Syracusan Settlement Expansion in South-Eastern Sicily in the Archaic Period

271 Pages·2017·10.19 MB·English

by  Jerrad Lancaster

Syracusan Settlement Expansion in South-Eastern Sicily in the
Archaic Period

Jerrad Lancaster
Royal Holloway, University of London
Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

1
Declaration of Authorship

I, Jerrad Lancaster, hereby declare that this thesis and the work presented in it is entirely my
own. Where I have consulted the work of others, this is always clearly stated.

Signed: ___________________________

Date: _____________________________

2
Abstract

During the Archaic period Syracuse grew from a newly established colony to become a
colonial power itself and its hegemony spread across the south-east part of Sicily. The
motivations behind the expansion process and the foundation of multiple new settlements is
the central theme of this thesis. The most notable are Heloros (late eighth century BC), Akrai
(664 BC), Kasmenai (644 BC) and Kamarina (599 BC). The traditional interpretation behind this
expansion is based on ancient literary sources and it stresses military intentions of
Syracuse. However, even though the foundations did have a strategic motivation behind them,
more central was the desire for wealth accumulation through access to new agricultural land
and creation of an inland trade route. The aim of the methodologies (architectural energetics,
population estimates and degrees of primacy) used in the thesis is to build a clearer picture of
the settlements at key stages of their development from foundation to the end of Archaic
period. Architectural energetics is used to estimate the comparative labour costs of building
each settlement. Assessment of the architectural development of each site also supports the
non-military motivation behind their foundation.

3
Table of Contents
Figures: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7
Tables: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8
Charts: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9
Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................ 10
1.1 Introduction of the Case Study ........................................................................................... 10
1.1.1 Geography and Topography of the Area ......................................................................... 11
1.1.2 Chronological Context ...................................................................................................... 13
1.1.3 Historical Summary of South-East Sicily .......................................................................... 15
1.2 Fieldwork ............................................................................................................................. 17
1.2.1 Syracuse ........................................................................................................................... 18
1.2.2 Heloros ............................................................................................................................. 19
1.2.3 Akrai ................................................................................................................................. 20
1.2.4 Kasmenai .......................................................................................................................... 22
1.2.5 Kamarina .......................................................................................................................... 23
1.3 Terminology ........................................................................................................................ 24
Chapter 2: Historiography ............................................................................................................. 30
2.1 Ancient Sources .................................................................................................................. 30
2.2 Italian and International Scholarship .................................................................................. 31
2.3 Current Approaches to Colonisation and Sub-Colonisation ............................................... 32
2.4 Current Understanding of South-East Archaic Sicily ........................................................... 37
2.4.1 Syracuse and Its Socio-Politics ......................................................................................... 38
2.4.2 Heloros ............................................................................................................................. 40
2.4.3 Akrai ................................................................................................................................. 42
2.4.4 Kasmenai .......................................................................................................................... 43
2.4.5 Kamarina .......................................................................................................................... 45
2.4.6 Greco–Siciliote Relations ................................................................................................. 46
2.5 Approaches to South-East Sicily Used in This Study ........................................................... 48
Chapter 3: Methodology ............................................................................................................... 58
3.1 Architectural Energetics ...................................................................................................... 58
3.2 Stone ................................................................................................................................... 63
3.3 Mudbrick ............................................................................................................................. 66
3.4 Terracotta Roof Tiles ........................................................................................................... 68
3.5 Wood ................................................................................................................................... 71
3.6 Skilled Labour and Supervision ........................................................................................... 77
3.7 Transport ............................................................................................................................. 78
4
3.8 Population Assessments ..................................................................................................... 82
3.9 Rank-Size Studies and Primacy ........................................................................................... 91
Chapter 4: Syracuse and Kamarina ............................................................................................... 95
4.1 Syracuse .............................................................................................................................. 95
4.2 Syracuse: Archaic Housing .................................................................................................. 95
4.3 Syracuse: Temple of Apollo ................................................................................................. 97
4.4 Kamarina ........................................................................................................................... 102
4.5 Kamarina: The Archaic Wall .............................................................................................. 102
4.6 Architectural Energetics and Econometric Calculations ................................................... 103
4.7 Syracuse: Houses .............................................................................................................. 105
4.8 Syracuse: Temple of Apollo ............................................................................................... 111
4.9 Kamarina: Fortifications .................................................................................................... 122
4.10 Syracuse and Kamarina Population Modelling ............................................................... 125
Chapter 5: Heloros ...................................................................................................................... 136
5.1 Heloros: The Archaic Wall ................................................................................................. 136
5.2 Heloros: Archaic Housing .................................................................................................. 139
5.3 Heloros: Koreion ............................................................................................................... 141
5.4 Architectural Energetics and Econometric Calculations ................................................... 143
5.5 Heloros: Fortifications ....................................................................................................... 144
5.6 Heloros: Houses ................................................................................................................ 147
5.7 Heloros: Koreion ............................................................................................................... 150
5.8 Heloros: Population Modelling ......................................................................................... 154
Chapter 6: Akrai .......................................................................................................................... 161
6.1 Akrai: The Archaic Wall .................................................................................................. 161
6.2 Akrai: Archaic Housing ................................................................................................... 163
6.3 Akrai: Temple of Aphrodite ............................................................................................ 165
6.4 Architectural Energetics and Econometric Calculations .............................................. 167
6.5 Akrai: Fortifications ........................................................................................................ 168
6.6 Akrai: Houses ................................................................................................................... 170
6.7 Akrai: Temple of Aphrodite ............................................................................................ 173
6.8 Akrai: Population Modelling ........................................................................................... 181
Chapter 7: Kasmenai ................................................................................................................... 187
7.1 Kasmenai: The Archaic Wall .............................................................................................. 188
7.2 Kasmenai: Archaic Housing ............................................................................................... 188
7.3 Kasmenai: Temple of Ares ................................................................................................ 189
5
7.4 Architectural Energetics and Econometric Calculations ................................................... 191
7.5 Kasmenai: Fortifications.................................................................................................... 192
7.6 Kasmenai: Houses ............................................................................................................. 193
7.7 Kasmenai: Temple of Ares ................................................................................................ 197
7.8 Kasmenai: Population Modelling ...................................................................................... 203
Chapter 8: Discussion .................................................................................................................. 210
8.1 Rank-Size Distributions and Primacy Values ..................................................................... 214
8.2 Discussion.......................................................................................................................... 221
Appendix 1: Gazetteer of Sites ................................................................................................... 235
Akrai (A) .................................................................................................................................. 235
Heloros (H) .............................................................................................................................. 237
Kamarina (KM) ........................................................................................................................ 239
Kasmenai (K) ........................................................................................................................... 241
Syracuse (S) ............................................................................................................................. 243
Appendix 2: Degrees of Primacy ................................................................................................. 246
Ancient Works Cited ................................................................................................................... 249
Works Cited ................................................................................................................................. 250

