The canal was built in 480 BC during another campaign of Persians. Xerxes wanted to avoid the circumnavigation of Mount Athos, because the last time they tried it had sunk the fleet of Mardonius. The description of the canal brought us Herodotus and Thucydides, but subsequent historians have questioned the writing saying that the Persian king hadn't built a canal but a diolkos. However, current research indicates that it was a canal.

According to the description of Herodotus, the work commissioned by Xerxes in the Artachaii and Vouvaris. But Artachaiis just a little before the canal finish became seriously ill and died, which was a big disaster and a bad omen by Xerxes. Artachaiis buried in Acanthus with large values ​.

The canal is now buried and is located between the villages of Nea Roda and Trypiti. On 2008 survey was conducted by British and Greek engineers showing the exact location and its dimensions. The canal has a length of two kilometers and a width of 30 feet and maximum depth is estimated at 15 meters. It is visible from a great height, since the place has suffered subsidence. Archaeological research has shown that immediately after use by Xerxes abandoned and banked over the years.