The hill of Mountoulia overlooking the harbor of Katapola. On the hill are the ruins of ancient Minoa, one of the three ancient cities of Amorgos, other are the ancient Aegiali and Arkesini .
The name of the ancient city of Minoa, arise from the passage of the Cretans and their king Minoas. The place where has been built on the hill offers excellent view to the bay and the entire surrounding area. At the remainings we observe the passage of various cultures. The ancient walls, the bastions of geometrical years, the long building of school (4th century BC.) and Serapeiou with remarkable water supply system, the Temple of Hellenistic period and the Roman walls.
The findings from the various excavations can be seen in the museum in Syros and Amorgos to the museum.
The city’s history as evidenced by the ruins and findings, pottery, clay figurines and obsidian arrowheads starts from the Late Neolithic period, the fourth BC millennium.
Findings like fragments of marble Cycladic figurines, pottery and obsidian reveal the continuity of history at the southern slope of the hill during the Early Bronze Age, the third BC millennium.
In the second BC millennium in the Middle and Late Bronze Age, we have findings of Mycenaean civilization near the coast in Xylokeratidi.
In early historical times, the first settlement of the town of Minoa was built in the south of the hill, in the 11th BC century, by the Ionian colonists.
At the end of the Geometric period, around the 8th BC century, a wall around the town was built. A part of the wall is preserved.
At the top of the hill, lies the Sanctuary. His life is last at least a thousand years, from the 8th BC century to the third to fourth AD century. From these findings it is probable that the deity was Dionysus.
From the Archaic period (650-480 BC) and the classical period (480-330 BC), we have numerous findings that testify to the continuation of life in ancient Minoa.
Also remains from the Hellenistic period (330-31 BC) and Roman (31 BC – early 4th century AD) was found.
In Hellenistic times, the third BC century, the marble temple was built, the first place of worship, the statue was found was propably Apollonas.
Near the temple is the pottery workshop, carved into the rock.
In the early Hellenistic period at the end of the 4th century, the High School (Gymnasio) was built, as known from inscriptions.
From the days of Roman rule, when Amorgos was a places of Roman political exile, life gradually shifted to port and, after the domination of Christianity in the 4th AD century, the city of Minoa wasabandoned.
From the top of the hill you’ll have amazing view to the endless sea.
see also at kalispera.se
