Antiquities

MIEZA

In the prefecture of Imathia, in the area between the villages of Kopanos, Lefkadia and the city of Naoussa, the ancient city of Mieza is located, west of the imaginary road that connects Aigai with Pella, two of the most important cities of the Macedonian kingdom.

The first references we have for Mieza are from ancient authors such as Stephen of Byzantium, Pliny, Arrian and Ptolemy. According to mythology, Mieza was the daughter of Veretos and the sister of Veria and Olganus. Mieza was directly related to the liquid element, as it was surrounded by water, which helps us to associate the nymphaeum with the location “Isvoria” (head – springs). The identification of the area with the ancient city of Mieza was a problem, especially for the first travelers who discovered the area of ​​Macedonia. Initially, the archaeological site was located by the French traveler Delacoulonce and the Danish Architect Kinch in the 19th century, however, the identification was made after a study of the literary sources and the archaeological data of the excavations by the person in charge of the excavation, Fotis Petsas, in 1968.

The area of ​​ancient Mieza was inhabited since the late Bronze Age, as confirmed by the existence of earlier settlements and pottery found in the area. During the 7th century BC Macedonian tribes settled in the area, displacing the pre-Hellenic tribe of the Bottians in the part of western Chalkidiki that was called Bottiki. The ancient city of Mieza flourished mainly in the Hellenistic and Roman periods and was inhabited until the first post-Christian centuries. The location and walls of the settlement have not yet been found, however, public buildings from the early Hellenistic period and the ancient theater from the late Hellenistic period have been discovered. During the Hellenistic period, around the city there were communes, farmhouses, luxurious residences with peristyle courtyards and rooms, as well as extensive cemeteries at the sites of Kamara Naoussa and Kapsoura Kopanou. Finally, monumental Macedonian tombs of prominent men were found outside the city walls, a fact that testifies to the dynamics of this city.

NYMPHAEON- ARISTOTLE'S SCHOOL

The archaeological site of Nymphaeum of Mieza is located at Isvoria, on the road leading from the village of Kopano to the modern city of Naoussa. Excavation activity began in the 1950s. The discovery of the nymphaeum was completely accidental in 1965 by a farmer, Christos Migas, when he found a walnut tree that had been uprooted in an area with dense vegetation, resulting in the discovery of some steps. This site was located near a carved rock at the lowest points of the site that had already been marked in previous years, however, it was not possible to uncover it due to the dense vegetation. The excavation was undertaken after 1965 by Fotis Petsas who identified the archaeological site with the School of Aristotle, combining written sources, topographical observations and excavation data.

The name of the site Isvoria, i.e. Kefalari, is not accidental as there are many springs and abundant water flowing at the base of the cliff along the surfaces, therefore all the conditions were there for a nymphaeum and a royal School. The sanctuary of the nymphs was founded in the archaic era and in the mid-4th century BC it was remodeled in order to accommodate the young Alexander and the royal children. Plutarch describes in his Life of Alexander the site chosen for the establishment of the School, mentioning "the Nymphaeum near Miesan" and informs us that even in his own time the site functioned as an attraction for visitors, as the stone seats and shady walkways where the great philosopher taught were still visible.
The School operated for three years (343-340 BC) and Aristotle took on the task of educating Alexander the Great. In this space, the young Alexander was initiated into philosophy, poetry, mathematics and natural sciences. Aristotelian thought was decisive in shaping the personality of Alexander the Great. A portico had also been formed in the space and a large surface of the rock was carved, forming projections and recesses that facilitated the passage from one space to another, forming a long walk and creating functional spaces. Perhaps this space was directly connected to the gymnasium of Mieza, where it seems to have been not only a place for sports but also for teaching. Today, three natural caves, parts of the stoa's stylobate and well-crafted 13.5 m long walls inside the springs are preserved without any indication of further interpretation.

THEATRE OF MIEZA

In the southwestern part of the archaeological site of Mieza, in the area of ​​Belovina Kopanou, a theater was located very close to the Hellenistic cemetery of carved tombs. The theater was found in 1992 during the excavation of an underground irrigation network. Further north, there are other public buildings and building units that testify to the city's dynamics. The location of the theater, oriented to the east, had been carefully chosen, as the slope served to shape the hollow and provided a view of the plain.

The rocky substrate also served to carve the seats without the need to transport material from afar. The carvings on the rock confirm the existence of 19 steps. The theater is divided into five stands with four ascending stairs. It is a theater with mixed elements of Greek and Roman theater consisting of an earthen orchestra, a cavea formed on the hillside, having tiers of seats made of limestone and a stone stage building. A characteristic of this theater is that it does not have a perimeter kennel, as a result of which the drainage of rainwater is done through a hole in the natural rock in the center of the orchestra.
The first construction phase of the building dates back to the second half of the 4th century BC and a second theater was built in the second half of the 2nd century BC where it remained in use until the 4th century AD. The restoration and maintenance procedures began in 2007 and stopped in 2009 due to lack of funds. In 2014, the maintenance and restoration works of the project were largely completed. The project was implemented by the Ministry of Culture and the Region of Central Macedonia and was financed with 700,000 from the OP "Macedonia-Thrace" of the NSRF with the main purpose of hosting various events and performances of ancient tragedy.

