Ancient Ismara in Rodopi
The walls of Agios Georgios with the monolithic granite pilasters at the gate of the acropolis testify to the existence of an important city in antiquity. However, there is no evidence to identify this city with ancient Ismaros or Maroneia, which had a large area. It is also not certain whether Maroneia and Ismaros were two different cities or whether Ismaros was later renamed Maroneia.
Ancient writers and more recent scholars alike place both ancient Ismaros and Maroneia in different places. In the works of Strabo and Pliny it is certain that they are different cities but they are not in agreement as to the location of Ismaros. The most probable placement of ancient Ismaros seems to be at the hill of St. George. The archeological finds, incised and impressed pottery of the 9th and 8th centuries BC and the monolithic granite pilasters at the gate of the acropolis support the identification.
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