Olynthus

Welcome to Olynthus, an archaeological site of unparalleled importance for our understanding of Classical Greek urban life. Unlike Athens, which has been 'lived in continuously' and thus overbuilt for centuries, Olynthus was…

We stand now on the North Hill, where the application of Hippodamian planning is most evident. Notice the seven or eight long avenues, each about seven meters wide, running north to south. …

We enter a standard 'Pastas-type' house, named for the long portico or 'pastas' that runs along the north side of the central courtyard. This courtyard is the 'spatial focal point' of the house, providing light and air to the…

One of the most distinct rooms in the Olynthian house is the 'Andron', or male dining room, located at the back for maximum privacy. You can identify it by the 'low raised seating platform' around the perimeter, which…

On the eastern slope of the North Hill, we find the 'suburban' area of larger estates, dubbed 'Villas' by excavators. The most famous is the 'Villa of Good Fortune', so named for its elaborate mosaic floors. …

A surprising feature of the Olynthian house is the 'small bathroom' found on the ground floor, usually adjacent to the kitchen. These rooms contain 'large terracotta bathtubs' that look remarkably like their modern counterparts,…

We conclude at the southwest edge of the North Hill, near the Eastern Gate, where the 'Agora' or public marketplace was located. Though much of it has 'washed away due to centuries of erosion', remains of a 'public fountain…

Our journey through Olynthus has provided a 'glimpse into patterns of domestic life' that are 'unavailable anywhere else' in the ancient world. We have seen how 'Hippodamian planning' created a city of 'order and equality', where…