Palatiano: A Roman city in the Kroussia Mountains of Kilkis

It is situated on a strategic location above the valley of Gallikos and its tributaries, offering excellent control over the surrounding roads. The town is identified by many scholars with the ancient Ioron, but this has not been confirmed by inscriptions.

The visible ancient ruins belong to a Roman city, which was built on top of earlier settlements and flourished from the 1st century until the end of the 3rd century AD. The habitation seems to have been continuous, with many late walls resting on older ones.

The Roman city spreads on the slopes of the hill and on its strategically important peak covering an area of 3.5 stremmas, defined by a tripartite polygonal enclosure which possibly surrounded public buildings. 

A temple-like honorary monument (Heroon) is found in a prominent position, on the eastern part of the ancient city. A pedestal occupies the west inner side of the building. Four of the five statues of members of the honored family of Patraos were placed there. Their names are inscribed on the marble slabs of the pedestal’s façade.