Official Tourism Website of the Municipality of Piraeus

Medieval History

In the Roman period Piraeus and Athens were separated.

The Piraeus of the Middle Ages.

During these years Piraeus not only declined, but because of Athens' alliance with Mithridates and after a long siege, in 86 BC, the Romans under Sulla destroyed the city and burned it along with the neo-Sioux and the sacristy. The few inhabitants who remained lived near the harbour and the temple of Zeus the Saviour. Renaissance came to Athens and Piraeus thanks to the Emperor Hadrian.  

For the late Byzantine period little information is given by the runic inscription at the feet of the funerary Lion at the entrance of the harbour. It was from this lion that the city took its name at that time as Porto Leone. Morosini stole the statue and became responsible for the destruction of many antiquities due to a large fortification ditch that connected the main port with that of Zeus.  

The Ottoman occupation followed. In 1824 Piraeus was liberated from the Turks. 

For the late Byzantine period little information is given by the runic inscription at the feet of the funerary Lion at the entrance of the harbour. It was from this lion that the city took its name at that time as Porto Leone.