The colony of Thassos was founded in the 7th century. BC in the northern part of the island from Parius. The settler Telesiklis was the father of the poet Archilochos who himself participated in the second wave of colonization. His poetry depicts the difficulties and struggles of the first settlers against the Thracians. Within a short period of time, the Thasians establish a series of colonies and trading posts on the opposite Thracian coast (perea). The privileged geographical position of the new colony at the crossroads of important trade routes and the exploitation of the gold deposits of the Thracian hinterland ensured it rich incomes. From the time of its foundation until the beginning of the 5th c. BC Thassos flourishes while at the beginning of the 4th c. BC again flourished.
At the beginning of the 5th c. BC around the city of Thasos a 4 km long fortification wall was built. In 492 BC, during the first Persian campaign against the Greeks, the Thasians were forced to demolish the walls, and surrender their fleet to Darion. After the victory of the Greeks in Salamis, they joined the First Athenian Alliance. Then they repaired the walls and reorganized their fleet. Relations with Athens were disturbed when the Athenians attempted to colonize the Nine Roads in the region of Amphipolis, threatening Thasian interests on the gold-bearing Mount Pangaeus. In 465 BC the Thasians defected from the Athenian Alliance but succumbed three years later to the siege of Cimon, and were forced to demolish the walls, surrender the fleet, to lose their continental possessions and pay heavy war indemnity. Thassos will remain in the shadow of Athenian rule until the end of the 4th century. BC Its political life and state structure will follow Attic standards. The final phase of the Peloponnesian war ushers in Thassos a period of internal instability and unrest with an alternation of oligarchs and democrats in power. In 405 BC, when the Lacedaemonians destroyed the Athenian fleet in the Aegis Rivers, and emerged victorious in the Peloponnesian War, the Spartan general Lysander went to the island and installed a Lacedaemonian governor. The final phase of the Peloponnesian war ushers in Thassos a period of internal instability and unrest with an alternation of oligarchs and democrats in power. In 405 BC, when the Lacedaemonians destroyed the Athenian fleet in the Aegis Rivers, and emerged victorious in the Peloponnesian War, the Spartan general Lysander went to the island and installed a Lacedaemonian governor. The final phase of the Peloponnesian war ushers in Thassos a period of internal instability and unrest with an alternation of oligarchs and democrats in power. In 405 BC, when the Lacedaemonians destroyed the Athenian fleet in the Aegis Rivers, and emerged victorious in the Peloponnesian War, the Spartan general Lysander went to the island and installed a Lacedaemonian governor.
From the beginning of the 4th c. BC laws and state institutions are reorganized, splendid public buildings are built and Thasian wine is exported throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. In 375 BC the Thasians join the Second Athenian League. The internal stability and prosperity of the city would remain undisturbed by Macedonian and Roman rule.
After the defeat of the Macedonians in 197 BC, Thassos will become an ally and friend of Rome. Because it remains loyal to the new great power and bravely endures the siege of Mithridates who at this time starts a war against the Romans in the East, it is rewarded in 80 BC by the Roman Senate with the concession of the exploitation of Perea and the islands of Skiathos and Peparithou. After the assassination of Julius Caesar during the conflict between monarchists and republicans, Thassos is used by the latter as a supply station. That is why, after his victory at Philippi in 42 BC, Mark Antony removes the two islands from Thassos and gives them to the Athenians. Later, Augustus will again give her privileges, as a result of which the island will be known as part of the Roman Empire, a new period of prosperity that will last at least until the disastrous invasion of the Heruli in AD 267-270. The city will recover from the destruction and be rebuilt. But the changes brought about by Christianity are now obvious. Large basilicas are built in place of sanctuaries and public buildings using building material from older buildings. The final blow comes at the beginning of the 7th century. AD due to a devastating earthquake that hit many Macedonian cities at the same time, while it is possible that the raids of the Slavs also played a role. From this period onwards, Thassos passes into the obscurity of the Middle Ages. But the changes brought about by Christianity are now obvious. Large basilicas are built in place of sanctuaries and public buildings using building material from older buildings. The final blow comes at the beginning of the 7th century. AD due to a devastating earthquake that hit many Macedonian cities at the same time, while it is possible that the raids of the Slavs also played a role. From this period onwards, Thassos passes into the obscurity of the Middle Ages. But the changes brought about by Christianity are now obvious. Large basilicas are built in place of sanctuaries and public buildings using building material from older buildings. The final blow comes at the beginning of the 7th century. AD due to a devastating earthquake that hit many Macedonian cities at the same time, while it is possible that the raids of the Slavs also played a role. From this period onwards, Thassos passes into the obscurity of the Middle Ages. while it is possible that the raids of the Slavs also played a role. From this period onwards, Thassos passes into the obscurity of the Middle Ages. while it is possible that the raids of the Slavs also played a role. From this period onwards, Thassos passes into the obscurity of the Middle Ages.
From the ancient city of Thassos, monuments and complexes are preserved today in the modern settlement of Limenas. The market, the acropolis with its walls, the theater and its sanctuaries, the sanctuaries outside the walls and other smaller residential complexes are the main monuments whose ruins are preserved today.
Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou