Tyndaris

"The city lay on a narrow plateau with three plateiai oriented north-east–south-west arranged on three levels along the length of the plateau, crossed at right angles by the stenopoi. The size of the city was approximately 14 ha. The existing remains are Roman, but there are traces of the Timoleontic period of the mid-4th century, and the origin of the city plan probably goes back to the time of its foundation." (Hansen, 2004:233) This per strigas arrangement produced blocks 78 metres long, perpendicular to the coast (Cerchiai, Jannelli; Longo, 2002:187)

The public area of the city, with the agora and the main public buildings, lay in the southernmost part of the plain, below the highest plateia, dominated by rocky spurs. The sanctuary of the Virgin of Tyndaris was probably at the foot of the ancient acropolis (Cerchiai, Jannelli; Longo, 2002:187). The agora was probably situated on the south-east side of the residential area, in the area of the later Roman forum (Hansen, 2004:233)

Wall
"The city was built in a strong military position on top of a rocky promontory with steep cliffs facing the sea and accessible only from the east (...) A wall circuit was built inland towards the south-east and south-west sides of the city. The first wall, dating from Dionysius' foundation, was built of rough stone faced with plaster and strengthened at intervals by ashlar pilasters. At the beginning of the 3rd century (?) the wall was replaced by a curtain wall 4.5 metres thick built of ashlar and strengthened internally by a number of square towers and by a deep pincer-shaped gate. An extension of the wall running obliquely north-west protected the access to the harbour below the city." (Hansen, 2004:233)
"From the time of its foundation the city was surrounded by a wall following the natural contour of the terrain. A long stretch is visible on the south-west side of the city. The walls, dating from the time of Dionysius, were built in an irregular manner, faced with plaster, and appear to have been reinforced at irregular intervals by square pillars." (Cerchiai, Jannelli; Longo, 2002:187)

Inland the territory bordered that of Abakainon; to the east it bordered the territory of Mylai, and further inland the Sikel site of Longane. The territory may have covered a few hundred km², but this is difficult to determine. A close relationship with the neighbouring site of Agathyrnon is suggested at the end of the 4th century (Hansen, 2004:233)

Architectural details recorded at the archaeological site of Tyndaris.

"Within each block the houses were built on terraces constructed artificially following the natural gradient of the plateau. The only blocks excavated so far, at the southern end of the city, were occupied in their upper part by a complex of baths of the Imperial era, richly decorated with mosaic floors with geometric and figured designs. On the lower terraces two houses with a peristyle inner courtyard, built during the Hellenistic period, were found. On the lowest terrace, facing a large plateia, a number of tabernae were found, some with shops at the back." (Cerchiai, Jannelli; Longo, 2002:187)

Reconstructions

Theatre
"No building of the Greek period survives, but near the forum a theatre, with its back to the wall circuit and facing the main plateia, has a Greek phase dating to around 300 BC; the koilon has a diameter of 76 metres and a capacity of about 3,000 seats." (Hansen, 2004:233)