6
Figures

Fig. 1.1: Sicily with sites mentioned. ............................................................................................. 12
Fig. 1.2: Directions of the expansion of Syracuse. ........................................................................ 16
Fig. 1.3: Three phases of growth in expansion of Syracuse. ......................................................... 16
Fig. 1.4: Syracuse. Island of Ortygia with ancient urban plan ....................................................... 19
Fig. 1.5: Heloros. Urban plan. ....................................................................................................... 20
Fig. 1.6: Akrai. Urban plan. ............................................................................................................ 21
Fig. 1.7: Kasmenai. Urban plan ..................................................................................................... 22
Fig. 1.8: Kamarina. Urban plan ...................................................................................................... 23
Fig. 3.1: Greek roof tiling systems.. ............................................................................................... 69
Fig. 3.2: Conversion of a log. ......................................................................................................... 74
Fig. 3.3: Basic Greek roof design in monumental architecture.. .................................................. 76
Fig. 3.4: Example of Prop-and-Lintel design roof construction. ................................................... 76
Fig. 3.5: Rank-size graph distribution models. .............................................................................. 92
Fig. 3.6: Equation used to measure primacy in a settlement system. .......................................... 94
Fig. 4.1: Syracuse. Excavated area next to Ionic Temple .............................................................. 96
Fig. 4.2: Megara Hyblaia. Eighth century house. .......................................................................... 97
Fig. 4.3: Syracuse. Front of Temple of Apollo. .............................................................................. 99
Fig. 4.4: Syracuse. Temple of Apollo, upper column and profile. ............................................... 100
Fig. 4.5: Syracuse. Temple of Apollo cross-section.. ................................................................... 102
Fig. 4.6: Eleusis. Reconstruction of stone socle with mudbrick superstructure.. ....................... 103
Fig. 4.7: Syracuse. Expected location of sandstone quarries. ..................................................... 104
Fig. 4.8: Zagora (Andros). House construction based on Coulton. ............................................. 107
Fig. 4.9: Syracuse. House plans used in the econometric calculations. ...................................... 108
Fig. 4.10: Syracuse. Reconstructed plan of the Temple of Apollo .............................................. 112
Fig. 4.11: Syracuse. Temple of Apollo. Roof structure ................................................................ 119
Fig. 4.12: Kamarina. Side and top view of section of eastern wall ............................................ 123
Fig. 4.13: Syracuse. Estimated extent of hinterland .................................................................. 126
Fig. 4.14: Kamarina. Estimated extent of hinterland ................................................................. 129
Fig. 5.1: Heloros. North-west stretch of Timoleon fortifications ................................................ 137
Fig. 5.2: Heloros. Archaic period wall. ........................................................................................ 138
Fig. 5.3: Heloros. Archaic period parapet of western doorway .................................................. 138
Fig. 5.4: Heloros. Residential centre. .......................................................................................... 139
Fig. 5.5: Heloros. Orthostat wall foundations of Archaic house ................................................. 140
Fig. 5.6: Heloros. Orthostat wall foundations of Archaic house ................................................. 141
Fig. 5.7: Heloros. Koreion.. .......................................................................................................... 142
Fig. 5.8: Heloros. View of Koreion (HK) from north. ................................................................... 143
Fig. 5.9: Zagora (Andros). Temple of Athena. ............................................................................. 143
Fig. 5.10: Diagram of double-curtain fortification construction ................................................. 145
Fig. 5.11: Heloros. House plans used in the econometric calculations. ..................................... 148
Fig. 5.12: Heloros. Koreion plans used in the econometric calculations. ................................... 152
Fig. 5.13: Heloros. View to the north of urban centre. ............................................................... 156
Fig. 5.14: Heloros. View to the north-west of urban centre ....................................................... 156
Fig. 5.15: Heloros. Estimated extent of hinterland ..................................................................... 155
7
Fig. 6.1: Akrai. Elevation and plan of the fortifications. .............................................................. 162
Fig. 6.2: Diagram of terraced wall construction .......................................................................... 163
Fig. 6.3: Akrai. Central plateia in residential area ....................................................................... 164
Fig. 6.4: Akrai. Crossroad with plateia ........................................................................................ 165
Fig. 6.5: Akrai. House plans used in the econometric calculations. ............................................ 172
Fig. 6.6: Akrai. Reconstructed plan of the Temple of Aphrodite ................................................ 174
