The ancient Greek city of Pella the capital of the legendary Kingdom of Macedonia and birthplace of the famous General of Alexander the Great. Ruins of the ancient city are located in several kilometers from Pella and about 40 km from Thessaloniki.
The first mention of pellet found in the works of the Greek historian Herodotus. At the end of the 5th century BC Macedonian king Archelaus moved the capital from the Holy city of aeges in Pella, and built there a magnificent Palace, the decoration of which was entrusted to the famous Greek painter Zeuxis. The city began to rapidly grow and develop, and at the beginning of the 4th century Pella was the largest city in Macedonia. The highest of the town reached its apex during the reign of Philip and his famous son Alexander the Great. In 168 BC, Pella was conquered and plundered by the Romans. Some time Pella remained the capital of one of the districts of the Roman province of Macedonia, but later lost its status Thessaloniki. Over time, the city fell into decay, and the earthquake in the 1st century BC and finally destroyed it.
Research and the first excavations of ancient Pella date from the early 20th century, but large-scale systematic work began in the 50-ies of the 20th century. During the excavation was found a monumental Palace complex – the residence of the Macedonian kings and the ancient Pella, located slightly South of the Palace. The city is built in accordance with the town planning system of the famous Greek architect Hippodamus with rows of perpendicular streets. In the centre was the town Agora, surrounded by a colonnade and covering an area of about 70,000 square.m.on the territory of which there were shops, workshops, administrative buildings and t.d. Pella was also equipped with systems of water supply and sanitation. Archaeologists have discovered multiple ruins of one - and two-story residential buildings (some of them have survived the stunning beauty of the floor mosaics of pebbles), as well as the remains of a fortress, the ruins of the city's harbour (in ancient times Pella was connected to the Gulf of Thermaikos navigable lagoon) and ancient burial sites. Part of the archaeological object is now available for tourists.
The ruins of Ancient Pella recognized as an important historical and archaeological monument and is under state protection. Excavations continue here and now and quite possibly in the future we expect new amazing discovery.
In 2009, the area of the excavation of ancient Pella opened Archaeological Museum, which is considered one of the best museums of its kind in Greece.
I can add descriptionAncient Pella
Archaeological Museum of Pella