Acanthos (in Greek old Ἄκανθος ) is a city and an ancient port of Chalcidique, in the north of the Mont Athos, located on the territory of current the Ierissos.

Acanthos is founded towards 650 av. J. - C. by colonists originating in Andros, just as the city close to Stagire. It lines up at the sides of the Perse Mardonios at the time of the medic Guerres, then Large King Xerxès I {{er}}.

During the Peloponnesian War, Acanthos is initially the allied one of Athens before making defection in 324 av. J. - C., thus yielding to the speeches Spartiate Brasidas. At the time of the peace of Nicias, Acanthos gains its autonomy but is forced to pay trbut with the Athenians.

At fourth century BC, it is taken by the Royaume of Macedonia. In 200 av. J. - C., it is taken and plundered by the joint fleets of Rome and Pergame. It however seems that its existence persists until the first century of the Christian era.

It was rebuilt in 1937 after a disastrous earthquake the September 26th 1932. The old cemetery of the city is on the shore and contains approximately 9.000 tombs of which oldest go back to seventh the most recent century BC and at the 17th century.

Sources

• (VI, 44; VII, 22);

• (IV, 84,1; V, 18,5).