House of Olynthos, Archaeological site in Gerakini, Greece
The house of Olynthos is an archaeological site in Gerakini featuring a residential complex spread across a large area with streets arranged in a grid pattern and houses measuring around 320 square meters each. The structures date to ancient times and provide insight into how organized residential settlements were laid out back then.
The ancient city of Olynthos was founded in the 5th century BC and was destroyed in 349 BC during a siege by Philip II of Macedonia. This sudden destruction meant the city remained frozen in time, preserving what daily life looked like then.
The excavated houses display carefully crafted floors made from colored pebbles, showing the skill and decorative taste of ancient Greek residents. These details reveal how much people cared about their homes and valued beauty in their daily surroundings.
Visitors can explore the site when properly prepared for outdoor conditions and the exposed nature of the ground. It helps to gather information about the layout at the entrance to better understand the excavated structures as you walk through.
The site shows an unusually complete picture of an ancient Greek residential settlement because the houses are preserved in their original form. Many visitors overlook how the regular street layout was already planned way back then, showing that systematic city planning is an ancient practice.
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