Fig. 6.7: Akrai. Temple of Aphrodite. Roof structure. ................................................................. 176
Fig. 6.8: Akrai. Temple of Aphrodite. Roof structure .................................................................. 179
Fig. 6.9: Akrai. Topographical view facing north of Kasmenai and Akrai .................................... 182
Fig. 6.10: Akrai. Topographical view facing east-south-east towards Ionian Sea ....................... 183
Fig. 6.11: Akrai. Estimated extent of hinterland. ........................................................................ 183
Fig. 7.1: Kasmenai. Housing block. .............................................................................................. 189
Fig. 7.2: Kasmenai. Temple of Ares. ............................................................................................ 191
Fig. 7.3: Kasmenai. Typical house plan. ...................................................................................... 194
Fig. 7.4: Kasmenai. House plans used in the econometric calculations. .................................... 195
Fig. 7.5: Kasmenai. Excavated plan of Temple of Ares ............................................................... 198
Fig. 7.6: Kasmenai. Temple of Ares. Roofing structure ............................................................... 200
Fig. 7.7: Kasmenai. Topographical view facing north of urban centre ....................................... 204
Fig. 7.8: Kasmenai. Syracuse. Estimated extent of hinterland .................................................... 205
Fig. 8.1: Hypothetical extent of hinterlands attached to Syracuse and its settlements. ............ 228
Fig. 8.2: Trade routes from Syracuse…………….………………………………………………………………………. 231

Tables
Table 3.1: Labour costs for roof tiles per 1,000 tiles .................................................................... 70
Table 3.2: Rates used in architectural energetics calculations ..................................................... 81
Table 3.3: Syracuse and its settlements in Hansen’s Shotgun Method ........................................ 83
Table 3.4: Area di rispetto and inhabited areas of Sicilian Greek city-states in the Archaic period
...................................................................................................................................................... 84
Table 3.5: Rural settlement densities of Sicilian city-states ......................................................... 85
Table 4.1: Total labour costs for the construction of an all-stone house at Syracuse................ 111
Table 4.2: Total labour costs for the construction of a mudbrick house at Syracuse ................ 111
Table 4.3: Total labour costs for the construction of the Temple of Apollo at Syracuse ........... 122
Table 4.4: Total labour costs for the construction of fortifications at Kamarina ....................... 125
Table 4.5: Population estimates of Syracuse from foundation to the end of the Archaic period
.................................................................................................................................................... 127
Table 4.6: Population estimates of Kamarina from foundation to the 552 BC .......................... 130
Table 5.1: Total labour costs for the construction of fortifications at Heloros .......................... 146
Table 5.2: Total labour costs for the construction of an all-stone house at Heloros ................. 150
Table 5.3: Total labour costs for the construction of a mudbrick house at Heloros .................. 150
Table 5.4: Total labour costs for the construction of an all-stone Koreion at Heloros .............. 154
Table 5.5: Total labour costs for the construction of a mudbrick Koreion at Heloros ............... 154
Table 5.6: Population estimates of Heloros from foundation to the end of the Archaic period 157
Table 6.1: Total labour costs for the construction of fortifications at Akrai .............................. 170
8
Table 6.2: Total labour costs for the construction of an all-stone house at Akrai ..................... 173
Table 6.3: Total labour costs for the construction of the Temple of Aphrodite at Akrai ........... 181
Table 6.4: Population estimates of Akrai from foundation to the end of the Archaic period .... 184
Table 7.1: Total labour costs for the construction of fortifications at Kasmenai ....................... 193
Table 7.2: Total labour costs for the construction of an all-stone house at Kasmenai .............. 197
Table 7.3: Total labour costs for the construction of the Temple of Ares at Kasmenai ............. 203
Table 7.4: Population estimates of Kasmenai from foundation to the end of the Archaic period
.................................................................................................................................................... 206
Table 8.1: Urban population estimates of Syracuse and its settlements to the end of the Archaic
period .......................................................................................................................................... 211
Table 8.2: Rural population estimates of Syracuse and its settlements to the end of the Archaic
period .......................................................................................................................................... 211
Table 8.3: Total population estimates of Syracuse and its settlements to the end of the Archaic
period .......................................................................................................................................... 212
Table 8.4: Total population estimates of Archaic period Sicilian city-states in 485 BC .............. 216
Table 8.5: Total population estimates of Archaic period Sicilian city-states in 552 BC .............. 217
Table 8.6: Calculated primacy values .......................................................................................... 219
Table 8.7: Architectural Energetics total calculations ................................................................ 222

