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Basilica of St. Achilles

Κοινωνικός Διαμοιρασμός:

At the top of the hill of Frourion, considered the citadel of ancient Larissa, south of the Ottoman Bezesteni, the remains of a large basilica were discovered and unearthed in 1978.

The prominent position of the basilica, the inscription "Of Achilles Archbishop this is the work," found in the fragments of a well’s mouthpiece and the inscription “ACHILLION” stamped on various large blocks of stone led to the identification of the basilica as the church dedicated to the patron saint and first bishop of the city, St. Achilles.

Grave

The most important finding was two luxurious vaulted tombs. The two vaulted tombs, as well as numerous cists and free burials found inside, were considered to predate the basilica, due to their ground level being significantly lower than the remains of the mosaic floor.

The addition of the arch in the north aisle led many researchers to the hypothesis that the tomb of the north aisle must be identified as one and the same with the tomb of St. Achilles, over which later the basilica was built.