Gitana

“The Distanes, the second-time round series of Ancient Thesprotia and the headquarters of the Thesprotians, are identified with the ruins of fortified settlement on the southwest mountain slope of Vryslala, at the junction of Kalpakiotikos to the River Kalamas (Ancient Thimis). From their privileged position controlled the exit of the floating river to the sea. At about 150 years of life, since its inception in 335/330 BC. Until its occupation by the Romans in 167 BC, the city was one of the most important political, administrative and economic centers of the wider region of the Ionian Sea. Signal testimonies and literary sources, coupled with the findings of recent surveys, allow the identification of the aforementioned position with the ancient Distans. The oldest information on the existence of presence as the headquarters of the Thesprotians is testified by the content of a liberation resolution found in the market, dating back to 350 and 300 BC, while it is confirmed by ancient written tradition ( Levios, Multi). The latest written testimony for the city (Levios) dates back to the autumn of 172 BC, a year in which they arrived at the Roman Sea Signs on the occasion of preparing the organization of war companies in view of the imminent opening of the Macedonian War. Finding 3,000 clay seals on a Doric dialect the name “YTANA”, at the excavation of a large public building (“Building A”), which is identical to the city’s reconstruction, confirms the identification of the name with the preserved the philological delivery. The ancient settlement is surrounded by three sides from the River Kalamas. In the northeast, the mountainous volume of Vryslala, where the Acropolis of Ystanis dominates within the Deleta Plain, formed by the river’s accession and provides additional physical protection to the ancient city. The privileged – in terms of beauty and fortification – a position combined with direct access to the natural resources in the region contributed to the early habitation of the region from prehistoric, already, time, as they provided self-sufficiency and residents. This is indicated by finding silicon blades and prehistoric shells in the wider region of archaeological site. In antiquity, the river was floating from its estuary in the Ionian Sea until, at least, the height, which played a decisive role in the subsequent development of the settlement as a major mall. Through this aquatic road and riverside roads, people were moving and goods – to another inaccessible landscape – and access to the sea, as well as the fertile river valley, where the important settlements of Lygia and Mistillitsa were involved. At the same time, there was direct communication with the other major cities along the river (Ancient Lane, a settlement in Rabeni, etc.) and those on the coasts of Thesprotia (Elina etc.). The establishment of ancient city is placed, based on archaeological data and ancient sources, at the second half of the 4th century. B.C., a season coinciding with the attachment of southern Kastrin, the area, ie the fortified settlement. Hellenic continues without interruption and Hellenistic times, as evidenced by the buildings that have excavated within the settlement, but also by the findings of tombs in the northeast of the fortification and west of the Kalama dam. On the contrary, there are no architectural relics that could date back to the period after its occupation by the Romans. As evidenced by the extensive layers of destruction of excavated buildings, it seems that the ancient settlement was destroyed in 167 BC. and inhabited sporadically until the end of the 1st century. e.g. So and abandoned definitively. The ancient settlement features a strong natural fortification, as it is surrounded by three sides from the River Kalamas. Polygonal walls, 2,500 m long, surround the area of ​​280 acres city, whose population is estimated at six thousand inhabitants. The walls have a monumental form, as they are reinforced with towers and their saved height reaches 2-3 m. The masters are built on a different unpaid with an organized urban plan, which is deleted from 4-6 m wide streets, which define Rectangular building islets and building blocks. In particular, the settlement runs from ND to three major roads, while a fourth leads out of the walls in the Theater Area. In addition to the southern clutch of the hill of the Acropolis, where there is no foundation of buildings, the rest of the co-operation has not been identified, the rest of the surrounded settlement is dense. Powerful interior wall (division), 315 m long, separates the ancient settlement to two major residential sectors. The western part of the settlement, inwards of the disposal, has a total area of ​​50 acres and, as evidenced by the extensive layers of destruction, this section develops much of the public and religious life of the city. The market of ancient city, aggregation and trading area, occupies a primary position in the eastern part of the settlement. On the north side it is bounded by a length of 76 m long. A series of 26 Doric columns on the facade and 14 Ionic columns internally supported the roof of the Stoa, creating a spacious covered area, which could resort to the market to protect themselves from the adverse weather conditions. The South Side of the Market delimits a complex of choracial square stores, many of which appear to communicate with a road parallel to the back of the whole complex. The relatively luxurious living of the inhabitants of the city, just before its destruction in the 2nd BC. century, reflected in the quality of construction of public buildings that have been excavated in the wealth of mobile finds. Inside the walls it is distinctly the lower part of the walls of ancient buildings, both public and private. The marble and generally stone thresholds that are preserved in situ, they hosted, as evidenced by the findings, large typically two-dimeric retreat. In the NDS of the site, a cultural building was revealed, known as “a small temple”. It is a building of 13×7,10 m., With pronaos and beep. The small size, the simple rectangular plan with bilateral division and the absence of perimeter colonnade are typical of the Naural Buildings of Epirus. Following the main road of the settlement to ND, it has come to light the conventionally called “A” building, dimension 41×31 m, a public character, as confirmed by the revelation of 3,000 clay seals within it, which identifies it with the Rector – Archive City. The rooms are placed around a central courtyard, with each function different. Inner walls are covered with soil and blocked mortars and in their best preserved portions there is a smear in red and blues. Three symposium rooms have been revealed, which feature mosaic floors with star decoration, spirals, circles and dolphins.
The excavation survey has brought to light bronze statuettes and fulcrum recruiters, while the number of bronze coins, including a 178 coin of continental coins (234-168 BC), was important. Near the settlement, in the western walls there is an ancient theater (39,571299932523466, 20.259902049270995), a place for theatrical performances, as well as political events, a capacity of 4-5,000 spectators. The space is Visit Wednesday to Sunday and hours 8: 30-15: 30 (Monday-Tuesday: Closed). However, it is good to be informed by the competent Ephorate, as this can change depending on the availability of prisoner staff (tel: 26650.29177 / 8, e-mail: efathe@culture.gr). Access to the archaeological site, until its entry, is possible through an asphalt road from the Human Road Igoumenitsa-Sagiada-Greek-Albanian Border. From the entrance, through a ramp, it is possible to access people with wheelchairs and visually impaired people to attendance / publishing, where an exhibition of informational and photographic material for the history and the establishment of the settlement is hosted. There is also the possibility of approximating the area of ​​the ancient theater by car through the existing access dirt road. Suggested Activities
• You can take a stroll on the River River’s Irrigation Dam, which is away from 1.5 km • You can also walk the “Yertana – Finiki” route or part thereof. “Start from the archaeological site of the city of Ystani, which has been for a period and capital of Thesprota. You impose at least one reference to its local history and monuments. A small cave with a classical season tombs next to the road and opposite a 19th-century bridge show us the timeless field.
In the summer months, the course can also be done through the stream bed since it is dry and this is due to more irrigation in the element plain.
In just one hour we get to the Kalpakiotikos bridge, which was made with money by an ironer. A small respite and continue for two more hours to get to Messohori of Finikios. There you will hear from the locals the story and you will see the Folklore Museum the older habits and work in the village. Surgeon in the cobblestone cobbled streets, the contact and warmth of locals will remind you that there are still sites in this country where hospitality is a lifestyle rather than a tourist attraction … “• Visit the small hydroelectric station of Ystano – Raios