Geometric Greece.

406 Pages·1977·21.12 MB·English

by  J. N. Coldstream

Geometric Greece

Geometric
Greece
J.N.COLDSTREAM
METHUEN
First published in 1977 by
Ernest Benn Limited
25 New Street Square, Fleet Street, London EC4A 3JA
and Sovereign Way, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1RW
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2003.
First published as a University Paperback in 1979 by
Methuen & Co. Ltd
11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE
© 1977 J.N.Coldstream
Book designed by Kenneth Day
Maps by Kenneth Clarke
ISBN 0-203-47278-0 Master e-book ISBN
ISBN 0-203-78102-3 (Adobe eReader Format)
ISBN 0 416 72840 5 (Print Edition)
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from
the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Coldstream, John Nicolas
Geometric Greece.—(University paperbacks; 680).
1. Civilization, Greek
2. Greece—Antiquities
I. Title II. Series
938'.01 DF77 79–40749
ISBN 0 416 72840 5
Preface
This book is the fruit of numerous pleasant visits to Greece in pursuit of
things Geometric. Through the kindness of the Greek Archaeological Service
and the Directors of the foreign Schools and Institutes of Archaeology in
Athens, I have been privileged to see many important reserve collections. For
facilities of study I record my deep gratitude to the Managing Committees of
the British School at Athens, and of the Institute of Classical Studies in the
University of London.
I have benefited greatly from the expert advice of many colleagues,
although the responsibility for all statements and opinions in this book
remains mine alone. In particular I thank Mr Vincent Desborough, Dr
Reynold Higgins, Dr Vassos Karageorghis, Mr David Ridgway, and Dr John
Salmon for their helpful comments on various parts of this book. I am
especially grateful to Professor George Huxley for reading the entire work in
typescript and in proof, and for saving me from many errors and inaccuracies.
My warmest thanks are also due to former and present members of Ernest
Benn Limited: to Mr Stuart Rossiter who suggested the writing of this work,
and to Mr John Collis for his skill, patience, and understanding in seeing the
manuscript through the press.
I dedicate this book to my wife, who has appraised each chapter as it was
written, and has given me constant encouragement at every stage.
Bedford College, J.N.C.
London
5
To Nicky
Contents
PREFACE 5
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 11
ABBREVIATIONS 13
INTRODUCTION 17
I THE PASSING OF THE DARK AGES, c. 900–770 B.C.
1 ISOLATION: THE EARLY NINTH CENTURY 25
Attica, 26. The Argolid, the Corinthia, Boeotia, 35. Euboea, Thessaly,
Skyros, the Northern Cyclades, 40. The Dodecanese, 45. Crete, 48.
Conclusions, 50
2 THE AWAKENING IN THE MID-NINTH CENTURY 55
Athens, 55. Lefkandi, 63. The Levant and Cyprus, 65. Cos, 68. Knossos,
68. Thorikos, 70. Conclusions, 71
3 CONSOLIDATION: LATE NINTH TO EARLY EIGHTH CENTURY 73
Attica, 73. The Argolid, the Corinthia, Boeotia, 81. Thessaly, Euboea,
and the Cyclades, 87. The Levant, 92. Eastern Greece, 95. Crete,
99. Conclusions, 102
II THE GREEK RENAISSANCE, c. 770–700 B.C.:
REGIONAL SURVEY
4 ATHENS AND ATTICA 109
Pottery: the Dipylon Master and his Successors, 110. Burial Customs,
119. Gold Diadems and Other Jewellery, 123. Bronzes, 126. Ivories,
130. Conclusions, 132
5 THE ARGOLID, ARCADIA, LACONIA, AND MESSENIA 140
Argive LG pottery, 141. Argive Architecture and Burial Customs, 145.
Argive Metalwork, 146. Argive Seals, 151. The Argolid: Conclusions,
152. Arcadia, 156. Laconia, 157. Messenia, 160. The Southern
Peloponnese: Conclusions, 162
7
8 CONTENTS
6 CORINTH AND WEST GREECE 167
Corinthian LG and EPC (Early Protocorinthian) Pottery,168. Corinthian
Burial Customs and Architecture, 174. Corinthian Metalwork,
174. Corinthian Ivory Seals, 177. Phocis, 177. Achaea, 180. Elis and
Western Messenia, 181. Ithaca, 182. North-west Greece, 184.
Conclusions, 186
7 EUBOEA, BOEOTIA, THESSALY, AND THE CYCLADES 191
Euboean LG Pottery, 192. Euboean Architecture and Burial Customs,
196. Euboean Metalwork, 198. Euboea: Conclusions, 199. Boeotian
LG Pottery and Terracottas, 201. Boeotian Fibulae and Other Bronzes,
202. Thessaly and the North, 206. The Western Cyclades, 209. The
Northern Cyclades, 210. The Central Cyclades, 213. Thera, 216
8 ITALY AND SICILY: TRADE AND COLONIES 221
First Generation: Early Exchanges with Etruria and Campania, 223.
Second Generation: Pithecusae and Cumae, 225. Third Generation:
the First Sicilian Colonies, 233. The Settlement of the Straits of
Messina, 237. The Achaean Colonies, 238. Taras, 239. The Western
Phoenicians, 240. Conclusions, 241
9 EASTERN GREECE AND ANATOLIA 246
Rhodian LG Pottery and Terracottas, 247. Rhodian Burial Customs
and Metalwork, 250. Cos, 252. Samos, 253. Chios, 257. Caria, 258.
Ionia, 260. The North-east Aegean, 262. The Anatolian Hinterland,
264. Conclusions, 267
10 CRETE 271
LG Pottery, 271. Burial Customs, 276. Settlements, 277. Sanctuaries,
279. Jewellery, 281. Bronzes, 281. Conclusions, 288
III LIFE IN EIGHTH-CENTURY GREECE
11 THE RECOVERY OF LITERACY 295
12 TOWNS AND VILLAGES 303
13 SANCTUARIES, GODS, AND VOTIVES 317
Sanctuaries: Altars and Temples, 317. The Gods: Problems of
Continuity, 327. Votive Offerings, 332. Conclusions, 338
14 RECOLLECTION OF A HEROIC PAST 341
The Circulation of Epic Poetry, 341. Hero-cults, 346. ‘Heroic’ Burials,
349. Heroic Scenes, 352. Conclusions, 356
CONTENTS 9
15 ORIENTAL INFLUENCES 358
16 EPILOGUE 367
GLOSSARY 371
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SITE INDEX 373
GENERAL INDEX 393
Charts
FIG. 94 Comparative Table of Phoenician and
Early Greek Alphabetical Scripts 297
FIG. 116 Time Chart for the Geometric Period 385