The ancient city of Stageira is mainly known as the birthplace of the Greek philosopher Aristotle. It is the most important site of Chalcidice located in the Liotopi peninsula, next to Olympiada village. Strabo’s “Geography” had identified Stageira close to Akanthus.
The city was founded in 655 B.C. by colonists from Andros island, who had also settled in other regions of Chalkidiki. “Orthagoria” was probably its first name. It was an ally, both to the Athenians and later to the Spartans until the city was occupied by Philippos in 349 B.C Although the city was destroyed, Philip himself repopulated it, in honor of his son’s Alexander tutor, Aristotle. Despite the effort, Stageira never recovered its former brilliance. When Aristotle died in 322 B.C., the inhabitants of Stageira transferred his relics from Chalkis of Euboea in order to be buried in his birthplace. His altar was called “the Aristoteleion”. The same name was given to modern "Aristoteleia", an annual festival was instituted in his honor.
The excavations in Stageira began in 1990. The classical fortification is the most impressing, well -preserved monument, which was brought to light at the top of the hill, where the acropolis of Stageira occupies the largest plateau. Recent excavations have also revealed the Archaic walls, the Agora, political and commercial center of the city and a complex of public storerooms and workshops dated back to the Early Hellenistic period. On the north summit an Archaic temple devoted to an unknown deity was uncovered under the byzantine enclosure which was built during the 10th c. A.D.
