Walls of Thessaloniki

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UNESCO World Heritage Site in Thessaloniki, Greece

Walls of ThessalonikiUNESCO World Heritage Site

The eastern walls

Location| Thessaloniki, Greece
Part of| Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessaloniki
Criteria| Cultural: i, ii, iv
Reference| 456-002
Inscription| 1988 (12th Session)
Coordinates| 40°38′33″N 22°57′16″E﻿ / ﻿40.64250°N 22.95444°E﻿ / 40.64250; 22.95444

Location of Walls of Thessaloniki in Greece

Growth of Thessaloniki and its walls in Antiquity (left) and in the late Roman and early Byzantine periods (right).

The Walls of Thessaloniki (Greek: Τείχη της Θεσσαλονίκης, Teíchi tis Thessaloníkis) are the 4 kilometer-long city walls surrounding the city of Thessaloniki during the Middle Ages and until the late 19th century, when large parts of the walls, including the entire seaward section, were demolished as part of the Ottoman authorities' restructuring of Thessaloniki's urban fabric. The city was fortified from its establishment in the late 4th century BC, but the present walls date from the early Byzantine period, ca. 390, and incorporate parts of an earlier, late 3rd-century wall. The walls consist of the typical late Roman mixed construction of ashlar masonry alternating with bands of brick. The northern part of the walls adjoins the acropolis of the city, which formed a separate fortified enceinte, and within it lies another citadel, the Heptapyrgion (Seven Towers), popularly known by the Ottoman translation of the name, Yedi Kule.

In 1988, as part of the Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki, the walls were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List because of their outstanding Byzantine architecture.[1]

## History

[edit]

The first fortification of the newly built city of Cassander, which played an important role, dates back to the 3rd century BC. The Roman conquest (167 BC), which brought Roman peace, made the walls weak, so around the middle of the 1st century they were already in ruins.[2]

In the 3rd century, fortifications were built to protect the city from the Goths with materials from previous buildings. With these fortifications, two Gothic attacks were repelled, in 254 and 268. The Roman wall was 1.65 m wide, with square towers.[2] The main street of the city (Leoforos or Mesi) extended from the Golden Gate in the west (Vardario Square) to the Cassandreot Gate in the east. The southern wall extended somewhat further south of today's Tsimiski avenue.

At the beginning of the 4th century, Galerius and Constantine the Great passed through Thessaloniki and strengthened the walls. At the end of the 4th century, a second wall was built outside the previous one with triangular projections. The wall visible today was built from the end of the 4th to the middle of the 5th century,[3] while a subsequent improvement program was implemented in the 7th century on Heraklion in order to support the defense of the city against the Avars and the Slavs. In 904 the city was captured by the Saracens by an attack from the sea side, which led to the sea walls being strengthened after the departure of the Saracens.

## Gallery

[edit]

* The sea walls, c. 1860

* The walls c. 1919

* Part of the walls with one of the surviving gates on the background

* Part of the walls

* Gate of Anna Palaiologina

* Part of the walls beside the street

* Walls in Ano Poli

* "Portara" Gate

* Trigonio tower (“Triangle Tower”)

* View from the Triangle tower

* Another view

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki". UNESCO World Heritage Convention. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Archived from the original on 5 January 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
2. ^ a b Apotypōmata : hē vyzantinē Thessalonikē se photographies kai schedia tēs Vretanikēs Scholēs Athēnōn (1888-1910) = Impressions : Byzantine Thessalonike through the photographs and drawings of the British School at Athens (1888-1910). Anastasia P. Pliōta. Thessalonikē. 2012. ISBN 978-960-9694-14-8. OCLC 863622662.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
3. ^ Grissom, F. E.; Kahn, J. S. (December 1975). "Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases from Euglena gracilis. Purification and physical and chemical characterization". Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics. 171 (2): 444–458\. doi:10.1016/0003-9861(75)90053-3. ISSN 0003-9861. PMID 960.

## Sources

[edit]

* Kourkoutidou-Nikolaidou, E.; Tourta, A. (1997), Wandering in Byzantine Thessaloniki, Kapon Editions, pp. 15–26, ISBN 960-7254-47-3

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Walls of Thessaloniki at Wikimedia Commons

* v
* t
* e

Landmarks of Thessaloniki

Macedonian period|

* Agios Athanasios tombs

Roman period|

* Arch of Galerius and Rotunda
* Las Incantadas
* Navarinou Square
* Roman Forum
* Palace of Galerius
* Catacombs of Thessaloniki

Paleochristian and Byzantine|

| UNESCO|

* Byzantine Bath
* Church of the Acheiropoietos
* Church of the Holy Apostles
* Church of Hosios David
* Church of Panagia Chalkeon
* Church of Saint Catherine
* Church of Saint Nicholas Orphanos
* Church of Saint Panteleimon
* Church of the Saviour
* Church of Prophet Elijah
* Heptapyrgion
* Hagios Demetrios
* Hagia Sophia
* Vlatades Monastery
* Walls of Thessaloniki

|

Ottoman period|

* Alaca Imaret Mosque
* Bey Hamam
* Church of Saint Gregory Palamas
* Immaculate Conception Cathedral
* Government House
* Lazarist Monastery
* White Tower of Thessaloniki
* Yahudi Hamam
* Yeni Mosque

Modern period|

* Agias Sofias Square
* Alexandreio Melathron
* Aristotelous Square
* Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
* Kaftanzoglio Stadium
* Ladadika
* Stoa Modiano
* Thessaloniki railway station
* National Theatre of Northern Greece
* OTE Tower
* Port of Thessaloniki
* Thessaloniki Concert Hall

Jewish sites|

* Monastir Synagogue
* Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki
* Allatini Mills
* Eleftherias Square
* Holocaust Museum of Greece
* Stoa Hirsch

Streets|

* Egnatia Street
* Nikis Avenue
* Tsimiski Street
* Vasilissis Olgas Avenue

Villas/Mansions|

* Villa Allatini
* Villa Bianca
* Villa Mehmet Kapanci
* Villa A. Kapanci
* Villa Modiano
* Villa Mordoch
* Villa Petridi
* Gategno-Florentin Mansion
* Longos Mansion
* Moskof Mansion
* Stein Mansion
* Palataki
* State Conservatory of Thessaloniki
* Centre for Byzantine Research

Gardens/Parks|

* Seih Sou
* Nea Paralia
* Pedion tou Areos
* Pasha's Gardens [el]

Marinas|

* Marina Aretsou

Other|

* Labbatoir
* Ano Poli
* Stoa Malakopi
* Mikra British Cemetery
* Church of Taxiarches

Museums|

* Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki
* Atatürk Museum
* Museum of Byzantine Culture
* Cinema Museum
* French Museum of Zeitenlik
* Museum for the Macedonian Struggle
* NOESIS
* Macedonian Museum of Modern Art
* Museum of Photography
* State Museum of Modern Art
* Teloglion Foundation of Art
* War Museum

Events|

* Thessaloniki International Film Festival
* Thessaloniki International Fair
* Thessaloniki International Book Fair

* v
* t
* e

Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki

UNESCO|

* Arch of Galerius and Rotunda
* Byzantine Bath
* Church of the Acheiropoietos
* Church of Hagios Demetrios
* Church of St. Catherine
* Hagia Sophia
* Church of the Holy Apostles
* Vlatades Monastery
* Church of St. Nicholas Orphanos
* Church of Panagia Chalkeon
* Church of St. Panteleimon
* Church of the Saviour
* Church of Prophet Elijah
* Church of Hosios David (Latomos Monastery)
* City Walls

Other|

* Baptistery of St. John the Baptist
* Cemetery Basilica
* Heptapyrgion
* Church of the Archangels
* Church of Taxiarches