MIEZA HIGH SCHOOL

Very close to the theater of ancient Mieza is a building complex of a public nature in the public center of the Hellenistic city. The building complex extends in successive levels, taking advantage of the slope of the ground from the slopes created by the ground. A type of Propyla was discovered with Doric semi-columns that gave the impression of a false facade and through a narrower ramp led to a higher terrace to the west, where other Stoic buildings were also developed. North of the ramp a temple-shaped building was discovered while on the south side a Doric portico was found with “simple pebble” mosaic floors like those of Vergina and Pella. West of this area, a large building extends around a large internal peristyle with 11 symposium rooms in the north and west wings. The building extends to the south with a different layout while the buildings in the western sector probably belong to a city sanctuary. The excavations of recent years have invalidated the conclusions about the Agora and Asclepius as the building complex has been found outside the city walls. According to Ms. Angeliki Kottaridis, the building provided outdoor and semi-outdoor sports and training areas, accommodation, spacious classrooms, dining areas and andronae, i.e. symposium areas. Therefore, it met all the criteria that a School, such as that of Aristotle, should have, which would host not only Alexander, but also a large number of royal children who would accompany him. The structural similarities with the palace of Aigai lead us to the conclusion that this is a building of Philip. The complex building complex of Mieza, dates back to the 4th century BC and seems to be particularly important. It was violently destroyed in the first decades of the 3rd century BC and survived in parts. It provides information about public architecture in Macedonia and its role in shaping new trends in Hellenistic architecture, as evidenced by the tendency to associate gymnasiums and theaters in all Hellenistic cities such as Pergamon, Babylon, etc. Furthermore, the presence of a building of such size in a Macedonian city offers a new perspective on the political institutions of the city in the Macedonian kingdom during this period.

MACEDONIAN TOMBS OF LEFKADIA

• MACEDONIAN TOMB OF KINCH

Along the ancient road that connected the ancient city of Mieza with the capital of the Macedonian kingdom of Pella and very close to the village of Lefkadia, some important Macedonian tombs are located that testify to the dynamics of an important city. The first tomb was located in the Kopanos area of ​​Imathia at the end of the 19th century. by the Danish architect K.F.Kinch, from whom it took its name. The tomb was found looted and in very poor condition from the works carried out in the area for the construction of the railway line.

It dates back to the first half of the 3rd century BC and was a two-chamber tomb with a vaulted roof in the chamber and a flat roof in the antechamber. It was covered with fill that formed a mound 2.50 m high. On the eastern wall there was a representation that has not survived today, except for paintings from drawings by the Danish architect K.F.Kinch who studied and uncovered the monument in the years 1887, 1889 and 1892. The written representation depicted a Macedonian horseman on a galloping horse, attacking with his spear a Persian foot soldier, who was trying to defend himself by putting forward his shield. During the years 1970-1971, with the care of the archaeological service, restoration and cleaning works were carried out on the monument with the aim of highlighting it.

• MACEDONIAN TOMB OF LYSONOS AND CALLICLEUS

The tomb of Lysonos and Callicleus was located in the village of Kopanos, Naoussa, on the imaginary ancient road that connected Mieza with Pella, the capital of the Macedonian kingdom. It is the smallest Macedonian tomb in the area and, based on the pottery found during the excavations, the tomb dates from the late 3rd century BC to the mid-2nd century BC. This particular tomb has a peculiarity. It was a family tomb, one of the few cases we have of a Macedonian funerary monument, as it preserves the names of five generations of the same family.

We also know that the tomb belongs to the family of Aristophanes, whose members are listed above rectangular boxes in red letters, in two rows, on three sides of the walls. Internally, the monument is inscribed with representations and the names of the first interred: “Lyson and Callicles of Aristophanes”. In the chamber there are 22 boxes in two rows, 17 of which received the offerings and ashes of the dead from the cremations. It is a two-chamber tomb sealed with a double-leaf door. In the antechamber, along with the names of the dead, there is a painted representation of a perirantium and an altar. The Ionic representations of the main chamber are rendered three-dimensionally with light and shadow, creating the feeling of a real peristyle in the open air, as it is crowned by a floral garland with ribbons and pomegranates at the top. The two drums of the narrower sides depict weapons such as helmets, swords and two different types of Macedonian shields, which usually formed part of the offerings, i.e. the personal belongings of the dead in their last resting place.
The tomb was discovered by chance in 1942 by Charalambos Makaronas and the full study of the monument was carried out by archaeologist Stella Miller. One fact that contributed to the preservation of the frescoes and paints was the fact that the earthen mound was not removed, as a result of which stable humidity conditions were ensured. Today the tomb is not accessible, except by experts, while in 1999 a metal roof was constructed for better protection of the monument.

