Αρχαιολογικοί χώροι (5)
Oiniades is an Acarnanian ancient city of the 5th century, 25 km. west of Μessolonghi, near Katohi village, and is one of the most important archaeological sites οf Etoloakarnania
Built near the mouth of Acheloos river, it was a coast city and one of the Echinades Islands. Rumor has it that the city took its name from the Etolian king Aeneas, while during the Middle Ages it went by the name Trikardokastro, as also called the ruins of the ancient city walls today.
Among the most important findings of the area is the ancient wall, which has survived to date and has 14 gates, along with the theater, which has an audience seating capacity of 3,000 persons and where the Festival of Ancient Theatre at Oiniades is annually held.
The famous Roman baths of Agios Thomas, 19th century, are located about 2km away from the town of
Messolonghi and just 60m north from the intersection of the highway Antirio – Agrinio. The British military officer and topographer William Martin Leake, was an avid collector, especially of Greek and Roman coins, and possessed a great knowledge of Greek and Roman geographical literature. In fact, he describes the place of the thermae as the “middle distance between Messolonghi and Calydon”.
It is assumed that the baths were built during the 2nd century AD and were destroyed by the powerful earthquake that took place around 551 AD, which struck the entire northwestern Peloponnese and Aetolia. The area was afterwards used as a Christian cemetery.
This space is in fact a large public complex of Roman thermae (baths), whose walls are preserved to a maximum height of 7m. In the top view it has a T-shape and consists of three clearly distinct areas, a large rectangular tank in the eastern part for the cold bath, a central space with four built-round bathtubs for the warm bath and finally a series of small rooms of various shapes in the western part of it, in the shape of bathtubs for the hot bath.
Ancient Calydon is located in "Kourtaga", around five hundred meters away from Evinochori. The town was built near the right bank of Evinos River, at the foot of Mount Arakynthos.
According to the legend, it owes its name to the son of Etolos and Pronoi, while it is also mentioned by Homer as one of the five Etolian cities that participated in the siege of Troy
Calydon was built on two hills and was surrounded by a wall of 4km perimeter that had towers and two main gates.
Today, one can visit the area and see the ruins of the Temple of Artemis, Apollo and Dionysus. Moreover, the visitor can admire the ancient theater, which is still in a very good condition, the Heroo as well as the Tomb of the Calydonian hero Leo.