The archaeological site of Loggos, which includes the city and Acropolis of ancient Edessa, in northern Greece, will be expanded and revamped to improve on-site scientific needs and visitor experience, as suggested by the local Ephorate of Antiquities.
Adjacent to the modern city of Edessa, the ancient site holds a special place in Greek history as it is referred to as the first capital of the ancient kingdom of Macedon, in the 8th century BC.
The accessible site comprises the lower part of ancient Edessa, dated between the 4th century BC and 7th century AD, when residents moved to higher grounds to shelter against invaders within the city’s walls.
Today, visitors to the ruins can see Ancient Edessa in the way it was shaped during classical antiquity, around the 5th century BC.
Excavations have brought to light the southern gate of the city, parts of the southern and eastern walls with a gate and towers, and the paved central street of the ancient city, with colonnades on both sides.
Houses, shops, and workshops stretch along narrow streets. Public buildings have also been uncovered, such as storehouses.
An extensive early Christian complex with a fountain in a peristyle courtyard and luxuriously decorated spaces could be the Episcopate of the city.
City of Edessa rich in monuments of all periods
According to the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports, Loggos has been excavated from 1922 to 2020, most intensively during the 1960s and the 1980s.
After the announced revamp, safety and functionality will be significantly improved, while an on-site artifacts storage facility and conservation lab will be rendered accessible to visitors to help them connect with the place’s history until an Archaeological Museum for Ancient Edessa can be built.
Improvement works will also include anti-flood provisions to secure the site from potential damages caused by climate change.
“Our goal, through the total of interventions also implemented in other monuments of the city, is to upgrade the cultural and touristic profile of Edessa, as a destination that combines a rich collection of monuments from all periods, but also an unparalleled natural environment,” commented the Greek Minister of Culture and Sports, Lina Mendoni.
The budget and estimated completion date for the works at Loggos were not specified.