Ministry of Culture: Restoration and enhancement of the acropolis of Ancient Pelinna in Thessaly

Ancient Pelinna, 1 of the astir important cities of past Histiaeotis, is located astir 16 km eastbound of Trikala. During the precocious Classical and Hellenistic periods it experienced important prosperity, erstwhile the older colony was transformed into an acropolis and its little metropolis expanded into the plain, protected by a beardown antiaircraft wall. Macedonian regularisation successful Thessaly ended with the decision of Philip V successful 197 BC. In 191 BC, during the Antiochian War, the Athamanians captured Pelinna, portion aboriginal the metropolis fell to the Romans and declined into obscurity. However, its strategical value persisted into the Byzantine period, erstwhile the colony of “Gardikion” developed connected the acropolis, with continuous habitation until the aboriginal Ottoman years.

The acropolis, built successful a people fortified position, is surrounded by a trapezoidal antiaircraft partition connected its western, southern, and eastbound sides. Of peculiar value is the bluish extremity of the occidental side, wherever a beardown bastion is formed with 2 towers and an intermediate partition section. The cardinal portion of the occidental partition is of past construction, with extended medieval interventions, a information that requires specialized and multi-layered treatment.

The extremity of the ongoing works is to reconstruct the structural cohesion of the remains, code moisture problems, dynamic loads, and instauration issues, arsenic good arsenic sphere each humanities phases of the monument. The task includes masonry consolidation, reinforcement of cracks, partial anastylosis successful sections astatine hazard of collapse, betterment of drainage, and landscaping of the surrounding area.

Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni stated:
“The walls of Ancient Pelinna represent 1 of the astir important past fortification works successful Thessaly. Its acropolis is simply a monumental analyzable of peculiar humanities and archaeological worth for the full region, with outstanding architectural remains dating chiefly to the Hellenistic period. Through the interventions presently underway by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Trikala, based connected approved studies, the extortion and restoration of the monument is ensured with afloat respect for its authenticity and diachronic character. Our purpose is also, done the works carried retired astatine the site, reflecting its agelong humanities continuity, to fortify not lone the taste individuality of the wider portion but besides the sustainable improvement of section communities. With mild and afloat compatible interventions, an important archaeological tract is being created—accessible and safe—enhancing the taste dynamism of Thessaly portion generating caller economical activities crossed the region.”