Thebes - Town (Acropolis)

The ancient acropolis is now covered with modern building, which inevitably hampers archeological investigation. Recent excavations, however, have brought to light walls belonging to the Mycenaean Kadmeia. In buildings on the south side of the excavated area were found not only jewelry, ivory and tablets written in Linear B but also cuneiform texts which provided support for the ancient tradition of connections between Kadmos's city and the Near East. Tombs were found on the hill of Kastélla, to the east of the town, and a sanctuary of Apollo Ismenios near the cemetery, to the southeast. The positions of the city's seven gates are known, but the only visible remains are the foundations of a round tower at the Elektra Gate on the southeast side of the ancient city.