Charts

Chart 4.1: Population models of Syracuse from foundation to 485 BC. ..................................... 128
Chart 4.2: Population models of Kamarina from foundation to 552 BC. .................................... 130
Chart 5.1: Population models of Heloros from foundation to 485 BC. ...................................... 157
Chart 6.1: Population models of Akrai from foundation to 485 BC. ........................................... 184
Chart 7.1: Population models of Kasmenai from foundation to 485 BC. ................................... 206
Chart 8.1: Total populations of Syracuse and its settlements in 600 BC. ................................... 215
Chart 8.2: Total populations of Syracuse and its settlements in 599 and 552 BC. ..................... 215
Chart 8.3: Total populations of Syracuse and its settlements at the end of the Archaic period.
.................................................................................................................................................... 216
Chart 8.4: Total populations of Greek city-states and Syracuse’s settlements in Sicily in 485 BC.
.................................................................................................................................................... 218
Chart 8.5: Total populations of Greek city-states and Syracuse’s settlements in Sicily in 485 BC.
.................................................................................................................................................... 218

9
Chapter 1 : Introduction
1.1 Introduction of the Case Study
In the Archaic period, south-east Sicily witnessed the hegemonic expansion of Syracuse through
its foundation of new settlements. Starting at the end of the eighth century BC with the
foundation of Heloros along the south-east coast, the Syracusan advance continued inland with
Akrai and Kasmenai in the mid-seventh century, ending in 599 BC with the establishment of
Kamarina on the southern coast.1 Syracuse’s territorial expansion was not without its problems,
and even though mostly peaceful, it was at times hostile. The rebellion and destruction of
Kamarina in mid-sixth century highlighted the issue of control Syracuse wished to maintain over
its settlements and south-east Sicily.2
The purpose of this dissertation is to provide new avenues of research into the
colonisation practices of Syracuse through the socio-political and economic motivations behind
them. Due to the highly fragmentary nature of the textual evidence, the emphasis of this thesis
is naturally on the material record of the settlements: even though the interpretation of the
archaeological evidence related to the earlier phases of the discussed sites is often problematic,
it nevertheless provides a possibility of systematic approach to the topic. Until recently, the
expansion of Syracuse across the region has been largely discussed in terms of martial
motivations.3 The role of the elite of Syracuse, the Gamoroi, should be considered in the
assessment of possible motives behind the foundation of the settlements. It has been argued
that the Greek cities of Sicily ‘were spearheaded by elites who organized themselves into clans
that tightly controlled the distribution of land and protected their place at the top of the social
hierarchy.’4 The faction dominated the city-state, and used it for its own political, social and
material gains.5 The expansion of Syracuse benefited the population as a whole, providing
security and ensuring its prosperity, but it also provided opportunities for the ruling elites to
increase their wealth and property.
Linking the material remains of the new Syracusan settlements with the political, social
and economic factors of the Archaic period is a difficult task and the limits of the available
source material must be recognised, but this thesis attempts to make a step towards this
direction. Written sources are generally quite scarce for Greek Sicily in this time, focusing on

1 There are other, smaller settlements in south-east Sicily that have been connected with Syracuse and its
policy of expansion. However, the focus of this thesis is on these five settlements.
2 De Angelis 2000a, p.124.
3 One of the latest overviews of the Greek colonisation of Sicily maintains this view: Domínguez 2006, p.
284.
4 De Angelis 2016, p.4.
5 See section 2.4.1 below.
10