GREECE EPIRUS THESPROTIA ELINA

Citadel A, the eastermost and probably oldest sector of the settlement. According to all indications like the densely packed houses, the existance of a stoa and other large public buildings, it was the residential and administrative centre of Elina.

At the time when Greece was threatened by the Romans, since about 200 BC, Epirus sometimes allied with Macedonia, somtimes with Rome. In the Third Macedonian War of 172-168 BC, the Thesprotians were pro-Macedonian, but in 168 BC the legions of Aemilius Paulus defeated the Greek allies in the battle of Pydna. In the following year Elina, together with 80 other cities in Epirus, was ransacked and destroyed. Most of the inhabitants of central Epirus, 150.000 people, were sold as slaves, and the region thus cleared of population to create a military buffer zone against the Macedons. In contrast to the other fortified settlements of Thesprotia - due to its key position for the control of the Ionian sea routes - Elina was not abandoned, but continued to be inhabited during the 1st century BC and up to the 1st century AD.

Above and below: The shrine complex of citadel A consisting of two similar rectangular buildings with an E-W orientation, separated by a narrow corridor. They follow the architectural plan of simple temples with a porch (pronaos) at the front and a cella, an altar is to the East. The polygonal masonry is of high quality.

It seems like the Corinthians established a base of operations at Karavostasi bay, at the foot of the later Elina, in the 5th century BC to obstruct Kerkyrean raiders. From the hill, the straits between the mainland and the Ionian islands of Paxoi and Kerkyra can be seen, where the "Battle of Sybota" between Kerkyra and Corinth took place in 433 BC, according to Thucydides the largest naval battle between Greek city states until that time. The right flank of the battered Corinthian fleet retreated to the beach of Karavostasi after the first day of the battle, at the end of which both sides claimed victory.