Eretria
Eretria
Ερέτρια | |
|---|---|
 The ancient theatre with the gymnasion | |
  Eretria Location within the region  | |
| Coordinates:38°23′53″N23°47′26″E/ 38.39806°N 23.79056°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Central Greece |
| Regional unit | Euboea |
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 168.56 km2(65.08 sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 58.65 km2(22.64 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 8 m (26 ft) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
| • Municipality | 10,652 |
| • Density | 63/km2(160/sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 6,567 |
| • Municipal unit density | 110/km2(290/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2(EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3(EEST) |
| Postal code | 340 08 |
| Area code(s) | 22290 |
| Vehicle registration | ΧΑ |
Eretria(/əˈriːtriə/;Greek:Ερέτρια,Erétria,Ancient Greek:Ἐρέτρια,Erétria,literally 'city of the rowers') is a town inEuboea,Greece,facing the coast ofAtticaacross the narrowSouth Euboean Gulf.It was an important Greekpolisin the 6th and 5th century BC, mentioned by many famous writers and actively involved in significant historical events.
Excavationsof the ancient city began in the 1890s and have been conducted since 1964 by theGreek Archaeological Service(11th Ephorate of Antiquities) and theSwiss School of Archaeology in Greece.[2]
History of Eretria
[edit]Prehistory
[edit]The first evidence for human activity in the area of Eretria are pottery shards and stone artifacts from the lateNeolithicperiod (3500–3000 BC) found on the Acropolis as well as in the plain. No permanent structures have yet been found. It is therefore unclear whether a permanent settlement existed at that time.
The first known settlement from the EarlyHelladic period(3000–2000 BC) was located on the plain. A granary and several other buildings, as well as a pottery kiln, have been found so far. This settlement was moved to the top of the Acropolis in the Middle Helladic period (2000–1600 BC) because the plain was flooded by the nearby lagoon. In the Late Helladic period (1600–1100 BC), the population dwindled and the remains found so far have been interpreted as an observation post. The site was abandoned during theGreek Dark Ages.
Archaic to Roman period
[edit] |
The oldest archaeological finds date the foundation of the city to the Greek Dark Ages.
The earliest surviving mention of Eretria was byHomer(Iliad2.537), who listed Eretria as one of the Greek cities which sent ships to theTrojan War.In the 8th century BC, Eretria and her near neighbour and rival,Chalcis,were both powerful and prosperous trading cities. Eretria controlled theAegean islandsofAndros,TenosandCeos.They also held territory inBoeotiaon the Greek mainland. Eretria was also involved in the Greek colonisation and founded the colonies ofPithekoussaiandCumaein Italy together with Chalcis.
At the end of the 8th century BC, however, Eretria and Chalcis fought a prolonged war (known mainly from the account inThucydidesas theLelantine War) for control of the fertile Lelantine plain. Little is known of the details of this war, but it is clear that Eretria was defeated. The city was destroyed and Eretria lost her lands in Boeotia and her Aegean dependencies. Neither Eretria nor Chalcis ever again counted for much in Greek politics. As a result of this defeat, Eretria turned to colonisation. She planted colonies in the northernAegean,on the coast ofMacedon,inItaly,and inSicily.
It became an important city in the 6th/5th century BC mentioned by many famous writers and actively involved in significant historical events.[3]The Eretrians wereIoniansand were thus natural allies ofAthens.When the Ionian Greeks in Asia MinorrebelledagainstPersiain 499 BC, Eretria joined Athens in sending aid to the rebels, because Miletus had supported Eretria in the Lelantine War. The rebels burnedSardis,but were defeated and the Eretrian generalEualcideswas killed.Dariusmade a point of punishing Eretria during his invasion of Greece. In 490 BC the city was sacked and burned by the Persians under the admiralDatis.In retribution for the stout resistance, the victors killed all the male citizens anddeportedwomen and children barefoot toArderikka in Susiana,Persia, forcing them into slavery. The Persians also destroyed the great temple ofApollo,built around 510 BC; parts of a pediment were found in 1900, including the torso of a statue ofAthena.
