HERACLEA LYNCESTIS

Multilingual audio guide (available on 7 languages) to be used in Heraclea Lyncestis, covering 12 points (locations) within the archaeological site that represent cultural heritage of great importance.

The southern part of the Pelagonian plain, in the ancient times called Lyncestis, as a center of a deep-rooted civilization, will be tempting for many conquerors who tailored the history of this part of the world by the power of the sword. The ancient city of Heraclea occupies an important place in this strategically attractive piece of land.

The research on the site of Heraclea has a decades-long record. As early as the 19th century, diplomats excavated the sites throughout the region and, with Sultan’s permission, carried the excavated material to their own home countries. Heraclea did not avoid this evil fate either. At that time, many masterpieces from this city will become the pride and joy of world-famous museums. The challenge and the interest did not subside in the 20th century either, when archaeologists from the Museum of Prince Paul in Belgrade made the first more serious research in several sectors. Nevertheless, Heraclea will welcome its first systematic archaeological research in 1959, that still lasts to this day. This research will tell the story about the city that will establish in its name the memory of the existence of the Upper Macedonian tribe called Lyncestae. The existence of the city will be noted by many historians, and its location will be shown on all of the important maps of that time, indicating the inevitability, but also the significance of the city.

One of the sources that contains an indication about when Heraclea was created is Demosthenes (the first speech against Philip in 351/352 BC), the man who zealously defended the independence of Athens, the Athenian democracy and the freedom of Greece from the Macedonian imperialism. Interpreting Demosthenes’ words and taking into account the militant and tireless activities of Philip II, it is believed that the city of Heraclea was founded exactly by him, as a strategic center on the northeastern border of the Macedonian region of Lyncestis. The fact that the city was named Heraclea is not strange at all, since the Macedonian kings destined to great power claimed that their ancestry originated from Heracles.

The archaeological finds show that life in Heraclea began at the top of the hill, as a strategic center of Phillip II. The sprout of the city will be marked by the erection of the fortress which covers an area of 1.5 to 2 ha. This settlement positioning was chosen primarily because of the dominant position and the overview of the surroundings, which was important in those turbulent times and the frequent battles with the Illyrians.

During the Roman period, the city slowly forms toward the southern and eastern sunny slopes of the hill to the bank of the small river Siva Voda, with a defined area that covered surface of 7.5 ha, while in the early Byzantine period the eastern part of the city was abandoned, and the area surrounded by the interior rampart at that time was reduced to 5 ha.

The prosperity of the city was made possible by the two main Balkan roads: Via Egnatia, which connected Rome with Anatolia, and the Diagonal Road as the shortest connection of Rome with the Danube and Dacia.