Studies in Ancient Greek Topography PDF
Preview Studies in Ancient Greek Topography
STUDIES IN ANCIENT GREEK TOPOGRAPHY Studies in Ancient Greek Topography Part II (Battlefields) By W. KENDRICK PRITCHETT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS BERKELEY AND LOS ANGELES 1969 Unriversrry or Cauirornta Ῥυβιμοατιονε: Crassicat Srupres Apviuory Eprrors: T. 5. Brown, JosepH Fontrenrose, A. E. Gorpon, Puiuip Levine, W. K. PrircHett Volume 4 Approved for publication April 19, 1968 Issued June 13, 1969 Price, $7.50 Unrversrry or CaLirorniA Press BERKELEY AND Los ANGELES Unrverstry oF CALIFORNIA Press Ltp., Lonpon, ENGLAND © 1969 py THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PREFACE Part I oF my topographical studies, published in 1965, dealt with the battles of Salamis, Plataia, Pylos, Amphipolis, Leuktra, Sellasia, and Thermopylai (191 B.C.), as well as certain other geographical problems. The present study relates entirely to topography of battles, as described by certain key historians. I am here concerned with the following authors and battles: Herodotos (Marathon and Artemision, including the Hollows), Thucydides (Delion and Mantineia of 418 3.c.), Xenophon (Nemea River, Koroneia, Phleious, and Mantineia of 362 3.c.), Polybios (Kaphyai, Mantineia of 207 3.c., Kynoskephalai of 197 B.c. and Pydna, in the last case by way of Livy), and Plutarch (Kynoskephalai of 364 B.c.). These studies continue my effort to use topographical data to test the relia- bility of ancient authors, in particular the major historians, The need for such studies is particularly great at present, since major portions of the Greek landscape are undergoing rapid and drastic change in the name of industrial, agricultural, and transportational progress. My overall aim explains why in most of the chapters I have added conclusions about the accuracy of the his- torians. I should make clear, too, that the maps are intended not so much as battle diagrams, but as topographical maps, on which are placed those modern toponyms which facilitate the identification of the ancient geographical check- points discussed in the text. Decisions about orthography have been especially difficult in the present studies because many of the places visited bear Turkish names on maps, but most have been renamed by the Greeks. Archaizing tendencies in the renaming have often resulted in ancient names being applied to modern places, sometimes quite erroneously. For the sake of clarity, therefore, I have in one or two cases retained the Turkish name, while placing the modern Greek one in parentheses. In the matter of the spelling of the Greek words, consistency is impossible. This was vividly demonstrated to me by my experience in going from Pyrgos to Patras and passing three buses, all with the same destination, but with the sign spelled differently. On the Greek general staff maps, I find such inconsistencies as Ano Kamenitsa, but Kato Kaminitsa. When I inquired of the natives of Mount Olympos what was the name of their resettled town of Vrondou, I was immediately given four. These are far from isolated examples. My purpose has been simply to lead the future investigator to the proper site, and in this I hope I shall have succeeded. I can only repeat what Leake has written, that “he should not fear much severity of censure, if those only would condemn him, who have tried the experiment themselves.” My discussion of the numbers of troops in several of the chapters is connected with the problems of the space they might occupy and might otherwise seem superfluous. (v] vi | Preface Of the sixteen maps published in the text, one was made by Miss Hero Athanassiades, two by Mrs. Helen Besi, and the remainder, which includes all save Delion and one of Mantineia, by Mrs. Adrienne Morgan, cartographer in the Department of Geography at the University of California at Berkeley. Expenses for the maps were defrayed by the Committee on Research of the University of California. Two aerial photographs of Mantineia and Artemision, taken during the Second World War, were supplied by the Greek Embassy in Washington. Two other photographs of Marathon were kindly furnished by Father R. V. Schoder. A photograph of Fauvel’s sketch map of Marathon was sent to me by the Bibliothéque Nationale in Paris. It was my good fortune to obtain