Eretria was rebuilt shortly afterwards and took part with 600hoplitesin theBattle of Plataea(479 BC). The ancient writer Plutarch mentions a woman of Eretria, "who was kept by Artabanus" at the Persian court ofArtaxerxes,who facilitated the audience that Themistocles obtained with the Persian king.[4]During the fifth century BC the whole of Euboea became part of theDelian League,which later became theAthenian Empire.Eretria and other cities of Euboea rebelled unsuccessfully against Athens in 446 BC. During thePeloponnesian WarEretria was an Athenian ally against herDorianrivalsSpartaandCorinth.But soon the Eretrians, along with the rest of the Empire, found Athenian domination oppressive. When the Spartans defeated the Athenians at theBattle of Eretriain 411 BC, the Euboean cities all rebelled.
After her eventual defeat by Sparta in 404 BC, Athens soon recovered and re-established her hegemony over Euboea, which was an essential source of grain for the urban population. The Eretrians rebelled again in 349 BC and this time the Athenians could not recover control. In 343 BC supporters ofPhilip II of Macedongained control of the city, but the Athenians underDemosthenesrecaptured it in 341 BC.
Macedonian period
[edit]TheBattle of Chaeroneain 338 BC, in which Philip defeated the combined armies of the rest of the Greeks, marked the end of the Greek cities as independent states. However, under Macedonian rule Eretria experienced a new period of prosperity which lasted until the 3rd century as attested by many inscriptions, by extensions to the west and south sections of the walls and by many other private and public new buildings including the circus.
From 318 to 312 BC KingCassanderlived at Eretria[5]and commissioned the painterPhiloxenus of Eretriato paint thebattle of Issus,[6][7]of which the famousAlexander Mosaic[8]in the Naples museum is a copy[9]and the wall paintings in Phillip's tomb atVerginaare connected.
From 304 BCDemetrius Igranted the city partial autonomy. During this time the city was governed byMenedemoswho founded the Eretrian school of philosophy. After theChremonidean War(267–262 BC) a permanent Macedonian garrison was installed.
Roman period
[edit]In 198 BC in theSecond Macedonian WarEretria was plundered by the Romans. The admiralLucius Quinctius Flamininuswas joined by the allied fleets ofAttalus IofPergamonand of Rhodes, and used them in besieging Eretria. He eventually took the town during a night-time assault during which the citizens surrendered. Flamininus came away with a large collection of art works as his share of the booty.[10]
Eretria became an object of contention between the Romans and Macedonians, but was given partial independence and experienced a new period of prosperity. Under the Romans, athletic contests for children and youths called the Romaia were held.
In 87 BC it was finally destroyed in theFirst Mithridatic Warand gradually declined further.
Site monuments
[edit]Many remains of the ancient city can be seen today including:
- Parts of the city walls and gates (of 4 km length)
- The Theatre
- Palaces I and II
- Upper and Lower Gymnasiums
- House of the mosaics
- The Baths
- Temple of Apollo Daphnephoros
- Temple of Artemis
- Temple of Isis
- Temple of Dionysos
- The Acropolis
- Macedonian tomb
Temple of Apollo Daphnephoros
[edit]
The temple ofApolloDaphnephoros is the most important and wider known monument of Eretria, featuring sparkling and sharp sculptures on the pediments, their postures well in advance of experiments in Athens of the time.[11]Together with its enclosure it constituted the sacred temenos of Apollo, a religious centre and fundamental place of worship within the core of the ancient city, to the north of the Agora.
According to theHomerichymn to Apollo, when the god was seeking for a location to found its oracle, he arrived to the Lelantine plain. The first temple is dated to the Geometric period and was situated probably near the harbour, as the sea then reached the area of the Agora. Thehecatompedon(hundred-footer) apsidal edifice is the earliest in its type among those mentioned by Homer, and slightly after the hecatompedon temple ofHeraon the island ofSamos.It was flanked to the south by another apsidal building which also came to light: the so-calledDaphniforioor "space with laurels" (7.5 x 11.5m) is the most ancient edifice in Eretria, related to the early cult of Apollo inDelphi.
At the centre of this edifice were preserved the clay bases supporting the laurel trunks that propped up the roof. In the early sixteenth century a second hecatompedon temple was erected through earth fills upon its Geometric predecessor, on a solid artificial terrace. This temple had wooden columns (six at the narrow sides and nineteen at the longer sides), and was subsequently covered with earth in order to build the later and most renowned of all temples in the city.
