Amphipolis
Amphipolis is one of the most fascinating archaeological sites of eastern Macedonia, located in the regional unit of Serres, along...
Updated 17 July 2026
The story
The story of Amphipolis
The ancient city on the Strymon river
The city of Amphipolis stood on a bend of the Strymon river, a few kilometres from the Aegean coast, in a position that ensured control of the trade routes between the Macedonian hinterland and the sea. Founded by the Athenians in 437 BC on a territory already inhabited in earlier times, the city was surrounded by an imposing circuit of walls, whose remains are still visible today for several kilometres. Within the urban area, the gymnasium, public buildings, necropolises and stretches of the ancient road network have been brought to light. The Strymon river, with its bridge already described by ancient historians, was a fundamental strategic element, making Amphipolis one of the most contested centres of the region during the Peloponnesian War.
The Lion of Amphipolis
The best-known symbol of Amphipolis is the Lion of Amphipolis, a monumental marble funerary statue that stands along the modern road, not far from the bridge over the Strymon. Several metres high, the lion was reconstructed in the twentieth century from hundreds of marble blocks found dismembered, which had been reused in Roman times to reinforce embankments and structures near the river. It is believed that the monument was originally part of a large funerary complex dedicated to a high-ranking figure linked to the entourage of Alexander the Great, perhaps a naval commander. Today the Lion of Amphipolis, visible along the road, has become the most recognisable image of the site and an essential landmark for anyone visiting the Strymon region.
The Kasta Tomb and the Caryatids
A few kilometres from the Lion of Amphipolis lies the Kasta tumulus, the Kasta Tomb, brought to light between 2012 and 2014 and recognised as the largest funerary monument ever discovered in Greece, with a perimeter of almost five hundred metres. The entrance is guarded by two imposing Caryatids, while inside the various chambers, arranged across several levels, a Sphinx and an extraordinary mosaic floor depicting the myth of the abduction of Persephone by Hades were found, a work datable to the age of Alexander the Great, at the end of the 4th century BC. The discovery aroused great international interest, fuelling numerous hypotheses about the identity of the deceased buried in the tomb, still the subject of study by Greek archaeologists.
A history between Athens, Sparta and the Macedonians
The history of Amphipolis is intertwined with the main events of the ancient Greek world. Founded by the Athenians as a strategic outpost, the city was the scene of a famous battle during the Peloponnesian War, in which the forces of Athens and Sparta clashed for control of the region. Later coming under the control of Macedonia, Amphipolis became a centre of primary importance under Philip II, who made it one of the kingdom's main naval and military bases, and it retained its strategic role during the campaigns of Alexander the Great, for whom the city was one of the gateways to the East. This long intertwining of dominations, from the Athenians to the Macedonians, has left archaeological layers that recount over a millennium of Mediterranean history.
The archaeological museum and the finds
The archaeological museum of Amphipolis houses the finds from the excavations of the ancient city and the Kasta tumulus, offering visitors an exhibition route that traces the main phases of the site's history, from the classical age to the Macedonian period. The rooms display funerary assemblages, ceramics, architectural elements, metal objects and reproductions that help visitors understand the structure of the funerary monument and the Caryatids. The museum is directly connected to the surrounding archaeological area, allowing the finds to be linked to their original context, from the city walls to the Lion of Amphipolis, up to the chambers of the Kasta Tomb. A visit to the museum is therefore a fundamental step in fully appreciating the complexity and historical importance of the site.
How to visit Amphipolis and its surroundings
Amphipolis can easily be visited in a day, combining the archaeological area of the ancient city, the Lion of Amphipolis along the Strymon, the Kasta Tomb and the archaeological museum. The site is a short distance from the Gulf of Strymon, which offers wide sandy beaches and the possibility of continuing the itinerary towards the coastal towns of Asprovalta and Nea Kerdylia, appreciated for the sea and for a more relaxed seaside tourism. The Strymon river, with its green banks and aquatic wildlife, adds a further point of natural interest to the visit, and is also pleasant for a walk after touring the archaeological site. For those staying in eastern Macedonia, Amphipolis is therefore a stop that combines archaeology, ancient history and landscape, and is also easily reachable from Thessaloniki.
Experiences not to miss
- Admire the Lion of Amphipolis along the road by the Strymon
- Explore the Kasta Tomb and its Caryatids
- Visit the archaeological museum of Amphipolis
- Walk along the ancient city walls and the gymnasium
- Enjoy some time at the sea in the Gulf of Strymon, between Asprovalta and Nea Kerdylia
To see
What to see in Amphipolis
Routes · Trovido Route
