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Traces of ancient Thessaloniki : the case of “Stoa Hirsch”

• Τσιμπίδου - Αυλωνίτη, Μαρία
• Λυκίδου, Ηρώ

During 2008, in view of the reconstruction of a large department store in the centre of Thessaloniki, an excavation was carried out -under rather adverse circumstances-, beneath the basements of the so-called “Stoa Hirsch”, an arcade belonging to the Jewish Community of the city.The rescue excavation revealed that the wider area was continuously inhabited from the end of the 2nd c. B.C. onwards, ‘till the 19th century. Of great importance was the unearthing of a part of a fortification work which belonged to the sea walls of Thessaloniki during the Early Christian period. It is the lower part of a solid fortifying wall 3,46m thick, surviving to a maximum length of 6,20m. It is constructed of green slates and hydraulic mortar, including large marble blocks in second use. It lies in the basement of the western wing of the modern building, just 0,50 m under the sea level.According to the position of the new finding, its impressive width and structure, the wall construction dates to the end of the 4th c. AD. It is most probably related to the great fortification plan of Theodosius II, aiming to the reinforcement of the defensive line of Thessaloniki.Fortunately enough, this important part of the ancient sea walls of the city has been preserved in the basement area of the store NOTOS COM / PUBLIC (on 33, Mitropoleos Str.), being visible through a specially made glass cover.

• History and Archaeology

• Ανασκαφές (Αρχαιολογία)
• Αρχαιολογία

Θεσσαλονίκη, συνέδρια

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