Olynthus

Ancient city of northern Greece, captured and destroyed by Philip of Macedon in 348 BC. Some late Neolithic settlement is followed after a gap by Iron Age occupation by Thracian tribes, perhaps from about 1000 BC. The 5th-4th centuries BC saw the classical Greek town caught up in alliances, misalliances, intrigues and wars. The town, from c 430 BC, had a road system and Hippodamian-planned house blocks. Many of the houses show an internal courtyard, sometimes colonnaded, and a south-facing dining room. In some cases, a second story is reached by a wooden staircase from the courtyard. The roof is typically pitched and tiled. There are important examples of pebble mosaic floors, some with mythological scenes, and of a bathroom with pottery tub. Inscriptional evidence from the houses gives information of their sale, rental, and mortgage. The houses have also produced several coin hoards. It also provides a terminus ante quem for the development of black-glossed pottery.

A classical Greek settlement at Toronaios Bay, Chalkidiki, familar from the speeches of Demosthenes (the so-called Olynthiacs), and of central importance as an example of Greek town-planning and the Hellenic house in the period 430-348 bc. Some late Neolithic settlement is followed after a gap by Iron Age occupation by Thracian tribes, perhaps from about 1000 bc. The 5th and 4th centuries bc saw the classical Greek town caught up in alliances, misalliances, intrigues and wars variously with Persia, Athens, Sparta and Macedon, and it was Macedon that brought final destruction in 348 bc, despite all Demosthenes’ efforts to organize Athenian aid. Excavation shows a distinction between an earlier, rather irregular town, and a newer area laid out on a grid plan. Four north-south avenues are crossed by 13 streets, enclosing blocks of mud-brick housing. Many of the houses show an internal courtyard, sometimes colonnaded, and a south-facing dining room. In some cases, a second storey (possibly of bedrooms) is reached by a wooden staircase from the courtyard. The roof is typically pitched and tiled. There are important examples of pebble mosaic floors, some with mythological scenes, and of a bathroom with pottery tub. Inscriptional evidence from the houses gives information on their sale, rental and mortgage. The houses have also produced several coin hoards.