The Ephorate of Antiquities of Pella organised a scientific one day conference on “Hellenistic Palaces”, which was held online on November 25,
The Palace of Pella
The palace was built on the plateau of a hill north from the city. Its location was strategic, since it could supervise the wider area, the lagoon where the city was built, the ancient port, the roads leading to Pella and the fertile land around.
The palace was accessible via the city. Two streets led from the market place (agora) to the palace. This approach emphasized the shift from the civic to the royal, which was protected and controlled and located on a higher level. It was a declaration of the royal power. For hundreds of meters, on this uphill route, the visitors were exposed to the sway of the royal superiority, expressed materially through the placement of the palace and the compulsory course one had to take, in order to reach it. This was a course that prepared the visitor for the contact with the royal power.
Architecture was an important tool in the construction of the image of royal authority. The palace of Pella with its huge size of 70.000 sq.m., its complexity and theatricality emerged as the symbol par excellence of the power of the Macedonian kings.
The Palace
The access to the palace was possible via the city. The entrance to the palace was from the south, from the city. An uphill road led from the city to the monumental entrance (the propylon) which was flanked on either side, eastern and western, by two stoai (porticos) with Doric columns.
Building I
The plan of Building I recalls that of private houses found in Macedonian cities. It covers an area of 7500 square meters and comprises a large central courtyard surrounded by four porticoes with columns in the Doric order that form a peristyle. The rooms of the porticoes were used for a variety of activities.
The Monumental Entrance (Propylon)
A monumental entrance (Propylon) to the palace is placed on its southern side, roughly in the middle of a large continuous front, 160 m long, facing south. The entrance led to buildings I and II, that were founded on a higher terrace. The whole southern front of the palace consists of a central part flanked by a portico with Doric columns on either side.
Palaistra
The Palaistra or Building V is located in the NE part of the palace of ancient Pella. It is 75 m long, 65 m wide of a total area of 4875 m2. It has a large courtyard that was surrounded by a peristyle, which may have been wooden.
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