Basilica of St. Achilles
At the top of the hill of Frourion, considered the citadel of ancient Larissa, south of the Ottoman Bezesteni, the remains of a large basilica were discovered and unearthed in 1978.
The prominent location of the basilica, the inscription “Achilleios Archbishop and this work”, found on fragments of a wellhead, as well as bricks bearing the seal ACHILLEIOU, led to the identification of the basilica with the temple dedicated to the city’s patron and first bishop, Saint Achilleios.
The most important finding was two luxurious vaulted tombs. The two vaulted tombs, as well as numerous cists and free burials found inside, were considered to predate the basilica, due to their ground level being significantly lower than the remains of the mosaic floor.
The addition of the arch in the north aisle led many researchers to the hypothesis that the tomb of the north aisle must be identified as one and the same with the tomb of St. Achilles, over which later the basilica was built.