Construction started at the late sixth century BC (520-490 BC) and the temple was perhaps still unfinished when thePersiansrazed the city in 490 BC.Poros stoneandmarblewere the materials used for thisDoricperistyle (surrounded by colonnades) temple (6 x 14 columns). It had aprodomos(anteroom) and anopisthodomos(back section) arranged with two columns in antis; the cella (in Greeksekoswas divided into three naves by two interior colonnades. After the destruction of the city by thePersians,the temple was repaired and remained in use; yet in 198 BC it was destroyed again, this time by the Romans, a fact which initiated the gradual abandonment and dilapidation of the monument until the first century BC. Some important sculptures were found and are displayed in theChalcismuseum. One of the Amazons was salvaged in antiquity and carried off to Rome. SeveralNiobidsperhaps from the pediment of the temple were probably taken to Rome byAugustus[12]including the dying Niobid and the running Niobid (now in the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek).[13]
Unfortunately, the majority of architectural parts from this temple and othersanctuariesof the city were re-used as construction material; only a few (column) drums together with fragmented capitals and triglyphs remain from the superstructure of the monument.
Of the sumptuous sculptural decoration survive only parts of the west pediment featuring in relief the fight of theAmazons(or Amazonomachy, a usual motif for the iconography at the time). The centre was occupied byAthenaand is partially preserved, depicting her trunk with theGorgoneionon the thorax; a superb work of art is the complex of Theseus and Antiope marked by sensitivity and softness of the form, internal force and clarity, despite the ornamental tendency obvious in the coiffures and the folds of their clothes. These sculptures are impregnated by the rules of archaic plasticity; the analogies are rendered in an innovative manner, a precursor to the idealization and the force of the classical art. The entire composition supposedly featured chariots to Athena's right and left, one chariot presumably carryingTheseusandAntiope,whileHerculesmight ride the other, and the picture could be complemented by fighting Amazons and a dead warrior. The east pediment possibly narrated theGigantomachy(fight of the Giants). The details of the faces and the clothes were coloured, thus rendering the depiction more vivid. Fragmented sculptures that may be part of the temple after the destruction by the Persians (warrior, Amazon and Athena's trunk) have been located inRome.Today are visible only the foundations of the Post-Archaic temple, as well as remains of the Geometric temples uncovered in lower deposits.
The temples in thetemenosof Apollo Daphniforos were excavated between 1899 and 1910 byΚ. Kourouniotis.Further investigations were conducted by Mrs.I. Konstantinouand by theSwiss Archaeological School.
The ancient theatre of Eretria
[edit]The most impressive monument of ancient Eretria, one of the oldest knowntheatres,lies in the western section of town, between the western gate, the stadium and the upper gymnasium; the temple ofDionysoswas found at its south-west end. As indicated by the architectural remains of the scene, the initial construction phase followed the invasion by the Persians and the reconstruction of the city in the fifth century BC, whereas the fourth century BC marked the site's peak.
A striking fact is the construction of thecavea(Gr.koilo,auditorium) on an artificial hill surrounded by numerous retaining walls, instead of taking advantage of the citadel's slopes. During the first building phase, the scene looked like a palace, disposed of five adjacent rectangle rooms and found itself at the same level as the circular orchestra, leading to it via three entrances. At its peak (fourth century BC), the theatre suffered transformations and was shaped to a large extent in its present form. The cavea comprised eleven tiers divided by ten staircases. The circular orchestra was transferred for 8m to the north, and was lowered by 3m. The scene was amplified by two backstages connected through a portico with an Ionic façade, thus raising above the orchestra. This difference in heights was evened up by a vaulted underground gallery, leading through the scene to the centre of the orchestra; this was in all probability the "charonian stairway" (stairs ofHades) allowing actors impersonating chthonic deities and the dead to appear and perform at the orchestra.
Localporos stonewas used for the foundation and limestone for theparodoi(passageways), which sloped to the orchestra in order to diminish the difference in height with the cavea. The theatre seated 6,300 spectators and is reminiscent in form to theTheatre of DionysosinAthens,after transformation of the latter in 330 BC. Following the destruction of Eretria by theRomansin 198 BC, it was rebuilt with lower quality materials and the rooms to the south of theparodoswere then apparently decorated with colour mortars of the firstPompeian style.
Unfortunately, most benches have been looted. There are still the impressive remains of the scene, especially the vaulted underground passage leading to the orchestra centre. Excavation of the monument was undertaken by the American Archaeological School, while the localEphorate of Antiquitiesstrived greatly for its restoration.
Temple of Isis
[edit]
Among the most interesting monuments of ancient Eretria is the Iseion, a temple sacred to the goddessIsisand otherEgyptian deities.Situated to the south of the town, between the baths and the Lower Gymnasium or thepalaistra (wrestling area),it extends behind the small harbour, a detail that correlates the temenos with merchants who had their interests in Eretria. According to excavation and inscription testimonies, the temple was probably built in the fourth century BC and was surrounded by other edifices and auxiliary spaces. The initiation to the cult of Isis and the Egyptian deities occurred during theHellenistic periodby Greek merchants who came toGreecefromEgyptafter the unification of the then known world byAlexander the Great.Their worship in Eretria has also been attested by inscriptions, of which the most important is set on a limestone block to the left of the prodomos (anteroom) before the cella.
The temple of Isis was initially simple and oriented to the east, with a prodomos that was distyle (two-columned) in antis. The ceremonial clay statue of the goddess stood on a base within the cella. In front of the temple was the altar and nearby a small drain tank. The temple was reconstructed after the destruction of the city by the Romans in 198 BC: it then acquired a larger external prodomos on ameliorated foundations and was surrounded by porticoes on three sides (north, south and west). Only the south-west end of the portico was covered by a roof. The columns were later replaced by a parapet. At the centre of the east forecourt was a portal facing the entrance of the sanctuary. Fifteen more edifices and auxiliary spaces lied to the north, considered by the excavators as places of purification. Among them was a courtyard and anandren(dining hall for male residents), while one room of the complex had a superbmosaicfloor featuring lozenges.
Excavations at thetemenossacred to Isis and other Egyptian deities were conducted in 1917 by the then Ephor of Antiquities for the island of Evia (Euboea), Ι. Papadakis. In recent years, the Archaeological Service of the Ministry of Culture undertook further excavations in the wider area of the temple, which brought to light an additional complex of courtyards and rooms directly related to the sanctuary.
House with the mosaics
[edit]
This splendid house was built in ca. 370 B.C. and remained in use for about a century. It is distinguished by its floors, covered with elegant pebble mosaics representing mythological scenes: Nereids on the back of a seahorse, legendary battles between Arimaspians andgriffins,sphinxesandpanthers.The building is a representative specimen of the Classical and Hellenistic domestic architecture.
In the first century BC a funerary monument with a massive rectangularperiboloswas erected over the ruins of the house.
The monument was excavated between 1975 and 1980.
Macedonian tomb of Erotes
[edit]The so-called "tomb ofErotes"lies on a hill to the northwest of Eretria city and counts among the most significant monuments ofEviaisland. Based on the findings, it is dated to the fourth century BC, the time when these characteristic burial monuments of the Macedonian type make their appearance in southern Greece after the descent of the Macedons. More Macedonian tombs were found in the wider area around Eretria, namely in the settlements of Kotroni andAmarynthos.
The tomb of Erotes consists of a single vaulted chamber and adromos(entrance passageway) of stone and bricks. The burial chamber is reminiscent of a residential room; it is built of poros stone plastered with white mortar. During the excavation were found two replicas of painted stone thrones bearing relief decoration. At the rear corners of the burial chamber were two marble bed-shapedsarcophagi.The tomb had been pillaged. Among the findings today exhibited in theNew York Metropolitan Museum,are bronze vases and clay statuettes of Erotes (Amors), which inspired the tomb's conventional name. Above the tomb was uncovered a stone-built construction, probably the basis of a sepulchre.
The monument was excavated in 1897 and is well preserved to date.
Tholos
[edit]Excavations carried out by the Greek Archaeological Service have revealed the limestone foundations and crepis of a circular building. It was erected in the fifth century BC in theAgoraof the city, and underwent several modifications in the fourth and the third centuries BC. A circularbothroshas also survived at the centre of the monument.
