Byzantine Churches of Enez (Ainis) in Eastern Thrace

Abstract

The ancient city of Ainos was built on the east coast of the Maritsa (Meriç) river, where the river joins the sea. The city is located on the west of ancient Lake Stentoris (today Gala Lake) and was established on the 7th century BC as a colony of the Aiolians. The excavations at Ainos proved that the city was continuously inhabited since Neolithic era. Ainos was connected in the north to Adrianopolis by sea and by overland route, in the east to Gallipolis and Constantinople and was situated in a very important location. In 148 BC the city was conquered by the Romans and during the Byzantine era it became the capital of the Rhodope region of the Europa province. The location of the city attests its importance as a major commercial center. Today the ancient city of Ainos is situated 3.5 km inside from the coast. Throughout the prehistoric ages, Ainos had two ports and the point that Meriç (Maritsa) River joins today the sea used to be a gulf. Ainos, the most important port city of Eastern Thrace, besides joining the Aegean Sea with the hinterland of Eastern Thrace, was situated at the end of the shortest and most secure road between the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea. During the middle ages the city preserved its importance and as it continued to unite the Aegean islands to Thrace, it was a significant commercial center. Ainos remained a major commercial center until the beginning of the 19th century.