the modern port of patras en[1]

The modern port of Patras

A few words on port’ s history

•The port has always played an important role in the economic, social and political life of the city.

Ancient port of Patras

• This is where the ancient port of Patras was in the Roman Period. Near the docks of the port significant monuments were built mainly temples of gods (Demetra and Poseidon were two of them).

• The Romans in order to anticipate the need of a commerce station to Italy, worked hard on harbor works

• Therefore several buildings were constructed mainly by the Emperors Octavian Augustus and Nero.

•Before that and although Patras was not involved in the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC), the athenian Alkibiades had proposed to Patras’ citizens to build long walls that would connect the citadel of the city to the port.

Part of the ancient harbor of Patras

Pointed trade amphora found in shipwreck. Drawing by student G. Vosou.

Pointed trade amphora found in shipwreck. Difference in shape and clay color denote their origin. Drawing by N. Kokloni

PSILALONIA

It is believed that the Roman port expanded to this Wall.

Part of the Wall

Part of the Wall

Part of the Wall

In every Roman town there were at least two main roads around, which the others were made in parallel order. The two main streets of Patras, perpendicular to each other, were cardo maximus (East –West direction) and decumanus maximus (North-South direction). In Patras they were propably named magna ruga and ruga cardorum. Magna ruga led from city to harbor. Today it is called “St. Nikolaou Street”.

Finally the ancient harbor was accrued by sediment transported by descending streams and torrents.

The fate of the ancient port