Serres and the Lion of Amphipolis

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Serres is one of the seven regional districts of the Greek region of Central Macedonia, named after the main town of Serres. Serres includes the municipalities of Amfipoli, Emmanouil Pappas, Iraklia, Nea Zichni, Serres, Sindiki and Visaltia.

In ancient times, the territory of the Serres region belonged to the settlement and dominion of the Thracians. Within the framework of the Greek colonization between the 8th and 6th century BC, settlements were established, which were mainly located on the Aegean coast and served to control the extraction of ore in the Pangeo Mountains and the trade.

With the Roman empire division in 395 AD, the area of Serres fell to the East Roman and Byzantine empires. They kept the exclusive control up to the 6th century.

Ennea Hodoj to Amphipolis - alternating occupiers

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From Ennea Hodoj to Amphipolis - alternating occupiers

For the first time in the year 464 BC, Athens had tried to gain a foothold in the area of Ennea Hodoj, but had been repulsed by the residential Edon tribes in the Battle of Drabeskos.

After exploring Argilos - The Lion of Amphipolis

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After exploring Argilos - The Lion of Amphipolis

After a brief exploration of Argilos, a strong downpour had completely weakened the path, so it was extremely muddy, we went on towards Amphipolis, where we first had to cross the modern Via Egnatia - the highway towards Kavala and Alexandroupolis.

Tomb in Amphipolis - excavations intensified again

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Tomb in Amphipolis - excavations intensified again

To the north-east of Amphipolis there is a 23-meter-high grave, which in all probability contains an important tomb from the last quarter of the fourth century BC, that is, from the epoch of Alexander the Great (356-323) and its immediate successors.

Amphipolis - customs taxes on wood and mines made it rich

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Amphipolis - customs taxes on wood and mines made it rich

After our stop at the Monument of the Lion of Amphipolis, we continued along the Strymonas to the inner countryside, where we first noticed the Marmariou Tower at the entrance of Amphipolis.

Argilos - early Greek colony west of Strymonas

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Argilos - early Greek colony west of Strymonas

We are on the way to the ancient Amphipolis, which is situated in an arch of the river Strymonas at the Roman Via Egnatia and which once was a major trading place, as a sign for the excavations of ancient Argilos appeared.

Thasitic Peraia - settlement area of inhabitants of Thasos

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Thasitic Peraia - settlement area of the inhabitants of Thasos

During our project work along Via Egnatia, we encountered the ancient Amphipolis, next to Thessalonica and Kavala, neighboring important trading centers on the ancient Roman road between Durres and Istanbul.

Hammam - or Hamam - the steam bath of Agkistro

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Hammam - also Hamam - the steam bath of Agkistro

The Hammām is a further development of the Greek-Roman bath, which the ancient Greeks, Romans and Byzantines have already implemented in their urban concepts as public baths 2,000 years ago.

Kerkini Lake - reservoir on the way to Agkistro

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Kerkini Lake - reservoir on the way to Agkistro

It was originally a suggestion from Toni Zampetas, which finally brought us to George and Anthimos and thus to the village of Agkistro, a small mountain village near the border with Bulgaria in the Serres region.

The wetlands at Lake Kerkini in the region of Serres

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The wetlands at Lake Kerkini in the region of Serres

The first impressions at Kerkini Lake were so impressive that we decided to completely surround the lake, especially as the huge wetlands are more on the north-western bank areas in front of the imposing mountain chain that forms the border with Bulgaria.

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