Archaeological Sites

Torone was founded at the end of the 8th century BC by the Chalcidians of Euboea but, as evidenced by sherds of pottery, the area was already known to the Mycenaeans. It was the largest city in the region, covering the rocky promontories on the west coast of Sithonia, while controlling the “Deaf Port” (Kophos Limin) to the east. It had two citadels, one on the hillocks to the south and one on the small rocky peninsula of Lecythus, where, according to Thucydides, there was a temple of Athena. It enjoyed great prosperity in the classical period and it was particularly powerful, as shown by the fact that, during the Persian Wars, when Artavazos destroyed Olynthos, he handed it over to the Toroneans. As a member of the Delian League, Torone paid one the highest tributes recorded among the cities of Chalkidiki. Torone, an area of conflict between Athens and Sparta during the Peloponnesian War, defected from the Delian League in 424-423 BC and was later occupied by the Spartan forces of Brasidas. However, it was recaptured by the Athenians and the city remained under Athenian rule until their defeat at Aegospotami in 405-404 BC. It survived the occupation of Philip in 349 BC and continued to exist until the Byzantine period.

Excavations by the Australian Archaeological Institute in collaboration with the Archaeological Society at Athens brought to light parts of the archaic-classical wall of the city, as well as the Hellenistic fortification, which included towers and gates. Parts of an archaic-classical city and its cemetery were also uncovered; a large cemetery of the Early Iron Age was excavated beneath the classical city, and a settlement of the same period was uncovered at the promontory of Lecythus. Habitation layers from the late Neolithic period to the late Bronze Age were unearthed at the same promontory, as well as members of a Doric temple, probably belonging to a temple of Athena. Foundations and building remains have been discovered and partially examined in the course of underwater research, suggesting that, in ancient times, the current maritime area was part of the urban fabric of ancient Torone.