Paros island monuments

Monuments of Paros

Take a tour to the great monuments of Paros:Panagia Ekatontapiliani, the Archaelogical Museum, the Ancient Pottery Workshop at Tholos, the Old Christian Basilica, The Byzantine Museum of Naousa, the Folcore Museum of Naoussa, the Venice Castle of Naoussa.

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Panagia Ekatontapiliani

In the north-east part of Paros and in a small distace from from port dominates there is the church of Ekatontapiliani Panagia, a olld christian monument which was probably built during the 4th century AD.Some legends mixed with truths claim that Agia Eleni promised the building of a big church istead of a small one in case she managed to find theHoly Cross in the Holy City where she was going.Her expctation came tue and Agia Eleni Fullfilled her promise or she put her son,Megalos Konstantinos, as some people say, to fullfill it.The royal church with the initially wooden roof was probably ruined by a fire and Ioustinianos rebuilt it adding domes and cupola.The concuerors destroyed the monument but the earthquake of 1773 was very hard and the repair that followed changed its initial image.An important rebuilding started in 1959 that gae the church the image it had in the age of Ioustinianos.The visitor can admire sculptures, that come from Demeter's church and the oldest and best maintained bapistry.Also,there is the Byzantine Museum of Paroikia which is full of rare religious heirlooms. For more information, visit the official web site of Panagia Ekatontapiliani

Archaelogical Museum This museum is situated next to the high school of Paroikia and is the trustee of the long history of the island.It has got findings fom different periods with imprortant historical and archaelogical value.There,you will find the marble idol of the "fat lady" which is a symbol of fertility,objects from grave offers,mostly fron the graveyard of Paroikia and various vessels.Furthermore,in the museum there is the statue of Niki (5th century BC).It represents a young female winged figure.Also,there is the statue of Gorgo(a mythological monster) which dates from te 6th century BC and it is pictured with the wings raised towards behind.In addition,Goddess Artemis is a large statue(3,7m)from Dilio,the statue of a female sitting deity and the half part of a statue representing Athena which all belong to te 5th century BC are put in the museum.Also,there are two relieves of herx in honor of Archilochos.There is an important ammount of glass and clay Roman vessels whereas Greek mosaics that where fou under Ekatoapiliani are exhibited outside the museum. The Archaelogical Museum has also got one of the most significnt monuments, that is ParioChronico.It is a marble inscription which was engraved in the 13th century AD and inludes 134 lines with chronological references that cover a period of 1318 years(1528-263 BC).The biggest part of that inscriprion was found in the 17th century in Venice Castle of Paroikia from where it was stolen by smugglers and was sold in an earl,

who got in Oxford and now it is kept n the museum of Oxford.The item that is kept in the archaeological musum of Paroikia was found later,in 1897,in the blcony of a house in Paroikia as part of its paving.

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Tholos" height="144" width="170">	Ancient Pottery Workshop at Tholos Extensive establishment of a pottery workshop, dated to the 3rd century B.C. It has two cisterns, auxiliary rooms, two spacious kilns (diameter 2m.) and four smaller ones, in the construction of which Archaic pithoi with impressed decoration were used: a) a Geometric grave b) and a wall of a large Archaic building were uncovered in the deeper strata. The
excavation started in 1986 in private land and was extended in the area of the street in 1990. The monument is now preserved in the basement of the modern building.

Old Christian Basilica

On the ruins if ancient temples that where situated in the north east of Paroikia, it was built a christian church in 525-550 AD.That church in the 17th century was destroyed and there was built the Old Christian Basilica

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The Byzantine Museum of Naousa

The monastery of Agios Athanasios is located in the west part of Naoussa and within it is the museum.There are a lot of byzantine and post-byzantine icons, that are over one hundred and most of them were painted by local painters of icons.

The Folcore Museum of Naoussa

It is very interesting museum because in the collection you can find traditional costumes from different places of Greece.

Venice Castle of Naoussa The port of Naoussa is protected by a special fortified structure Venice Castle.It was built in the 15th century by the dynasty of Sommaripa and now it i sa very impressive sight although itis half-sunk. more by paros-tours.gr: