Chapter 5. Aiani—Historical and Geographical Context

Abstract

According to the foundation myth preserved by Stephanos of Byzantium, Aiani, a Macedonian city, was built by Aianos, a son of Elymos the Tyrrhenian king, who migrated to Macedonia, 'Aianaios' was the ethnikon . The existence of an urban settlement of Aiani is confirmed by two inscriptions. Lower down, on the side of the hill and closer to the ancient city, the Necropolis proper has been uncovered, with built monumental tombs and pit-graves from the Archaic and Classical eras, and many pit-graves from the Hellenistic period. Next to these a small prehistoric installation from the late Neolithic Era and early Bronze Age has been found, as well as a cemetery of Mycenaean character. A total of twelve chamber tombs and smaller cist-graves have been excavated, four of which were surrounded by walls (periboloi), rectangular structures made of stone blocks, while three other enclosures enclosed pit-graves. Keywords: Aiani; enclosed pit-graves; Hellenistic period; late Bronze age cemetery; late Neolithic era; monumental tombs; upper Macedonia; urban settlement