1900 B.C.)
they were apsidal. In the Bronze Age (3rd-2nd century B.C.), Orchomenos
was famous as an important centre of civilisation. The palace and the great
tholos tomb show the power of Orchomenos in the mycenaean times. The town
is mentioned by Homer ("Catalogue of Ships") a a participant to the Trojan
War; together with Aspledon they contributed 30 ships. In historical times,
Orchomenos was known as the "town of Charites". Their temple is probably
situated under the church of Panaghia Skripou. Musical and poetical games,
haretesia, were held in their honour. The town was equally important during
the Hellenistic times when the fortification walls, visible today, were
constructed.
In
1880-1886 H. Schliemann revealed the so-called tholos tomb of Minyas. In
1893 A. de Ridder excavated the temple of Asklepios and some roman graves.
In 1903-1905 a bavarian archaeological mission under H.Bulle and .Furwaengler
conducted excavations with important results for the history of the site.
Research continued in 1970-1973 by the Archaeological Service (the Ephor
Th.Spyropoulos) and brought to light among others the mycenaean palace,
a prehistoric cemetery and the ancient theatre.
The
most important monuments of Orchomenos are:
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The Tholos
tomb known as Tomb of Minyas
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The theatre
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The mycenaean
palace
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The fortification
walls of Orchomenos
The
Castle of Levadeia
The
construction of the castle was begun in the 13th century but most of what
is now seen dates from the Catalan occupation of the city, lasting from
1309 until 1380. In 1458 it was captured by the Turks and remained under
their control until the liberation of Levadeia.
The
castle lies on the naturally fortified hill of Aghios Elias, overlooking
the modern town of Levadeia. The long curtain wall runs steeply down, ending
at a substantial tower to the east. It is built of rubble stones and only
the gateways are built of finely cut ashlar blocks.A small church inside
the castle was much later built on the site of an ancient temple of Zeus.
Chaironeia
The
area was first settled in the Prehistoric Period (site "Magoula Balomenou").
It was subject to Orchomenos up to the end of the 5th century B.C.: it
then formed one of the 11 Boeotian districts until 338 B.C. In te Roman
era it was granted status of freedom.
The
grave of the Thebans was excavated in 1879 and the Magoula Balomenou in
1902-4 by G.Soteriadis.
The
most important monuments are:
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The Lion
of Chaironeia, marble funerary monument (5,5 m. high) which marked the
communal grave of the Sacred Band of Thebans that was crushed (338 B.C.)
in the battle with Philip B΄ of Macedonia. It was discovered in 1818 in
pieces and was restored on a plinth 3 m. high.
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Ancient
theater, curved at the rock.
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The Acropolis
with fortification walls of the hellenistic period and ancient theatre
with its cavea hewn in the rock.
The
finds from the excavations at Chaironeia are exhibited in the local museum.
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