 |
At
Chrysavgi there is the 2nd castle of Paramythia, the castle
of ancient Elea. Today, its walls are in good conditions, showing its
great history. Was the most important community in Eleatida, the region
between Nekromanteio and Paramythia, where the nation of Thesprotian
Eleates was living. Established in 350 BC, was the capital of
Thesprotia. During the 4th century BC there were established
the first communities reaching the side of a real city.
|
|
|
The
bronze coins made by Eleates are dated around 350 BC. With Elea as center, the
Thesprotian nation had the rich valleys of Acheron and Kokytos till the
Nekromanteio and the Ammoudia Bay.
The
Elea was meant as the community eastern the village Chrysavgi, 5km SE from
Paramythia. It was the first Thesprotian capital. Its walls in NE and E side of
ancient community are today kept in very good condition, with thickness 3,5m and
remaining height 7m. The walls and the gate are built as memorials. Inside there
are the ruins of houses, public buildings, market and theatre. Within the area
was found coins and inscriptions dated from 4th century BC. The
community’s area is about 105.000m2, on the top of a little mountain in front
of Korila, at 460-525m.
The
population within the walls is about 3.000 (as during the Greek ages, the
community had population also outside the walls). The walls and the gate in NE/E
side are built in memorial style. The wall thickness
reaches
4,5m
and
its
height
6m.
The
community is crossed from NE to SW by a road, which probably was ending to the 2
main gates, the eastern and the southwestern.
Within
the remaining walls are the noble houses, the music school and other public,
instructive services. At the left and right sides there are groups of buildings.
To the south side of central road there is a large area surrounded by tunnels,
the theatre and some other buildings, used as politic market. In the theatre
there are some sculptures and remaining walls around the stage. The large
diameter of the theatre was about 45-50m, the height 8-9m, and could receive
3-4.000 spectators.
The archaeological
research in Elea, started in 1985, revealed a tunnel, western to the theatre,
some depositing rooms, a small temple and a public building. The archaeological studies continue