• MACEDONIAN TOMB OF KRISEO

The Macedonian Tomb of Kriseo is one of the most imposing Macedonian tombs in the area. It dates back to the last quarter of the 4th century BC and impresses the viewer with its imposing dimensions and its recorded facade. It was a two-chamber Macedonian tomb, with a vaulted roof and an earthen mound 1.50 m high. The facade presents a peculiarity, as it gives the impression of a two-story building, combining the Doric with the Ionic style and having an impressive pediment crown.

The “first floor”, in the Doric style, is divided by four semi-columns and presents an exceptional subject of painting, that of the Judgment of the Dead, from which the Macedonian tomb owes its name. The four representations, which form a single composition, present the dead warrior being led by Hermes the soul-carrier to the judges of the Underworld, Rhadamanthys and Aeacus, a subject known to us from the Platonic dialogue “Gorgias”, which, however, is a rare subject for iconography. It seems that two painters worked on the decoration of the tomb as the way of rendering the figures differs. On the four semi-columns rests the Doric cornice consisting of triglyphs and 11 metopes, partially preserving their colors in good condition. The metopes are decorated with a fairly well-known theme in iconography, the confrontation of the Centaurs with the Lapiths. A band of drops and a written zone with flowers and tendrils separate the metopes from the Ionic frieze which presents a battle of the Greeks with the Persians in relief form.
The second floor of the facade consists of six small Ionic semi-columns with shaped false doors and a pedimented crown that may have had written decoration. In 1954, during the opening of the provincial road, the magnificent tomb was accidentally discovered and excavated by Professor Fotis Petsas during the years 1954-1964. In 1998, L. Stefani took over the excavation and conservation work was carried out on the mortars and the facade.

• THE MACEDONIAN TOMB OF THE ANTHEMIA

150m. further east from the tomb of Kriseo, is the tomb of the Anthemia, dating from the first half of the 3rd century BC. It is a two-chamber, vaulted tomb, with four Ionic semi-columns and a rich decoration of Doric and Ionic waves on its facade. The tomb was closed with six domes of limestone, while the pediment presents a painted representation depicting a mature couple, dressed in a chiton and himation, sitting on a banquet couch. The pediment is crowned with three reliefs of anthemia, from which the tomb derives its name. The ceiling of the antechamber presents a magnificent painted representation, six anthemia alternating with water lilies on an impressive blue-green background, reminiscent of water lilies floating on the surface of a lake. The remaining walls of the antechamber were plastered with yellow paint in the upper parts and black in the lower parts. A 3.5 m high marble double door separated the antechamber from the main chamber. In the main chamber a stone base of the vase or larnaca containing the bones of the deceased was found as well as ivory parts of the relief decoration of the funeral bed. Inside the walls are monochrome, imitating orthomarbling and are separated by a white strip. The tomb was excavated after an attempted illegal excavation in 1971 by the then Ephor of Antiquities Katerina Romiopoulou and is today protected by a roof that covers part of the monument.

PREHISTORIC SITES

Prehistoric research in the prefecture of Imathia, and specifically that concerning the Municipality of Naoussa, is quite limited and is based mainly on excavation data from the 1960s. The specific prehistoric sites located west of Vermion, in the area that had been called the Giannitsa plain, were, if not coastal, quite close to the sea and were probably connected to it by rivers.

The prehistoric sites located within the boundaries of the Municipality of Naoussa are the following: Ano Zevrochori (Neolithic-Early Bronze Age), Angelochori Tomb (Late Bronze Age), Rodochori Cave (Neolithic), Monospita, Marina, Lefkadia, Episkopi Tomb (Late Bronze Age), Polyplatanos Tomb (Neolithic) and Hatzinota Tomb (Late Bronze Age). Approximately 21 settlements have been identified in the Giannitsa plain, of which approximately 10 date back to the Neolithic. During this period, an increase in population and the establishment of new sites or the re-inhabitation of Ancient Neolithic sites is observed. Unfortunately, there is no pottery from the Middle Neolithic Period, which may indicate the cessation of settlement or simply be interpreted as a coincidence as the excavations have not been completed.

The Early Bronze Age settlements are limited to two or three sites due to limited research or the destruction of some sites, which is not consistent with the density of settlements from this period in the rest of the Giannitsa valley. Finally, Late Bronze Age settlements were identified in three sites in the area and six others in the rest of the Giannitsa valley. The Toumba type is the most common settlement form we encounter, namely the earthen mound with smooth and steep slopes. The Toumbas of the Late Bronze Age are taller than those of the Neolithic Period as bricks and retaining walls were used. During the Neolithic Period, settlement in caves or on natural hills is also observed. The excavation data resulted from the examination of surface pottery, which allows us to compare pottery from other settlement sites in Macedonia, but also to recognize the different styles. It seems that the area of ​​the prefecture of Imathia is particularly important for the study of the prehistory of Macedonia, however, further excavation research is necessary to draw clearer conclusions.

Texts: Makri Ifigenia

Historian - Museologist

& Diplomated tour guide