Eretria

Understand

It was an important Greek polis in the 6th/5th century BC, mentioned by many famous writers and actively involved in significant historical events. The modern town of Eretria is now a popular beachside resort. The historic and archaeological finds from Eretria and Lefkandi are displayed in the Eretria Museum, established by the Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece. It's an important station on the way to the south of the island. It has many taverns and a long beach promenade. The archaeological excavations are located on the northern edge of the modern town.

History The oldest archaeological finds date the foundation of the city to the 9th century BC. It was probably founded as the harbour of Lefkandi, which is located 15 km to the west. In the 8th century BC, Eretria and her near neighbour and rival, Chalcis, were both powerful and prosperous trading cities. Eretria controlled the Aegean islands of Andros, Tenos and Ceos. They also held territory in Boeotia on the Greek mainland. Eretria was also involved in the Greek colonisation and founded the colonies of Pithekoussai and Cumae in Italy together with Chalcis. At the end of the 8th century BC, however, Eretria and Chalcis fought a prolonged war (known mainly from the account in Thucydides as the Lelantine War) for control of the fertile Lelantine plain. Little is known of the details of this war, but it is clear that Eretria was defeated. The city was destroyed and Eretria lost her lands in Boeotia and her Aegean dependencies. Neither Eretria nor Chalcis ever again counted for much in Greek politics. As a result of this defeat, Eretria turned to colonisation. She planted colonies in the northern Aegean, on the coast of Macedon, in Italy and Sicily. In 490 BC the city was sacked and burned by the Persians under the admiral Darius and the population was deported to Mesopotamia. The temple of Apollo, built around 510 BC, was destroyed by the Persians. Parts of a pediment were found in 1900, including the torso

Getting there

The town can be reached from Skala Oropou, Attica by ferry or via Chalcis by road.

See

1 Archaeological Museum of Eretria, ☏ +30 22290 62206. 08:30-15:00. The Eretria Museum is one of the most important archaeological museums of Greek area, which presents findings from various seasons. The Museum is located in close proximity to the site, which helps for better understand. As important exhibits can be considered the sculpture complex of Theseus with Antiope from the west pediment of the temple of Apollo at Eretria, clay statuette Centauri bleach, which is the earliest representation of this mythological being, the bronze horse blinder embossed with representation from northern Syria and Panathenaic amphorae. In the lobby of the Museum houses sculptures of the 4th century. B.C. and inscriptions. The first main hall of the museum include the findings of prehistoric Eretria, as well as three adjacent prehistoric settlements, those of Xeropolis of Amarinthos and cheeks. (updated Jul 2026)

Ancient monuments

2 Temple of Apollo Daphniforos. The temple of Apollo Daphniforos is the most important and wider known monument of Eretria. Construction started at the late sixth century BC (520-490 BC). After the destruction of the city by the Persians, the temple was repaired and remained in use; yet in 198 BC it was destroyed again, this time by the Romans, a fact which initiated the gradual abandonment and dilapidation of the monument until the first century BC. Unfortunately, the majority of architectural parts from this temple and other sanctuaries of the city were re-used as construction material; only a few (column) drums together with fragmented capitals and triglyphs remain from the superstructure of the monument. (updated Jul 2026) 3 The ancient theatre of Eretria. The most impressive monument of ancient Eretria, one of the oldest known theatres, lies in the western section of town, between the western gate, the stadium and the upper gymnasium; the temple of Dionysos was found at its south-west end. As indicated by the architectural remains of the scene,

Sleep

1 Grand Bleu Sea Resort, ☏ +30 22290 61012, +30 22290 60547, +30 22290 61034. 3* Hotel