Listed 3 sub titles with search on: Information about the place for destination: "IFESTIAS Ancient city LEMNOS (LIMNOS)".
Ancient Hephaestiais built in the region north of the Pournja gulf. It is dated from the Copper stone era and it appears that it was inhabited continuously until the Byzantine years. The archaeological excavations could reveal among the others the sanctuary of the Great godess, necropolis, baths, a big settlement - very probably palace and hellenistic-roman theatre. Most important discoveries of ceramic art of local production and high artistic quality are exposed in the museum of Myrjna. The very big extent of the archaeological space, which has been excavated only punctually and the marvellous spot charms the visitor.
This text is cited Sept 2003 from the Municipality of Moudros URL below.
The first excavations in Ifestia were done by the Italian Archaeologist
Della Seta from 1926 to 1936. From these excavations the largest and most ancient
city of Lemnos -historic years- was discovered. The city's guardian was believed
to be the god Ifestos whose name was given to the city. Ifestia was the centre
of the ancient Greek religion on the island. Coins that were found in the region
of Ifestia had on them a lit torch that proved that ceremonies in honour of the
god Ifestos were performed, the so called "Ifestia". Ifestia was an important
port, built by the Pelasgi, on a peninsula that was surrounded by sea forming
two natural bays.
The excavations brought to light a sanctuary that was dedicated to
the Great Goddess Lemnos, cemeteries, baths, a large building like a palace that
most probably was the labyrinth of Lemnos that Plinios mentions, wells and a theatre
of the Hellenistic period. Many houses were found, a sanctuary and a large burnt
deserted cemetery that belonged to a Greek population that inhabited the island
from the 8th until the 6th century BC. The sanctuary is believed to have been
destroyed around the end of the 6th century BC. Many weapons, gold objects, clay
idols and pottery of regional art were found. On this pottery a geometrical illustration
was accomplished by curved figures, Creto-Mycinian tradition that existed on the
island until relatively late, creating an art full of vitality and motion. Some
pieces of pottery have the same writing as that found on the column of Kaminia.
Objects that were found, witness the trade exchange between the city
of Ifestia, and the other islands of the Aegean. Pottery of the early Corinthian
years and Attic, with black figures portray the relations of this city with areas
of inland Greece.
After the conquest of the island by Athens, the population, according
to Herodotus, declined. Many graves exist with attic pottery and the oldest is
estimated around the first half of the 5th century. Many graves of the following
years were found that are from up until the roman era. Between the Greek buildings
an ancient theatre was found which originally was built during the Hellenistic
period and later rebuilt in the roman era.
Other buildings (churches and houses) witness the importance of the
city during the Byzantine period.
For the period of recess and total evacuation of the city two reasons
seemed to have contributed. Firstly the natural destruction of the port due to
the flooding from heavy rain and secondly the domination of Christianity around
the second and third century. The Christians unable to apply their religion as
they wanted in the city, found a new centre at Kotsinas and the progress of this
new city caused Ifestia to be deserted.
This text is cited Jan 2004 from the Limnos Medical Association URL below.
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