Ampelakia | The unknown sunken state of Attica 

Ampelakia | The unknown sunken state of Attica
Ancient writers mention two cities on the island of Salamis, Ancient and Homeric Salamis. The latter was located on the southern side of the island and was "southward four-quarters to Aegina" as Pausanias mentions.
The ancient city was in the peninsular region that is today called Kynosoura and on the immediately smaller peninsula where today Kamatero and part of Ampelaki are located. The main town was located on the side of Ampelaki and had ruins of enclosure, walls and ancient buildings which are related to the "market ruins", the "Aiandeion", the "Temple of Aiantos", the "Sanctuary of Asclepius", the "Altar of the Twelve Gods" ", the statue of Solon and the Republic, the Stoa, the Platform, the Gymnasium, the Sanctuaries of Hermos and Dionysus, where the historical "Hermaiai and Dionysus Festivals" were performed there.
This ancient city is considered to have been settled after the annexation of the island to the State of Athens, or that since then some settlement that probably existed there, developed into a city, in the city that in the 4th century BC. it is remembered as Kolouris and is identified with the city of Salamis of historical times.
Late Helladic finds are found at the "Kaminia" site, in the opposite arm of the Ambelaki bay from Pounta, at the base of the Kynosoura cape, which finds are related to a settlement stranded in Selenia.After the conquest of the island by the installation of the Athenian Municipality and the Athenian Administration, the bay of Ampelaki with its small valley and the connection with the port of Piraeus made it possible to settle there the emerging urban center of the whole island and to form the famous city ​​of the Golden Age of Pericles (5th BC) and this bay to become a port of communication, a commercial station and exchange of goods. The findings of the excavation carried out in 1918 by Antonios Keramopoulos are confirmation of the city's prosperity. Part of the city wall with five gates, votive pedestals, fragments of votive vessels, etc. were discovered.
The Salamis of Hellenistic times is now presented as an autonomous municipality, with the right to mint coins until the Roman imperial times, but in fact it was under the direct dependence of Athens. The Athenians considered the Ancient city an important trading post and this is shown by the insistence they showed in maintaining the rights to the annuities of the Island. But more evident is the dependence of Salamis on Athens and the Salaminians, but which also included the participation of armed Athenian teenagers in the interior of the island.
Inscriptions inform us that the walls of Salamis were repaired between the years 307 BC. and 304 BC Also around 130 BC one of the walls of the Lodge was built, the sanctuaries were repaired and various places in the city were decorated.
From everything we have mentioned, it is understood that the ancient city of Salamis was one of the most important economic and commercial stations of antiquity and played a role in the wider region.Excavations regularly carried out by the Second Ephorate of Antiquities under the supervision of the Ephorate of Antiquities Ms. Ifigenias Dekoulakos bring to light important antiquities. One of the latest finds is a mosaic of Druids, as well as remains of houses that are preserved in very good condition, with inner courtyards, wells and bathing facilities. The tombs are mostly pit-shaped and box-shaped and rarely tiled. So we find that the findings will be inexhaustible and will give the proper position of promotion of Ancient Salamis.
Text: www.salamina.gr
'Reawakening' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
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