Trade

Αncient Greeks did not travel for pleasure but mainly out of need. They used sea communications more than today because there were not many land routes. It is noteworthy that until the construction of the coastal road during the 1960’s, the people from Galaxidi communicated with Itea and Piraeus mainly via the sea.

The ports of Galaxidi and Anemokambi were very important during the Prehistoric period. Evidence of trading is the large quantity of obsidian blades cut from the dark, glassy mineral rock, mined on the Cycladic island of Melos. From this they made tools and weapons (knives, razors, arrows etc). In historic times, clear evidence from the two bronze inscriptions, as well as from the discovery of many, imported clay and bronze vessels, indicates that there was constant communication between the Chaleians and the Peloponnese (mainly Corinth and Sikyon) but also with the Western Greeks.

Positive evidence of trade are also the characteristic large, plain amphorae used for the transport of liquid goods, mainly oil and fine-quality wine. Transport amphorae, originating from various parts of Greece, have been found in several shipwrecks in the sea around Galaxidi but also in the town itself. The most important is the spherical one from a shipwreck at Anemokambi, which dates from the Early Helladic period (3000 B.C.), and is one of the most ancient vessels ever found in a shipwreck.

The coins, of course, provide clear evidence of trade and indicate with which regions the Chaleians came in contact.