KEA TRAVEL GUIDE

KEA (TZIA) > ARCHAEOLOGY

ARCHAEOLOGY

Karthaia

Karthea was one of the four cities which flourished in Kea during ancient times. From the remains of the buildings it appears that the city bloomed. The fortress of the city, the monumental architecture and the silver coins found, show the high cultural level of the inhabitants. The city has an acropolis, temples, a cemetery, theatre, public buildings and residences.

The most important monuments of the region are: the Temple of Apollo, Pithios, built in the 5th BC with 6 pillars. Inside the temple were found sculptures and inscriptions. The temple of Athena is dated from the end of the 6th to the beginnings of the 5th century BC.

Ancient Lion

About 1.5 km north east of Ioylida we find a monumental and imposing sculpture of a lion, sculpted in schistolithic rock, the Lion of Kea or Liontas as they call him on the island. The sculpture dates from the archaic era, about 600 B.C. It is probably connected to many of the ancient myths of the island.