Ancient Port Colonization

Ancient Port Colonization

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MAR.08.00.01

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The Greeks of the Eastern Aegean, during the 8th century BC, colonized the land of the Thracian tribes, seeking new homes. In the middle of the 7th century BC, habitants of the island of Chios, founded the ancient Maronia, which was very close to the preexisted and older Ismaros. The name of the city is considered to be linked to the Homeric Maronas, son of Evanthos, and priest at Ismaros of the god Apollo. Gradually, there will be a mutual cultural influence between the colonists and the local population. In the new region, the colonists found fertile plains in order to grow olives, cereals and vines- crops which were bonded with the colonists for long time- but also they found a natural harbor which will be of great importance for the promotion of their trade. Remnants of the jetty, dated on the 4th century BC, preserved on the east side of the modern port of St. Charalambos. The location of the colony is very privileged, as it offers a great views all the way from Thassos to Samothrace. However, there was an ongoing conflict with the neighbor Thassians, due to the fact that the very competitive nearby Strymi, which was a Thassian colony, was also thriving. These controversies begun during the Archaic period and they appear again in 360/361 BC, this also showed the westward expanse of the area controlled by Maronia.

You are now located at the port of St Charalambos. On the southeast side of the port,, you can see the stone piles, which once formed the ancient jetty. The Greeks of the Eastern Aegean, during the 8th century BC, colonized the land of the Thracian tribes, seeking new homes. In the middle of the 7th century BC, habitants of the island of Chios, founded the ancient Maronia, which was very close to the preexisted and older Ismaros. The name of the city is considered to be linked to the Homeric Maronas, son of Evanthos, and priest at Ismaros of the god Apollo. Gradually, there will be a mutual cultural influence between the colonists and the local population. In the new region, the colonists found fertile plains in order to grow olives, cereals and vines- crops which were bonded with the colonists for long time- but also they found a natural harbor which will be of great importance for the promotion of their trade. Remnants of the jetty, dated on the 4th century BC, preserved on the east side of the modern port of St Charalambos. The location of the colony is very privileged, as it offers a great views,all the way from Thassos to Samothrace. However, there was an ongoing conflict with the neighbor Thassians, due to the fact that the very competitive nearby Strymi, which was a Thassian colony, was also thriving. These controversies begun during the Archaic period, and they appear again in 360/361 BC, this also showed the westward expanse of the area controlled by Maronia.

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