Acropolis of Ancient Farsalos

At the top of the Prophet Elias hill, towering above the modern city, stands the imposing Acropolis of Ancient Farsalos. Overlooking the fertile valley of the Enipeas River, the acropolis is the most significant archaeological site in the area and a living imprint of the city’s long and storied history.

This strategic location has been continuously inhabited since the Neolithic period and was identified with the mythical Phthia, birthplace of Achilles, during Mycenaean times. In the Classical and Hellenistic periods, Farsalos developed into a powerful city-state and flourished especially during the era of Macedonian rule, due to its pro-Macedonian stance.

The Acropolis of Farsalos covers approximately 30 stremmas (3 hectares) and stretches across two uneven plateaus, separated by a narrow saddle. The wall surrounding the acropolis reflects the city's development over the centuries, with successive phases of fortification and reconstruction. The initial phase of the fortifications dates to the late 6th – early 5th century BC, featuring polygonal masonry made of carefully hewn grey limestone and curved lines reminiscent of the Lesbian system.

The fortification was significantly reinforced in the mid-4th century BC, with the addition of towers, new gates, and posterns for both military and civilian purposes. Especially notable are the northern gate, which led to the city, and the southern gate, which served as a connection to the outside area. Construction continued into the Hellenistic era, with new interventions during the reign of Demetrius Poliorcetes (3rd century BC).

The Byzantine Period

During the Byzantine period, specifically in the 6th century AD, the acropolis was radically renovated as part of the extensive building program of Emperor Justinian. The surviving sections of the Byzantine walls include three square towers on the saddle and a tower next to the northern gate, along with a transverse wall that isolated the eastern plateau of the acropolis. The masonry used ancient stone blocks, lime mortar, and wooden reinforcements, with the walls reaching heights of up to 5 meters.

A distinctive feature of the acropolis is its cisterns, three of which date to the Byzantine era. The largest, built adjacent to the southern wall of the western plateau, was covered with a vaulted roof and lined with hydraulic mortar for waterproofing—demonstrating both technical sophistication and the need for water supply during sieges.

The Acropolis of Ancient Farsalos is not merely a monument, but a journey through time—a living symbol of the resilience and continuity of Greek civilization through the centuries.