The Topography of Thebes from the Bronze Age to Modern Times

399 Pages·2014·19.177 MB·English

by  Sarantis Symeonoglou

SARANTIS SYMEONOGLOU
The Topography
of Thebes from
the Bronze Age to
Modern Times
PRINCETON U:GACY LlSRARY
THE TOPOGRAPHYO F THEBES

THE TOPOGRAPHY OF
THEBES
FROM THE BRONZE AGE
TO MODERN TIMES
SARANTIS SYMEONOGLOU
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS
PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY
Copyright © 1985 by Princeton University Press
Published by Princeton University Press, 41 William Street
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
In the United Kingdom
Princeton University Press, Guildford, Surrey
All Rights Reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data will be
found on the last printed page of this book
ISBN 0-691-03576-8
This book has been composed in Linotron Sabon
with Linotron Gill Sans Light display
Clothbound editions of Princeton University Press books
are printed on acid-free paper, and binding materials are
chosen for strength and durability
Printed in the United States of America
by Princeton University Press
Princeton, New Jersey
TO THE MEMORY OF MY UNCLE
KONSTANTINOS SOUVATZOGLOU
WHO ENCOURAGED ME TO STUDY ARCHAEOLOGY
AND TO THE MEMORY OF
ANTONIOS KERAMOPOULLOS

CONTENTS
LIST OF TEXT FIGURES AND MAPS XI
LIST OF PLATES xm
LIST OF TABLES xv
PREFACE XVll
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS XXI
1
GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE 5
2
THEBESI N THE PREHISTORICP ERIOD,
ea. 2500 TO I 050 B.C. 14
Neolithic 14
Thebes in the Early Helladic Period, ea. 2500 to 2000 B.C. 15
Thebes in the Middle Helladic Period, ea. 2000 to 1600 B.C. 19
Houses 23
Burials 24
Pottery 25
Thebes in the Late Helladic Period, ea. 1600 to 1250 B.C. 26
Fortifications 26
The Gates of the Kadmeia 32
Residential Architecture: Houses and Palaces 39
The Aqueduct 5 0
Cemeteries 5 2
Cult Sites 5 6
Thebes from Late Helladic III B to the Submycenaean Period,
ea. 1250 to 1050 B.c. 60
The Legends of Thebes and the Archaeological Remains 64
VII
CONTENTS
The Last Two Dynasties of Thebes 66
The Dating of Kadmos 68
The Origin of Kadmos 70
Cretan Origin of the Theban Dionysos and Demeter 72
Kadmos in Ancient Literature 73
The Dynasties and Tribes of Thebes 77
The Dynasty of Kadmos 80
3
THEBESI N THE IRON AGE,
ea. I 050 B.C. TO A.O. 300 84
The Cemeteries of Thebes 84
Protogeometric Thebes, ea. 1050 to 875 B.C. 89
Thebes in the Geometric and Orientalizing Periods, ea. 875 to 600 B.C. 91
Geometric Thebes and the Introduction of the Alphabet 98
Thebes in the Archaic Period, ea. 600 to 500 B.C. 104
Ancient Documents about Thebes in the Archaic Period 107
Art and Sculpture 110
Pottery 113
Bronzes and Coins 113
Thebes in the Classical Period, ea. 500 to 335 B.c. 114
Fortifications 117
Sanctuaries 122
Public Buildings 13 7
The Aqueduct 141
Residential Buildings 145
Cemeteries 146
Cultural Activities 14 7
Thebes in the Hellenistic and Roman Periods, ea. 335 B.C. to A.O. 300 148
4
THEBESI N THE CHRISTIAN ERA 156
Historical Summary 156
The Archaeological Remains of Christian Thebes 159
Thebes in the Early Christian Period, ea. A.O. 300 to 800 160
Thebes in the Byzantine and Frankish Periods, A.O. 800 to 1460 161
Fortifications 161
The Palace of Thebes 161
The Churches of Thebes 164
viii
CONTENTS
Public Works 168
Houses 168
Cemeteries 169
Thebes in the Turkish Period 170
Modern Thebes 171
5
THE DESCRIPTIONO F THEBES
BY PAUSANIAS 173
6
CONCLUSIONS 203
Population Changes 203
Agriculture 208
The Legacy of Thebes 209
213
CATALOGUE OF SITES
311
REFERENCES
GENERAL INDEX 327
333
INDEX OF ANCIENT SOURCES
PLATES Following 334
IX