Gymnasium and Eileithyia's sanctuary
[edit]In 1917, archaeologists uncovered traces of agymnasiumdating to the 4th century BC. A sanctuary dedicated toEileithyia,had been placed in the northwestern section of the building. Also, excavations in the area of the sanctuary found a well containing some 100terracottacups dating to the 3rd century BC. In 2018, new excavations in the area revealed more buildings.[14][15][16]
Modern Eretria
[edit]
Modern Eretria was created in 1824 by refugees fromPsaraafter theDestruction of Psara,who gave to their settlement the name "Nea Psara". The ancient name was revived during the first years of the independent Greek state. The new city plan was appointed byStamatios KleanthisandEduard Schaubert.[17]
The modern town of Eretria is now a popular beachside resort. The historic and archaeological finds from Eretria andLefkandiare displayed in theEretria Museum,established by theSwiss School of Archaeology in Greece.
The town can be reached fromSkala Oropou,Attica by ferry or via Halkida by road. It is an important station on the way to the south of the island. It has many taverns and a long beach promenade. The archaeological excavations are located on the northern edge of the modern town.
Municipality
[edit]The municipality Eretria was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following two former municipalities, that became municipal units:[18]
- Amarynthos
- Eretria
The municipality has an area of 168.557 km2,the municipal unit 58.648 km2.[19]
Historical population
[edit]| Year | Town | Municipal unit | Municipality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 3,711 | - | - |
| 1991 | 3,022 | 4,987 | - |
| 2001 | 3,156 | 5,969 | - |
| 2011 | 4,166 | 6,330 | 13,053 |
| 2021 | - | 6,567 | 12,652 |
Notable people
[edit]- Achaeus,tragic playwright
- Menedemus(345/4-261/0 BC), Greek philosopher
- Philoxenus(4th century BC), painter
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό"[Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
- ^http:// unil.ch/esagESAG
- ^Herodotus, The Histories VI 100
- ^Plutarch'sLives,Volume 1, The Dryden translation,ISBN0-375-75676-0,p. 165
- ^Eretria, Ministry of Culture,ISBN960-214-136-0
- ^Pliny,Natural Historyxxxv. 10, 36
- ^Kleiner, Fred S. (2008).Gardner's Art Through the Ages: A Global History.Cengage Learning. p. 142.ISBN0-495-11549-5.
- ^Alexander Mosaicby Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker, Smarthistory, 2013
- ^Pliny the Elder, XXXV, 110
- ^Smith, WilliamDictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology,Vol. II (1867)
- ^Greek Sculpture, the Archaic Period, John Boardman,ISBN0 500 18166 7
- ^Autori Vari, Palazzo Massimo alle Terme [collegamento interrotto], a cura di Adriano La Regina, Mondadori Electa, 1998,ISBN978-88-435-6609-9
- ^Eugenio La Rocca & M. Cima, Horti romani. Ideologia e autorappresentazione. Atti del Convegno internazionale (Roma, 4-6 maggio 1995), Roma, L'Erma di Bretschneider, 1998,ISBN978-88-826-5021-6.
- ^Ancient Gymnasium Uncovered on Greek Island of Evia
- ^2018 excavations of the South Palaestra in Eretria, Greece
- ^Η Νότια Παλαίστρα στην Ερέτρια, ανασκαφές 2018
- ^Δήμος Ερέτρειας, Η ιστορία μαςArchived2011-06-27 at theWayback Machine,ανακτήθηκε 4 Δεκεμβρίου 2010
- ^"ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text"(in Greek).Government Gazette.
- ^"Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)"(PDF)(in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2015-09-21.
Further reading
[edit]- ESAG,Eretria. A guide to the ancient city,Infolio éditions, Gollion, 2004.ISBN2-88474-112-7
- ESAG,ERETRIA Series, Excavations and researches
- Keith G. Walker, "Archaic Eretria. A Political and Social History from the Earliest Times to 490 BC", Routledge, London, 2004.
External links
[edit]
- ESAG - EretriaThe Swiss School Website of the excavations at Eretria
- Perseus – EretriaLinks to resources about ancient Eretria
- Greek Ministry of Culture
- Eretria Ferry boats
- Eretria Dream island beach photo
- Eretria photo by night
- Photos of Eretria
- Ministry of Culture and Sports
Administrative divisionof theCentral GreeceRegion | ||
|---|---|---|
| Regional unit ofBoeotia |  | |
| Regional unit ofEuboea | ||
| Regional unit ofEvrytania | ||
| Regional unit ofPhocis | ||
| Regional unit ofPhthiotis | ||
| ||
