Table Of ContentSTUDIES 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
