{"id":21307,"date":"2014-05-16T09:47:50","date_gmt":"2014-05-16T07:47:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.ikaria.ch\/?page_id=21307"},"modified":"2024-04-12T18:33:49","modified_gmt":"2024-04-12T16:33:49","slug":"the-acropolis-of-katafigi","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ursula.ikaria.ch\/en\/the-acropolis-of-katafigi\/","title":{"rendered":"The Acropolis of Katafigi"},"content":{"rendered":"
A picnic at this wonderful viewpoint with a view of the islands of Fourni and Samos, Faros, Therma and Agios Kirykos – unforgettable!<\/p>\n<\/div>
Do you know the hike to the Acropolis of Katafigi?<\/strong><\/p>\n Did you even know there was an acropolis in Katafigi? No? Then be sure to read this article. My insider tip: an easy, short hike rewards you with a sensational view! An easy trip on the way to the airport. The entrance is, so to speak, invisible and most people simply drive past it without realizing it. But with our instructions and “photo story” you can’t miss it…<\/p>\n Acropolis<\/strong> is the “high city” or “upper city”. An ancient Greek city always had an acropolis – even if some of them do not seem to deserve this name due to the flat terrain. For defensive purposes, a city’s early settlers chose elevations and hills, if possible with steep slopes. The Acropolis corresponded to a citadel, but over the course of history it developed from a fortification on the castle hill to a cult site with the most important sanctuaries. In many places, the early settlements developed into the centers of large cities that spread across the adjacent valleys. The most famous Acropolis is in Athens<\/a>. (Source: Wikipedia)<\/p>\n The Acropolis of Katafigi was the seat of government during the time when ancient Therma<\/a> and Oinoi (today’s Kampos near Evdylos on the north side) were capitals. From there you had a good overview of the city with the ancient spas, the entire south coast and the islands of Fourni, Samos and Patmos opposite.<\/p>\n After the expulsion of the Persians and the separation from the Spartans in the 5th century BC, ancient Therma joined the Attic Sea League. Many historical sources are still unclear today. However, discoveries of tax catalogs from the Attic Sea Confederation seem to clearly show that the two, possibly three capitals (Therma, Oinoi and Drakano) were subject to taxes during this time. The goals of the Sea League \u00a0were to pursue the pirates, to keep the trade routes from the Aegean to the Black Sea free and of course the final expulsion of the Persians.<\/p>\n The dead from Therma were reluctant to be buried near the sea, where the ground was hot from the already famous healing springs<\/a> in various places. That’s why so-called air tombs are spread all over Katafigi above Therma and below the Acropolis. If you were to dig, a lot of interesting things would come to the surface. Friends of mine found several shards of clay jars on the Acropolis hill.<\/p>\n<\/div> by Edith B\u00fchler Jud,<\/a> report and photos<\/p>\n If you drive down from the top of the pass towards the capital Agios Kyrikos, after about 500 meters you will find the turnoff on the left, marked \u201cAirport\u201d, Katafigi\/Faros in Greek and \u201cArcheological Site\u201d on a brown board. Turn left there.<\/p>\nA trip on the way to the airport<\/h2>\n