Department of History and Archaeology

General Information

Krannon was one of the leading cities of ancient Thessaly, belonging to the tetrad of Pelasgiotis. It is located southeast of Pelasgiotis’ capital, on the main road connecting Larissa with Pharsalos. Archaeological finds confirm that the area of Krannon was continuously inhabited from the Neolithic up to the Roman period. The city has been identified by ancient authors as Homeric Ephyra (Il. 13.301), while her later name, «Κραννών», possibly derives from the Aeolic word «κράννα», which means «fountain» and may be associated with a nearby hot spring.

Τhe city reached its pinnacle of prosperity during the 6^th and 5^th century BC, when it was led by the aristocratic house of the Skopads, one of the three most powerful families of Thessaly during that period. The Skopads shared the cultural values of the southern regions of Greece, favouring artistic competition, and their court attracted notable poets, such as Pindar, Bacchylides, and Simonides.

Since no systematic excavation had previously been conducted at the city, the considerable wealth of Krannon is attested to mostly by the rich findings from its cemeteries and the fact that it minted silver coins immediately after the Persian Wars.

Record of Previous Archaeological Research

The lack of a systematic archaeological excavation in the area resulted in a very limited knowledge regarding the public buildings, the urban structure and the cults of the city. The first excavations were conducted during the early 20^th century by A. Arvanitopoulos on the so-called acropolis, where temple ruins were reported.

           In 1960, when illicit excavations were rampant, the Ephorate of Antiquities of Larissa opted to actively begin excavating the tumuli to the south of the acropolis. Unfortunately, the tumuli were already looted and only meagre finds were unearthed.  Regardless of that fact, the monumentality of their architectural form was impressive. Two pyramidal tombs (A and B) are dated to c.500 BC and the first half of the 4^th century BC respectively, while a tholos tomb is dated to the 5^th century. The type and quality of construction of the tombs imply a considerable expenditure, showcasing the wealth of the city’s elites during that period. Rescue excavations were also undertaken at separate cemeteries of the city, in 1969, 1981-1984 and, finally, 1989. The most impressive finds came from two Archaic tumuli which contained secondary cremations, approximately 4-5 km away from modern Krannon, near the village of Hagios Georgios. The sumptuous grave offerings, dated c.650 – 550 BC, included, among others, an unprecedented amount, truly extraordinary for Thessalian standards, of weapons and metal objects, suggesting that the dead were either warriors or indulged in displaying themselves as individuals of high status and prestige. Overall, the findings from the tombs in the immediate vicinity of Krannon cover an extensive chronological span, from the Early Iron Age to the Late Hellenistic period. More rescue excavations between 1991-1996 brought to light a Hellenistic villa to the southeast of the acropolis, as well as two ceramic kilns.

Also notable is the archaeological material which was retrieved dispersed in the vicinity of the polis. Funerary and votive stelae / altars, as well as fragments of reliefs and free-standing sculpture, shed light both to the artistic values and the religious beliefs of the Krannonians.

It should be noted that the three monumental tombs, as well as the Hellenistic villa mentioned above, were recently restored and are now open to the public.