Kalydon.pdf

The ancient city of Kalydon was a significant urban center in the coastal area of Aetolia, with its ruins located on two low hills called "Kourtaga" near the modern village of Evinochori. The city's strategic position allowed it to control the sea passage to the Ionian and Adriatic seas, and it had a port near the modern village of Kryoneri. Kalydon was founded by the mythical figure of Kalydon, son of Aetolus, and was associated with the myth of the Kalydonian Boar, a famous story in ancient Greek art. The city participated in the Trojan War, and its most famous hero was Diomedes, grandson of King Oineus of Kalydon. The city's history is marked by its membership in the Achaean League and its eventual decline after the founding of Nicopolis by Octavian Augustus. Archaeological excavations have uncovered the remains of the city's fortifications, the Laphrion sanctuary dedicated to Artemis and Apollo, and several other buildings, including the Heroon of Kalydon, a large tetrapylon building with a courtyard and small rooms.