Outside the walls, on the rocky promontory of Evraiokastro, outside the ancient city of Thassos, but very close to the wall, is the sanctuary of the Institutional deities, Demeter and Kori. After all, the sanctuary of Demeter was always erected outside the walls or at the foot of the acropolis.
The sanctuary is defined by a large rampart wall. The ruins of a portico open to the sea and the remains of three walls with a bearing at their base are preserved. The first phase of the platforms dates back to the 6th century. BC, while the renovations, which included the elevation of the large rampart wall, date back to around 390 to 370 BC.
The stoa was built at the beginning of the Hellenistic period. The identification of the sanctuary with that of Demeter and Koris resulted from the offerings (clay figurines of bound women and horns) found during the excavation. Among the findings that helped to identify the sanctuary was a clay effigy of a pig with an "open" belly.
As is well known, according to the Thesmophoria, pigs were thrown into the "houses" of the goddess. In the area of Thesmophorion, a series of inscribed terms and buildings was also found, which testifies that the worship of the patron gods was also held here (Zius Alastor, Athena Patroas, Artemis Orthosiis, Nymphs. The sanctuary was succeeded in the 5th century AD by an early Christian basilica and a cemetery, while today the church of St. Apostles was built on their ruins.
Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou