Ancient Road Network Within and Around Aigai

Abstract

An important part of the archaeological works and studies in Aigai are conducted on the city’s road network. As a result, it was determined that Aigai was a part of a strong transportation system in Antiquity, and especially during the Hellenistic and Roman Periods it was located at an important intersection between the sea and the inland and between north and south. Excavations on the road network within the city offer important results, especially in terms of understanding the development of the city. Aigai was a modest city throughout the Archaic and Classical periods. In the Hellenistic Period, city was improved and started to experience its glorious period. The area covered by the city almost quadrupled. The city was densely inhabited until the first half of the 3^rd century AD and was almost completely abandoned during the Goth Raids in the third quarter of the 3^rd century AD. The last settlement activity was in the late 12^th and early 13^th centuries. Studies in the road network also provide data on Aigai’s water infrastructure. In 2020, a road called Athena Street was unearthed. As a result of the excavations carried out in this area, it has also been possible to access findings from the 5^th-6^th centuries AD. Thanks to the unearthing of ancient roads, the visitors can comprehend the ancient city much better and travel more comfortably. Thus, an important gain is obtained for archaeological information to reach the public.