Naxos (Greece)

In antiquity the area of Melanes was of great importance for the island of Naxos, both economically and culturally. Especially in the area around Flerio (east of Mili) large strata of good quality marble exists close to the surface, which promoted the development of Greek marble architecture and sculpture.

Flerio aqueduct Aqueduct construction Trench 1st phase of the aqueduct 2nd phase of the aqueduct Pipeline of clay pipes Earth filling / mud

The peak exploitation of the quarries occurred in the 7th and 6th century BCE. Some of the most impressive sculptures and buildings dating to this period on the islands of Naxos and Delos and elsewhere in Greece are linked to the work carried out in the ancient quarries of the Flerio area, where statues and other works are still preserved half-finished or in various stages of completion often called kouros, in this area the kouroi of Flerio and of Potamia.

The area was en still is also rich in water springs, which still feed the lush vegetation of the site. A goddess of fertility and heroes / patrons of the stonecutters were worshiped in a sanctuary in the area of the quarries and the ancient water springs. The stonecutters were the main visitors to the sanctuary.

The first aqueduct which conveyed water from the Flerio area to the capital of Naxos, 11 km long, was constructed in the late 6th century BCE and equipped with pipes. In the first century CE it was replaced by a masonry channel coated with water proof plaster, maintaining the course of its predecessor.
In the 4th century CE this masonry channel was replaced by a new one, running on or near the line of the former. This time the bottom of the channel was covered with square flat bricks. Excavated fragments of pots etc. show that the aqueduct remained in function until the 8th c CE.

Over 10 sections are now nicely displayed along the main road from Chora - the present capital of Naxos - to Kinidaros, see map below. One should start in the Flerio area, east of Mili, close to the place where the Kouros of Melanes was found. The GPS-coordinates below can be of help. For your preparations at home, put the coordinates in programs like Google Maps or Google Earth.
The texts of nearly all the information panels are collected in a seperate pdf-file called "The Flerio aqueduct of Naxos", see enclosure.

The Museum Collection in Kourounochori comprises exhibits found during the excavation of the ancient sanctuary at the Flerio water spring and research in the ancient Naxos aqueduct. One unit includes clay pipes of the ancient aqueduct. The exhibits are accompanied by information material. At present (October 2014) the museum is closed.

Chora (Naxos town) - NAXOS

Kouros of Melanes	Kouros of Potamia	Kouros of Apollonas	Map of the Flerio area
Flerio sanctuary	Flerio spring	Modern aqueduct	First visible remains
Settling basin	Entry of the tunnel	Exit of the tunnel	Minimal fall in tunnel
Settling basin	Katsipirno-I	Sinter in pipes	Katsopirno-II
Leftera	Aimasos	Block of sinter	Overview Aimasos
Substruction and channel(s)	Two aqueduct phases	Layer of sinter	Louroi
Also sinter here	Road to Faraggas	Agios Thalelaios	Roman dimensions
Culvert	Agios Isidoros	Ancient basilica	Roman channel at Agidia
The Roman aqueduct	Phases of the aqueduct	Settling basin	Pipes at Katsagra
Cistern under castle	Trani Fountana	Notches of ropes	Inside the Fountana
Present look	Modern well top	Notches	Ancient well top