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Modern Description: Astakos was probably founded by Corinthians. During the Peloponnesian war it sided with the Spartans. But in in 431 the Athenians conquered the city and expelled the tyrant Euarchos. Subsequently Astakos became a member of the Akarnanian Confederacy and an ally of Athens.
The city declined during the Roman period but became again an important center during the Byzantine period, renamed Dragamestos.
The ruins of the fortified ancient city Astakos, lie 2 km. northeast of the modern town with the same name. The identification has been epigraphically documented. Excavations here have shown that the region had been settled already in neolithic times (Agios Nikolaos cave), while finds covering the entire Bronze Age have been found in another, nearby, cave. The ruins of a temple dedicated to Zeus Karaos (4th cent. B.C.) stand 200m. west of the city's western gate. The cult of Artemis has also been documented. The ancient fortification was elliptical in plan, without an acropolis, and was separated in two by an inner wall; 15 towers and at least 7 gates were incorporated in the wall, which had a total length of 1300m. It dates to the 5th cent. B.C., with later modifications during the 4th cent. B.C. The fortification at Aghios Panteleimon harbour can be also associated with ancient Astakos.
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astacus_(Acarnania)
Wikidata ID: Q60792172
Trismegistos Geo: 37625

Info: YP

(Dr. Yannis Papadopoulos, with the support of the Laskaridis Foundation.)

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