Emborios

Location

Emborios is one of the most unique places of Chios and of Greece in general. The port of Emborios is 5 kilometers from the central road of the Southern villages, and its name shows that it was a trading center in Antiquity. Here was the settlement of Lefkonio (3.000 BC), traces of which were found during recent excavations and are now being exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Chios.

In this small picturesque and historical port of Emborios, there are plenty of taverns, restaurants and rooms ready to offer the visitors some quiet and relaxing vacations. Besides, Mavra Volia is considered to be the best beach on the island, if not one of the most exquisite, and it is only in a short distance from the port of Emborios. Its black pebbles are the result of the lava coming from the nearby volcano which covered the area. Thus the peculiarity  of the black pebbles, the steep rock which inposingly stands above the beach, as well as the crystal clear waters, all these are features which make the area suitable for summer vacations.

Prehistoric Emporio

Emporio was inhabited since the early Neolithic times (6000 BC). The region provides suitable living conditions, an ideal harbor for the vessels, a cultivable plain, and a source of potable water. Circa 3000 BC the settlement was destroyed by a conflagration, caused by an incursion by foreigners tribes or some others factors. However, it was rebuilt and during the final periods  developed into a major urban center of the Aegean, covering a huge area, in the excess of 30 hectars. The focal point of the settlement was a well, protected by a series of large walls. Other walls were also found, perhaps belonging to a fortification, though more probably they formed a terrace, retaining the soil far from the well. The houses were single-storey, stone-built, with earthen floors and flat roofs. Specialist artisans fashioned and decorated the pottery vessels, made tools of wood, bones and metal. Vases, in a considerable variety of shapes, were brought to light from the British School of Archeology as well as other objects include spoons, clay figurines, spindles whorls of diverse types decorated with the same motifs as the vase, as well as hundreds of cores, flakes and blades of obsidian and flint. All these finds are housed at the Archeological Museum of Chios.

Mycenaean settlement (13th century BC) were also brought to light in the same area. The houses had large rooms and were built on the basis of a central town plan. The vases are of different  shapes, decorated mainly with painted linear motifs. From the architectural evidence and the other finds, the relation between the settlements and other parts of Aegean, such as Euboia, Kea and elsewhere are surmised. Circa 1100 BC this settlement was destroyed by fire and abandoned. Its demise coincides with the inception of ionian colonization.

Temple of Athena at Emporio

Excavations on the hill of Prophet Elias, brought to light an archaic settlement including a walled acropolis with Megaron and Temple of Athena, and the houses around it, as well as a sanctuary close to the harbor. Its name was probably Lefkonion. The acropolis was fortified and the rampart, approximately 800 (nowadays only visible in place), enclosed an area of 25000 sq. meters. The entrance was at the south edge of the temple. In the southern section of the acropolis was a sanctuary, already built in the 8th century BC. An irregulary built altar of rectangular blocks date from the 7th century BC. The temple was dedicated to Athena and was built at the 6th century BC and replacement and additions were made at the 4th century BC. Northeastern of the temple there is the Megaron, overlooking the temple, the entrance of the acropolis and the main road leading down the hillside. It is a early structure going back to the 8th or the 7th century BC, and was probably the residence of the ruler. Outside the acropolis is the main settlement of over 50 houses, in wich some 500 people lived. There were probably more houses that have not yet been located.