Ancient City of Phylakopi Milos

The ancient city of Phylakopi which is located on the road to reach Pollonia in the northwestern part of the Milos island, is considered one of the most important settlements of the prehistoric period of the Aegean.

You can find the remains of two millennia of history from the entire Bronze Age ranging from 3000 BC to 1100 BC. Its position has allowed the city to have control over most of the sea, thus making it an important commercial center for its precious obsidian stone and from a cultural point of view.

Phylakopi has gone through three historical periods, the first goes from 3000 to 2000 BC in the first half of the Bronze Age with the beginning of the construction of houses which, however, did not have an organized layout of roads except for the cemetery. It should be emphasized, however, that in that period of time, exports of obsidian were expanded, thus making trade for the island of Milos flourish.

In its second period from 2000 to 1600 BC Phylakopi becomes an important power of the Cyclades Islands. It begins with the construction of cyclopean walls still visible today to protect against attacks by marauders, and then build checkerboard houses on the hill with well-defined streets. In this millennium, the art of ceramics from the Minoan influence develops and evolves as evidenced by the findings of vases painted with plant and animal motifs in black and red matte paint such as the famous Melian bird jugs. Relations with various regions of Greece, especially Crete, are becoming more intense and this is the reason for the artistic contamination. Unfortunately, according to the writings Phylakopi was destroyed by incendiary marauders while according to others by a strong seismic activity.

However, the desire for rebirth for the city does not stop, which is rebuilding a third settlement giving life to its last historical period which lasts from 1600 to 1100 BC The walls are reinforced with a thickness of over six meters, larger houses built, some on two floors, revised and reorganized the street level. Minoan culture is always very present in the city as evidenced by the findings of a plate engraved with the linear A, the writing system used on the island of Crete, the structure called Sala del Pilastro which inside contained a fresco depicting a wonderful flying fish. , and the Mansion most likely home to the administrative center. After the great eruption of the volcano of Santorini, however, the Cretan culture became increasingly weak until it gave way towards the 1400s to the Mycenaean culture, when a palace was built, the so-called Megaron with many rooms, a two-room temple and a new fortification wall. Even prestigious works of art and ceramic sculptures are made as the greatest example being the "Lady of Phylakopi" (in Greek kyria Philyakopi) now preserved in the Archaeological Museum of Milos.

From 1200 BC, however, the Aegean suffered an implosion and the trade routes were abandoned with the consequence of the depopulation of Phylakopi and the birth of another commercial center in the ancient city of Klima.

Today most of the city is below sea level, nevertheless you can still admire the remains of the mighty walls made of volcanic stone, the Temple and the Megaron. Fortunately, thanks to the excavations begun in 1896 by the British School of Archeology in Athens and then continued at the beginning of 1911 and at intervals ended in 1977, it was possible to save numerous finds such as ceramic vases, stone, clay, bronze statuettes and a mask of gold found inside the temple, now visible in the Archaeological Museum in Plaka.

If you are interested in visiting the site which we highly recommend, these are the times:

8.30-15.00 tel. +302287041290

It is very simple, just head north west and follow the road to Pollonia, at some point there are signs for Phylakopi.

A very interesting site for lovers of Greek history and culture, to be noted in the things to see in Milos.