The Altar of Dionysus

A short walk from the Ancient Agora is an altar to the ancient god of wine and pleasure (much loved here, according to statues and engravings found elsewhere on Kos) dating from the 2nd century BC, a time of great prosperity for the island. The altar’s frieze (now kept in the hall of the Neratzia Castle) depicts a battle of the Amazons as well as Dionysus’ entourage of satires and maenads. Only a stone wall of the upper part of the foundations and the entrance of the altar remains but you’ll find parts of a Hellenistic period Doric temple (also seemingly dedicated to Dionysus) next door.