Olinthos: History and Regional Products

Olinthos can be approached through several themes when planning your trip: the archaeological site of Ancient Olynthos and the Tower of Marianas are nearby. Olives and olive oil are associated with Olinthos and are among the regional products of the Municipality of Polygyros. This brings together archaeological remains, a Byzantine tower, and a connection to local products as distinct areas of interest.

Ancient Olynthos: Mosaics and Digital Interpretation

The nearby archaeological site of Ancient Olynthos is also notable for the mosaic floors in some of its houses. Some houses had floors with figurative depictions that are among the oldest known in the ancient Greek world. This focuses attention on specific details of ancient homes: the mosaics bring together floor design and depicted motifs. Those interested in ancient art and domestic architecture will find a clearly defined area of focus here.

A digital guide for mobile devices complements the visit to the site with augmented reality applications, additional information, and digital reconstructions. This adds digital forms of interpretation to the archaeological site. The mosaics are found in individual houses in the ancient city; the guide supplements the visit with information and reconstructions. These two perspectives help distinguish the architectural aspect of a visit from the interpretive one.

The Tower of Marianas and Its History

The Tower of Marianas represents a different historical context. In Byzantine times, a village of the same name stood there. At the end of the 14th century, the area became the property of the Dochiaríou Monastery on Mount Athos, which built the tower around 1375. The dates refer to different aspects: the reference to the end of the 14th century concerns the area’s ownership, while “around 1375” indicates the approximate time when the tower was built. Its construction history and ownership history can therefore be considered separately.

Today, the tower survives in fragmentary form and stands about 15 meters high. It is located about four kilometers from the modern village of Olynthos. The access restriction is important when planning a visit: visits to the tower are not possible until it has been restored. The tower can therefore be considered a historical point of reference for the region, without planning a visit as a currently available activity.

Olives and Olive Oil from Olynthos

The connection to local products is also specific: olives and olive oil from Olynthos are among the regional products of the Municipality of Polygyros. This aspect is thus associated with both Olynthos and the municipality. It adds a distinct regional focus to the themes of antiquity and Byzantine history. If you would like to include regional products in your trip alongside historical sites, olives and olive oil are relevant points of interest.

When choosing what interests you, it helps to distinguish between the historical periods: Ancient Olynthos represents the ancient city and its mosaics; the Tower of Marianas is associated with a village of the same name in Byzantine times and with the tower’s construction around 1375. This makes it possible to distinguish between the two themes according to their respective contexts.

Discover more destinations: Nea Kallikratia, Polygyros, Psakoudia, Ouranoupoli, Olimpiada, Kassandra, Kriopigi, Agios Mamas

For the main travel overview: Chalkidiki.