The archaeological site at Opagia is a particularly important archaeological site for the history of the area during the early Christian times.

The core of the archaeological site is located on a small islet between the two beds of Kalamas river, the ancient Thyamis. Two early Christian basilicas have been identified, while an octagonal fortification tower suggests that the site is part of an important, walled settlement.

Of a total area of ​​20 acres, only ​​the three-aisled Basilica A’ has been excavated, the floors of which are decorated with mosaics of exquisite art, depicting a wide variety of subjects.

Some of them bear only geometric decoration, others combine geometric motives and zoomorphic representations, while the two side aisles are decorated with large-scale, narrative representations. Scenes of hunting, animal fights, representations of fruit trees and vases adorn the north aisle, while an impressive marine theme with personifications of the Sea and of a river covers the floor of the south aisle. The dating of the mosaic floors goes back to the period from the end of the 5th to the middle of the 6th AD century.

To the south of the basilica a complex of rectangular apartments extended. Part of a small bath was excavated, which probably predated the basilica, and partly continued to function alongside the temple.

Dimitra Papaioannou