Alea (Thessaly)

About

It is located 10 km south from present-day Almyros. In Greek mythology Halos and Orchomenus are variously recorded as starting point of Phrixos' and Helle's flight to Colchis. The classical city, sometimes referred to as Old Halos, is located at Chorostasi, located at 39°09′43″N 22°50′31″E  /  39.161875°N 22.842025°E  / 39.161875; 22.842025 while the Hellenistic city, sometimes referred to as New Halos, is located nearby at Neos Platanos, located at - 39°08′39″N 22°48′52″E  /  39.144116°N 22.814496°E  / 39.144116; 22.814496.

The Hellenistic city lies very close to the surface and is greatly disturbed, but several houses have been excavated by Dutch archaeologists. Greek colleagues have investigated a part of the city walls. This city was abandoned in the mid-third century, perhaps after an earthquake. A Byzantine fort is the last building phase from Antiquity. The town is mentioned in Homer's Catalogue of Ships in the Iliad. According to Strabo, the town was situated near the sea, at the extremity of Mount Othrys, above the plain called Crocium, of which the part around Halos was called Athamantium, from Athamas, the reputed founder of Halus. Strabo also says that the…