Archaeological Heritage of NORTHERN GREECE April 26–May 10, 2019 We invite you to join us as we explore the Argilos, and Stagira, the birthplace of Aristotle, archaeological heritage of Northern Greece, as well as the historic city of Thessaloniki. April 26 - May 10, 2019, with noted To the east, we will explore ancient Kavala archaeologist, Dr. Ken Sheedy! and Philippi, the “small Rome,” and the ancient We will explore the homeland of Alexander forum on the island of Thasos, all with the the Great, and King Philip II of Macedon, and superb leadership of Ken Sheedy. Dazzling gold the ancient cities of Northern Greece. We will objects from these sites are found in the see tombs which were discovered in the last 60 excellent archaeology museums on our route, years, including the famous Macedonian Tomb plus so much more! from the late 4th century BC, and others in the We hope you will join us as we delve into this 3rd century BC. fascinating heritage of Northern Greece! At Aegai, we will see the spectacular Museum Best Regards, of the Royal Tombs of Aegai which is underground and is extraordinary. It is believed to be the royal tomb of King Philip II. Elsewhere we will see superb Byzantine Margaret M. Betchart architecture and artifacts from the Paleolithic President, Betchart Expeditions Inc. to the Roman period, the ancient Royal Palace for AAAS, Sigma Xi, ACS & of Pella, and ancient cities of Therma, Olynthus, The Planetary Society Archaeological Heritage BULGARIA LEADERSHIP of Northern Greece Leading this expedition will be Dr. Ken Sheedy, Director of the Australian Centre for MACEDONIA Philippi Xanthi Komotini Ancient Numismatics at Macquarie University in Kavala Sydney, Australia. Formerly with the British Thessaloniki Abdera Museum and the Australian Archaeological Kastoria Institute in Athens, Greece, Ken is an archaeologist ALBANIA Chalkidiki Island of whose special focus is the Greek world. Kozani Thasos Ken is an authority on Greek coins and has a particular interest in the archaeology of the Mt. Olympus Cyclades Islands in the central Aegean. He has published papers on many Greek archaeology topics and has participated in excavations on Paros Pindos Range and the Greek mainland. AEGEAN Ken is an experienced SEA lecturer and is a popular GREECE leader of many past Aegean IONIAN Odyssey Expeditions for SEA Sigma Xi and AAAS. He looks forward to sharing his love of Greek history and archaeology, and his Athens enthusiasm for the culture and people of Greece PELOPONNESE with you. Thessaloniki 1917 ITINERARY Days 1/2 Depart USA for Greece Beautifully situated on the shore of Lake Orestiada, Depart the USA for Athens, Greece, arriving on the in a valley surrounded by limestone mountains, morning of Day 2. Transfer to the Herodion Hotel (2 Kastoria is renowned as a rare example of nights) for rest and leisure. Depart by metro in late Byzantine churches and post-Byzantine traditional afternoon for the Byzantine and Christian Museum. houses built in the 17th to 19th centuries. Hotel Have an introduction to Byzantine art at the finest (1 night). B,L Byzantine art museum in the world. Day 5 Kozani & Veroia Day 3 Acropolis & New Acropolis Museum This morning, we will visit the important National Archaeology Museum Archaeological Museum in Kozani, and enjoy great This morning we will visit the Acropolis and the views of the Pindos Range.Many antiquities from the Parthenon. The height of the Golden Age of Athens prehistoric to the Byzantine period have been is displayed on this hilltop. The Acropolis will give unearthed here. The museum includes artifacts from you a feel for the artistic beauty, richness, and the Paleolithic to the Roman period. We will then importance of ancient Athens, the empire that ruled explore Veroia, where important Byzantine the Eastern Mediterranean. We will also visit the New monuments and post-Byzantine churches are found. Acropolis Museum. This afternoon explore the We will then arrive at modern Lefkadia, where the collections at the National Archaeology Museum. famous Macedonian Tomb from the late 4th century Welcome dinner. B,D BC was found in 1954. Arrive in the Greek port city of Day 4 Athens to Kastoria Thessaloniki. Hotel (5 nights). B,L This morning we will fly from Athens to the Day 6 Ancient Masterpieces in Thessaloniki coastal city of Thessaloniki in Northern Greece, Today, we’ll explore the Archaeological Museum of and then drive to the lovely city of Kastoria in the Thessaloniki which includes masterpieces of ancient northwest of the Greek region of Macedonia. Greek art from prehistoric times to late antiquity. We’ll see the stunning finds from the royal tombs of sacred town of ancient Macedon, and the Dion the Macedonian kings, plus the Dervini Krater, a archaeological