field-checked maps of recent date for some of the sites. But no sketch map, however large the scale, is a substitute for a photograph, if other scholars are to be directed to an exact spot to check my results. The photographs of Chotoussa, for example, show the area where I have obtained thousands of sherds in the soil. No investigator can expect to have the final, definitive word about identifications when his explorations are limited to surface finds; but I would hope that those who improve upon my suggestions would likewise be willing to offer photo- graphs; so that their conclusions can, in turn, be controlled. Freedom from teaching for two quarters was made possible by a Humanities Research Professorship from the University of California. A grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities enabled me to make a final trip for study in Greece. I should like to express my personal gratitude to several friends who ac- companied me on trips. Mrs. Emily Vermeule, Mr. Pierre MacKay, and Mr. Colin Edmonson, went to Delion with me at different times. This chapter, in particular, owes much to discussions which took place on the spot with these scholars. Mr. William Biers freely discussed the problems of Phleious with me and Mr. James Wiseman those of Corinth. Mr. Charles Williams assisted me in my exploration of the Nemea valley and the plain of Corinth. Mr. William P. Kaldis accompanied me into northern Arkadia. A special debt of thanks is owed to Mr. Ronald 8. Stroud, who was my companion on two lengthy trips. The book in its present form would not have been possible without his coopera- tion. My wife, as usual, assisted me in all phases of the study. An anonymous referee made several useful suggestions for which I am grateful. Difficulties in unexpected quarters and changed conditions of life make it unlikely that my topographical work will be carried further. Fortunately, several young men have developed an interest in Greek topography. It is now my hope to write on certain aspects of the art of ancient warfare and on the geography of ancient historians. CONTENTS Preface I. Deme of Marathon: Von Eschenburg’s Evidence . II. The Battle of Artemision in 480 B.c.. Geographical accuracy . III. The Hollows of Euboia IV. The Battle of Delion in 424 B.c. . Tanagra. . Road from Tanagra to battlefield . Delion Route from Delion to battlefield, including the ῥ6 ύακες. The battlefield . . Attika-Boiotia border Oropos . Conclusions on topography. The battle V. The Battles of Mantineia (418, 362, and 207 B.c.) . . Waters directed by Agis, and the Mantineian frontier . Sanctuary of Zeus Charmon Skope. Herakleion Lophos Sanctuary of Poseidon Hippios Taphros . . . Pelagos . | Τὰ πρὸς ἑσπέραν ὄρη. Gelophoi . City of Mantineia Trophy of Agis . The battles . . Topographical accuracy of historians . VI. The Battle Near the Nemea River in 394 B.c. . Width of the battle front Route used by Confederates from Corinth to ‘Nemea Route of Confederates to battle site Route of Lakedaimonians . Site of the battlefield The battle [ vii ] vili / Contents VII. The Battle of Koroneia in 394 8.0. 85 Koroneia . . 85 Sanctuary of Itonian Athena . 85 Extent of the Lake of Kopais . 89 The battle 93 Historiography: Xenophon. 95 VIII. Military operations at Phleious 369-366 B.c. 96 Roads ες 97 City of Phleious. . 100 Akropolis of Phleious 102 Fort above the Heraion. 103 Heraion . 105 The Pharanx. 106 Thyamia . 107 Military events of 369-366 1B .C. 107 Historicity of Xenophon 110 IX. The Battle of Kynoskephalai in 364 B.c. 112 Thetideion ΝΕ 114 Lophoi and pedion . 118 Battle of 364 B.c. 118 Historicity of Plutarch . 119 X. The Battle of Kaphyai in 220 B.c. 120 Arkadian Orchomenos . 120 Kaphyai . 123 River of Kaphyatic pain 125 Taphroi . . 126 Mount Olygyrtos 127 Propous . 128 The battle 128 XI. The Battle of Kynoskephalai in 197 B.c. 133 The river Onchestos Lo 135 Melambion in the Skotoussaia . 139 Eretria 140 Thetideion 141 Battle site of Kynoskephalai 142 XII. The Battle of Pydna in 168 B.c. . 145 Rivers toe ee 146 Towns. 153 The lophoi .. 157 Mount Olokros . 158 Contents The battle Appendix on Route of Romans over Mount Olympos in 169 B.c. Four castella of lower Olympos . Route of Q. Marcius Philippus Historical accuracy of Livy Addenda and Corrigenda to Part I . Plates
The list of books you might like
