🗺️ Mapping Artemis: More Details 🗺️
Second Half (May 20 - June 2/25): Update on the May Mapping Expedition
Hi there! As most of you know, Carla and I are are midway through our third expedition for the ongoing Artemis Mapping Project. A few weeks ago, I posted an update on the itinerary for the first half of our adventures in Greece this year (you can see it here 👇🏼):
And just a few days ago, Carla posted a beautiful piece on our first day of mapping, back on May 2, at Troezen in the northeastern Peloponnese and the Sanctuary of Hippolytus there (you can see it here 👇🏼):
In the Footsteps of Hippolytus: Mapping the Forgotten Sanctuaries of Artemis in Troizen
Day One. The first full day of the Artemis Mapping Expedition, and already the roads were winding, the maps were lying, and the goddess was hiding.
We're now just starting the second half of this expedition (May 20 - June 2), up in the wilds of northern Greece. Here’s the updated plan (subject as always to changes on the fly):
🗺️ May 20: Driving day - we had to get ourselves from Athens up to the Greek region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, about a seven-hour drive. We arrived in the seaside town of Nea Iraklitsa, between Amphipolis and Kavala, our first base for our adventures in Central and Eastern (Greek) Macedonia.
🗺️ May 21: We plan to start at Amphipolis on the Strymonic Gulf. At this ancient site, modern excavations have found indications of the Temple of Artemis Tauropolos, built by Alexander the Great, near a set of early Christian basilicas. We hope to learn how to find the site at the Archaeological Museum of Amphipolis, and to see some of the other parts of the Archaeological Site of Amphipolis. Plus we can’t miss the colossal Lion of Amphipolis!
🗺️ May 22: We will head over to Thessaloniki, the second-largest city in Greece, and the tremendous Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki. We are sure to find countless treasures here! We're also going to try to find a Temple of Artemis reported to be in the northern part of the city. 🤞🏼🤞🏼
🗺️ May 23: The presence of Artemis should be felt all over the ancient city of Philippi - there should be two Temples to Artemis on the site, plus a set of approximately 200 2nd cent. CE reliefs carved on the Acropolis hill that primarily depict Artemis and other women - perhaps priestesses. And of course, we'll visit the on-site Archaeological Museum.
🗺️ May 24: We hope to find the Temple of Artemis at Sani, on the Chalkidiki Peninsula. The Archaeological Site of Sani seems like it is not a regular maintained site, so we'll have to see what we can find. As we often do, we will start at the nearby regional Archaeological Museum of Polygyros, which will hopefully provide some insight.
🗺️ May 25: Closer to our home base but still on the Chalkidiki Peninsula, the Sanctuary of Ancient Ouranoupoli has a temple to Apollo - we want to explore whether there might also be an Artemis temple here too, as there often is.
🗺️ May 26: A museum day: we'll likely hit the Archaeological Museum of Drama. There are many museums in the region, so we can’t get to them all on this trip - the Archaeological Museums of Kavala and Serres will likely need to wait for a future trip.
🗺️ May 27: A driving day, we'll relocate to Paralia Skotinas, near the base of Mount Olympus. En route, we hope to visit Ancient Pydna, which boasts a Hellenistic Temple, probably dedicated to either Eileithyia or Asclepius.
🗺️ May 28: We plan to visit the amazing Archaeological Site of Dion (and on-site museum), with its Temple of Artemis Vaphryria near the River Vaphryras, as well as multiple sanctuaries to Isis, Demeter, Asclepius and others.
🗺️ May 29: Pella is next - its vast Archaeological Site and Museum particularly feature vibrant mosaics. We hope to find the Sanctuary of the Mother of the Gods and Aphrodite on the site, as well as the Sanctuary of Darron, a local healing deity, and the Thesmophorian, a sanctuary of Demeter and Persephone, although they may not be accessible.
🗺️ May 30: Another large and significant site, Vergina is home to Ancient Aigai. The two museums at the site are a particular highlight. One is older and world-renowned - it was built around some of the tombs; the second just opened last year. The Palace at Aigai is also now accessible after 16 years of work. We also hope to visit the Temple of Eukleia (often identified as Artemis) and the Temple of Mother of the Gods, but they may not yet be open to the public.
🗺️ May 31: We hope to find the Temple of Artemis (and Apollo) Kitharoidos, near Kozani. Some local museums may provide some guidance: we'll start at the Archaeological Collection of Kozani and also visit the Archaeological Museum of Aiani.
🗺️ June 1: We will end our time in the region with a day on Mount Olympus. At the start of the “Cultural Path of Pythian Apollo” hiking trail we'll seek a set of three temples: to Artemis, Pythian Apollo and Poseidon Patron. Plus enjoy the glory of Mount Olympus!
🗺️ June 2: The end of the third expedition: we return to Athens. But one last adventure : we will stop en route in Volos and attempt to visit the Temple of Artemis Iolkia. Wish us luck: we’ve requested permission to access the site, but haven’t heard back yet! 🤞🏼🤞🏼 We'll also visit the Athanasakio Archaeological Museum of Volos.
Hope you’re enjoying the journey with us! You can follow along with our stories on Instagram, at @artemisexpert and @imagesofantiquity.