site. B,L spectacular gold container discovered in 1962 in the Day 8 Pella Royal Palace & Kilkis Ancient City Derveni cemetery. Also of special interest at the We’ll travel this morning to the royal city of Pella, Museum are the Aravissos Hoard, 5 spectacular birthplace of Philip II and Alexander, and explore the royal prehistoric gold pendants from 4,500 - 3,200 BC, and city of Pella and museum. The city of Pella is built on the the Petralona Hoard of bronze tools from the Early former island of Phacos, a promontory which dominated Bronza Age (3rd millennium BC). the sea to the south in the Hellenistic period. Pella was The Derveni Papyrus (dated from 340 to 320 BC) once a harbor. The palace is situated on the central hill is the oldest surviving book in Europe, and was also and covered an estimated 60,000 sq metres. Pella’s found in the Derveni cemetery. In the afternoon, pebble-mosaic floors are famous and now are seen in we will explore Roman and Byzantine monuments the museum. Afternoon visit to the Museum of Kilkis. B,L and churches in Thessaloniki. B Day 9 Chalkidiki: Therma, Olynthus Day 7 Vergina (Aegai) & Dion & Potidaea & Royal Tomb of King Philip II Today we will visit ancient Therma, founded by the This morning we will depart for the ancient site of Eretrians in the 7th century BC. It was located on the Aegai, the capital of Macedon until it was superseded Thermaic Gulf on what was swampland, and was later by Pella. We’ll see the recently discovered royal tomb renamed Thessalonica. By that of King Philip II (the father of time, the port of the previous Alexander the Great, who left capital of Macedonia, Pella, had Aegai and changed the history of begun silting up, so Cassander Greece and the Western world). took advantage of the deepwater We’ll visit the spectacular port to the NW of Therma to Museum of the Royal Tombs of expand the settlement. Aegai which is underground (the tombs are extraordinary). This We’ll continue to Olynthos afternoon explore Dion, the (“fruit of the wild fig tree”), a very important and powerful Greek city in the 4th century BC, built on two hills at the Gulf of Torone. It was destroyed by Philip II and deserted. Excavation under the American School of Classical Studies at Athens uncovered more than 5 hectares of the city. It is an important site for the study of urban planning and we’ll visit the archaeological museum. The colony of Potidaea from around 600 BC lies at the narrowest point of the peninsula of Pallene. While besieged by the Persians in 479 BC, the town was saved by the earliest recorded tsunami in history, which is reported by Day 12 The Island Herodotus. B,L of Thasos Day 10 Argilos, We’ll take the ferry to Stagira & the island of Thasos this Amphipolis morning and then En route to explore the ancient Kavala forum within the main We’ll depart for Kavala town and climb up the this morning. Our first wooded slopes to stop will be Argilos, a The admire its Hellenistic Greek colony on the theatre, the well- Strymona. The literary Dervini preserved city walls tradition dates the Krater and the ancient foundation of Argilos to acropolis. Return ferry 655/654 BC, which makes to Kavala. B,L it the earliest Greek colony on the Thracian coast. Day 13 Thrace - Komotini - Xanthi Argilos occupied a privileged area and benefitted from We will explore Thrace today, often called the the trading activities along the Strymona and probably breadbasket of Constantinople. Its Ottoman and Greek from the gold mines of the Pangeion. It is now being heritage is reflected in the towns, which have people excavated by a team from Canada. with Turkish and Greek backgrounds. We’ll visit Abdera, We will then visit Stagira, the birthplace of Aristotle. a colony of the city in Asia Minor, Klazomenai, 654-544 It was founded in 655 BC by Ionian settlers from the BC. We’ll continue to the town of Xanthi, famous for its Cyclades island of Andros. We’ll have lunch near distinctive architecture, combining many Byzantine Amphipolis, whose impressive remains date from both Greek churches and neoclassical mansions of Greek Greek and Roman times. There was a famous battle merchants from the 18th and 19th centuries. We’ll visit here between the Spartans and Athenians in 422 BC. the important archaeological museum. Alexander’s wife Roxane and their small son Alexander We’ll then depart for Komotini, a 4th century AD IV were exiled and murdered here. There is a huge city, with Byzantine churches, Ottoman mosques, and burial mound to visit as well as an important neoclassical mansions. We’ll visit the excellent museum archaeological museum. Kavala Hotel (4 nights). B,L Day 11 Kavala (Neapolis) & Philippi This morning we will visit the archaeological museum of Kavala and tour the ancient town.