Μόλις η στάθμη των νερών στη λίμνη Κερκίνη των Σερρών χαμήλωσε, What was an open secret for locals came back to light. More than a hundred of the scattered large marbles of the ancient Mound Kasta Amphipolis, cornices, uprights and stepseis, parts of the monumental enclosure at burial Hill complex, suddenly appeared again through the waters.
The images gave in recent days published in the Ministry of culture, show some of the approximately 500 architectural members are left here and there in the broader drama Earth. Already since last March, in the 27th scientific meeting for the archaeological project in Macedonia and Thrace, in Thessaloniki, the head of KI Ephorate of prehistoric and classical Antiquities, the digger Katerina Peristeri, had announced that two years ago the Conservancy survey in the region of Amphipolis were detected in the area of the monument of Leo scattered architectural parts, to open at the base and height of 5 m. Lion.
Based on the archaeological considerations, much of it was apoxilwthei in Roman times from the burial grounds of the Mound. Came, i.e., from the unique in the world, because of the size of (length 497 measures, height of three meters), funerary enclosure of Mound Kasta, dating between 325 and 300 eg (last quarter of the 4th century). According to Ms. Peristeri, the precinct that carries the signature of renowned architect at that time Deinokrati, a friend of Alexander the great. These marbles that were built from Aliki Thassos. From there, with special boats transported to ancient Amphipolis.
Today, scientists who study the excavation of Amphipolis is talking about four rows of marble per meter, IE for about 2.000 pieces of stones (for the total length of 497m.).
From these, as you point out, they have been found up to now about the 600, They identified by archaeologists as belonging to the burial grounds of the Mound Kasta. The 500 It is now in the lion of Amphipolis, While the remaining 100 the village Lithotopos, where are found under the mud or surface. In other words, the exact location remains unknown where are today the remaining 1.400 heavy marmaropetres that marking out the ancient this funerary enclosure. From as many, However, found, already several loaded from the excavation crew and transferred, to further study, in their inscriptions.
What the locals are saying today
"The marbles were sections-the yard of lining Mound of Amphipolis. As it is said, the Romans the xilwsan and threw in the Struma, in order to become passable the river, like a bridge, to can pass.
In there they threw and the lion, for’ It was found in disrepair, by Englishmen in 1917, "says Dimitris Dimoudis, President of the society for the study and Research of history of Serres (ERE). And complements: "The 1912, during the release, passed from the Hellenic Army and saw, for’ This and there are references for’ These. OTAN anymore in the 1930s took over the company Oylen to do projects so that the river might not fill the entire Valley, and began to clean the bed of, He found many of these marble stones. And because it was large and square, the loaded and transported elsewhere. Used to make the 1932 the basis of Kerkini dam in the village of Lithotopos».
"These stones were transported-unknown from whom, However, according to one version of the Romans- from the funerary enclosure and used in the construction of the original dam of kerkini in former Lake Achinos, which apoxiranthike the 1936. During the drying of, the Oylen the pulled out. Some found next to Lion. Others were moved farther away from where found, in the mid 1930s resulted in Lithotopos, the dam's artificial lake kerkini. Since the levees protecting of Lake "says in turn Costas Melitos, Mayor of Amphipolis.
"Where is currently about a hundred from the marbles, my peers and I remember from the 1965. Four years old I was then and up to the 1974-75, were swimming around the. We did dives beside s.’ these marbles, on the shore of the Lithotopoy dam in kerkini, Since then the waters of the Lake were spotless "remembers and the Mayor of Iraclia Serron, Kleanthis Kotsakiachidis. «
Always June-July fall the level of. Half marbles we then seemed, all the children of Lithotopoy, without knowing their origin, We played among them, pastured there and animals. This area was the threshing floor, with machinery then everyone was gathering the kritharia. "remember today.
Marbles and the new dam
On the premiership of Eleftherios Venizelos, 20 October 1928 the Greek Government-with contract comprising 35 articles, signed on behalf of Transport Minister Ant. Christomanos and Finance Minister c. Maris- commissioned in the u.s. (from New York) Monks and Oylen companies ("John Monks and Sons ' and ' Ulen and Company») to intervene in the hydrographic system of the region. To implement, i.e., appropriate land reclamation works in the plain of Serres. To settle the estuary and its tributaries of the Struma and to stabilize, After the Lake kerkini modeled only when River had been Downing too much water, When it was flooded the Plains Serron-Dramas.
In practice, in the context of the work, apostraggistikan the marshland of the plain and Lake Achinos (the once known as Kerkinitida)- until then, the main Lake of the Struma, in front of Amphipolis, occupied 80.000-140.000 acres, in the southeastern part of the serraϊkis plain. Beyond, Since then the river moved and thrown in the Lake large amounts of debris, he needed the construction of a new, the highest dam in kerkini, the elevation and expansion of embankments, so is feasible-controlled and irrigation.
In this work the Monks and Oylen manufacturers, that completed a two-year (1929-1930) the preliminary study of, used and marble cornices, uprights and stepseis from the precincts of Mound Kasta. That's because water remain unaltered as the marbles, It was the best material for the foundations-prop of the first dam in the waters of the river Strymon, next to the village Lithotopos: artificial reservoir which basically formed the Lake Kerkini, When the project was delivered ready, the 1932.
Along the way, the geography of the area changed again. This is because of the 1974 until the 1980 There were new, major land reclamation projects. Made, i.e., the new dam of Lithotopoy, to keep more waters, to irrigated kampos of Serres.
Later, in the mid-90s, next to the dam, created and the port of Lithotopoy, a floating platform-Hill to get inside the boats and protected, but also to parked cars, After you have started tourism. Done and asphalt, by Lithotopos-southwest of Kerkini, up to the village of Kerkini-Northwest, to be connected and drive, at a distance 18 km, the Lake of’ Tip s.’ edge.
The Kerkini now
Today, only one Lake lies in the Valley of Serres, in the land of ancient Strymonia: the Kerkini, to the Northwest of serraϊkis Valley, 40 kilometers from the city of Serres, about 100 from Thessaloniki. Stretched out in 80.000 acres (from the 700.000 of the plain), is the unique wetland that (the 2006) declared as a National Park.
At The Same Time, is one of the 10 Wetlands of international importance in Greece, based on the international Ramsar Convention. Owned and in the network of protected areas of the European Union "Natura 2000".
The total area of the protected area, the care which is taken from the 2002 Lake Kerkini Management body (www.kerkini.gr), arrives in 830.000 acres. There live 26 reptile species, 11 amphibian species, 44 mammalian species, 31 fish species, more from 300 bird species, at least 4.300 insect species, While some grow 1.300 plant species. Visitors and scientists get info for’ These spot, and Wetland Kerkini information center, that works in the village of kerkini.
Reportage: Peter Stefanis
Newsroom DOL