Museums|

* Museum of Byzantine Culture

* v
* t
* e

Byzantine Greece

Provinces and regions|

* Achaea Province
* Theme of the Aegean
* Crete
* Theme of Hellas
* Theme of Samos
* Macedonia Province
* Theme of Macedonia
* Theme of Strymon
* Theme of Thessalonica
* Theme of the Peloponnese
* Theme of Cephallenia
* Theme of Nicopolis
* Sclaviniae
* Melingoi and Ezeritai
* Tsakonia
* Great Vlachia

People|

* Justinian I
* Heraclius
* Justinian II
* Irene of Athens
* Danielis
* Nikephoros I
* Basil I
* Nikephoros II Phokas
* Basil II
* Nikephoros Melissenos
* Michael Choniates
* Leo Sgouros
* Leo Gabalas
* Michael I Komnenos Doukas
* Theodore Komnenos Doukas
* Demetrios Chomatenos
* John Apokaukos
* Michael II Komnenos Doukas
* Michael VIII Palaiologos
* John I Doukas of Thessaly
* Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas
* Thomas I Komnenos Doukas
* Gregory Palamas
* Demetrios Kydones
* Catalan Company
* Nicholas Orsini
* Andronikos Asen
* John II Orsini
* Andronikos III Palaiologos
* Michael Monomachos
* John Angelos
* Stephen Gabrielopoulos
* Nikephoros II Orsini
* Manuel Kantakouzenos
* Simeon Uroš
* Thomas Preljubović
* Esau de' Buondelmonti
* Alexios Angelos Philanthropenos
* Theodore II Palaiologos
* Gemistos Plethon
* Constantine XI Palaiologos
* Demetrios Palaiologos
* Thomas Palaiologos
* Byzantine bureaucracy and aristocracy
* Byzantine scholars in Renaissance
* Historians: Niketas Choniates
* George Akropolites
* Nicephorus Gregoras
* John Scylitzes
* Eustathius of Thessalonica
* Michael Glykas
* Anna Komnene
* Joannes Zonaras
* George Kodinos
* George Sphrantzes

Major centres|

* Thessaloniki
* Athens
* Corinth
* Mystras
* Patras
* Thebes
* Arta
* Ioannina

Greek states after 1204|

* Despotate of Epirus
* Empire of Nicaea
* Empire of Thessalonica
* Despotate of the Morea
* Thessaly

History|

* Persecution of paganism
* Barbarian invasions
* Under the Heraclian dynasty
* Byzantine Iconoclasm
* Siege of Thessalonica (676–678)
* Siege of Patras (805 or 807)
* Arab–Byzantine wars
* Muslim conquest of Crete
* Byzantine reconquest of Crete
* Macedonian Renaissance
* Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria
* East-West Schism
* Byzantine–Norman wars
* Sack of Thessalonica (1185)
* Fourth Crusade
* Battle of the Olive Grove of Kountouras
* Battle of Klokotnitsa
* Battle of Pelagonia
* Under the Palaiologos dynasty
* Reconquest of Constantinople
* Battle of Prinitza
* Battle of Makryplagi
* Battle of Neopatras
* Battle of Pharsalus (1277)
* Battle of Demetrias
* Byzantine civil war of 1321–1328
* Hesychast controversy (Palamism)
* Byzantine–Genoese War (1348–1349)
* Zealots of Thessalonica
* Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347
* Byzantine–Ottoman Wars
* Siege of Thessalonica (1422–1430)
* Battle of the Echinades (1427)
* Morea revolt of 1453–1454
* Ottoman conquest of the Morea

Culture|

* Byzantine art (Macedonian art)
* Byzantine music
* Byzantine literature
* Alexander romance
* Miracles of Saint Demetrius
* Suda
* Greek Anthology
* Acritic songs
* Byzantine architecture
* Byzantine dress
* Byzantine cuisine
* Eastern Orthodox Christianity
* Byzantine law
* Hexabiblos

Monuments|

* Acrocorinth
* Angelokastro (Corfu)
* Athens
* Church of the Holy Apostles
* Daphni Monastery
* Little Metropolis
* Soteira Lykodemou
* Castle of Chios
* Church of the Parigoritissa
* Didymoteicho Fortress
* Feraklos Castle
* Gardiki Castle
* Hexamilion wall
* Hosios Loukas
* Kassiopi Castle
* Meteora
* Mount Athos
* Monastery of Saint John the Theologian
* Monemvasia
* Mystras
* Nea Moni of Chios
* Old Metropolis of Veria
* Panagia Episkopi
* Panagia Kontariotissa
* Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki
* Panagia Ekatontapiliani
* Patras Castle
* Porta Panagia
* Saints Theodoroi, Serres
* Trikala Castle

* v
* t
* e

World Heritage Sites in Greece

North|

* Aigai
* Mount Athos
* Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki
* City Walls
* Rotunda
* Church of the Acheiropoietos
* Church of Saint Demetrios
* Latomou Monastery
* Church of Hagia Sophia
* Church of Panagia Chalkeon
* Church of Saint Panteleimon
* Church of the Holy Apostles
* Church of Saint Nicholas Orphanos
* Church of Saint Catherine
* Church of the Saviour
* Vlatades Monastery
* Church of Prophet Elijah
* Byzantine Bath
* Philippi
* Zagori

Central|

* Delphi
* Temple of Athena Pronaia
* Tholos
* Athenian Treasury
* Gymnasium
* Stoa of the Athenians
* Temple of Apollo
* Hosios Loukas
* Meteora
* Old Town of Corfu

Attica|

* Acropolis of Athens
* Daphni Monastery

South|

* Epidaurus
* Mycenae and Tiryns
* Lion Gate
* Tomb of Aegisthus
* Treasury of Atreus
* Tomb of Clytemnestra
* Grave Circle A
* Grave Circle B
* Mystras
* Olympia
* Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae

Aegean Islands|

* Delos
* Medieval City of Rhodes
* Grand Master's Palace
* Fortifications
* Monastery of Saint John the Theologian and the Cave of the Apocalypse
* Nea Moni of Chios
* Pythagoreion and Heraion of Samos

* v
* t
* e

Castles in Greece

* Acrocorinth
* Acronauplia
* Amfissa Castle
* Castle of Saint Andrew
* Angelokastro (Corfu)
* Antimachia Castle
* Arkessini Castle
* Arta Castle
* Aptera Fortress
* Arcadia Castle
* Astypalaia Castle
* Assos Castle
* Castle of Bouka
* Bourtzi Castle
* Castle of Chios
* Chlemoutsi
* Cythera Castle
* Didymoteicho Fortress
* Eleutherae
* Exomvourgo
* Fortezza of Rethymno
* Firkas Fortress
* Fortifications of Chania
* Fortifications of Heraklion
* Frangokastello
* Gardiki Castle
* Saint George Castle, Cephalonia
* Saint George Castle, Preveza
* Glarentza
* Heptapyrgio
* Ioannina Castle
* Izzeddin
* Kastellos (Kritinia)
* Kalamata Castle
* Kassiopi Castle
* Kavala Castle
* Kazarma fortress
* Koules (Castello a Mare)
* Larissa Castle, Argos
* Leros Castle
* Livadeia Castle
* Mystras
* Monemvasia
* Methoni Castle
* Monastery of Saint John the Theologian
* Miryna Fortress
* Mithymna Castle
* Castle of Mytilene
* New Fortress, Corfu
* New Navarino fortress
* Nafpaktos Castle
* Nerantzia Castle
* Old Fortress, Corfu
* Old Navarino castle
* Parga Castle
* Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes
* Palamidi
* Patras Castle
* Platamon Castle
* Fortifications of Rhodes
* Riniasa Castle
* Rio Castle
* Rogoi
* Skiathos Castle
* Trikala Castle
* Vonitsa Castle
* Walls of Thessaloniki

See also: List of gates in Greece
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