Thessaly

The article has hypothesized the city of Demetrias in Thessaly to have been founded in the late 290s BC by Demetrius Poliorcetes together with his son and heir, Antigonus Gonatas. This hypothesis is grounded on the basis of the fact that inscriptions from the city refer to its heroized founders-ktistai in plural, although without specifying their names (however, in literary sources just Demetrius Poliorcetes acts as the sole founder of Demetrias named so after him). The common cult of Poliorcetes and Gonatas as the ktistai could have been established either by the latter or by the citizens of Demetrias.

Τον Ιούλιο του 2008 μια πυρκαγιά που ξέσπασε στην θεσσαλική έξοδο της κοιλάδας των Τεμπών, δυτικά της ιστορικής κοινότητας των Αμπελακίων επεκτάθηκε πολύ γρήγορα χάρη στον ισχυρό βόρειο άνεμο και κατέκαψε την κοινοτική περιοχή της κοινότητας Ευαγγελισμού περνώντας μέσα από τον οικισμό που εκκενώθηκε για λίγες ώρες από την αστυνομία. Στην ανακοίνωση εξετάζεται το πολιτισμικό τοπίο της περιοχής και γίνεται αναφορά στους λόγους για τους οποίους η συγκεκριμένη πυρκαγιά πήρε τόση έκταση. Οι επιπτώσεις της καταστρεπτικής πυρκαγιάς κάνουν περισσότερο εμφανείς τις μεταβολές των χρήσεων της γης και τις αλλοιώσεις του τοπίου που έχουν συντελεστεί κατά τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες. Αναδεικνύεται η ιστορικότητα των ιδιαίτερων σημείων του τόπου και η σημασία τους για την τοπική κοινωνία.

THREE BURIAL COIN-HOARDS FROM KOMPOTADES, PHTHIOTIS
Salvage excavations in 2009, which were carried out on the hill of Profitis Elias at Kompotades, near the Spercheios River, unearthed a large chamber tomb, which was rich in offerings. Among the many offerings from the tomb, ranging chronologically from the Mycenaean until the mid-Hellenistic period, stood three coin hoards which were consisting exclusively of bronze coins. The conservation of the currencies was too bad and sometimes made difficult their identification. The first (lot A) was identified within a two-handled skyphos (bolsal cup) and consisted of 8 currencies (2 of Larissa, 1 of Sikyon, 1 of Ainis, 1 of Phthiotic Thebae and 1 of Atrax). The second (lot B) consisted of 16 currencies (2 of Larissa, 3 of Phasralos, 1 of Lamia, 2 of Histiaia and 2 of Philip II). The third (lot C) consisted of 87 currencies ( 24 of Larissa, 9 of Pharsalos, 7 of Histiaea, 4 of Boeotian League, 4 of Sikyon, 2 of Opountian Lokris, 3 of Lamia, 2 of Ainis, 2 of Chalkis, 2 of Phalanna, 1 of Atrax, 1 of Crannon, 1 of Melitaia, 1 of Oitaia,1 of Phokis, 1 of Corinth, 1 of Phlious, and 1 of Alexander III).
Totally accounted in these three hoards were 20 mints from Macedonia, Thessaly, Central Greece, Euboea and Peloponnese. The hoards are dated to the first half of the third century BC with earlier lot A, which dates to the beginning of the third century, as this type of bolsal cup, in which the lot was identified, had been used as offering at the turn from forth century to third century BC. The two others lots are dated to the first quarter of the third century or at the turn from the first to the second quarter of the century. The diversity of the mints represented in these three hoards is indicative of the economic situation and numismatic circulation in the Spercheios valley at the first half of the third century BC. At this time both trade and everyday transactions were carried out in bronze coins.

""En Filipo II y el Arte de la Guerra tendremos la oportunidad de conocer en profundidad a uno de los más grandes reyes de la antigua Macedonia. Gracias a su habilidad como estratega, diplomático, político y soldado, heredó un reino pobre, débil y acosado por innumerables enemigos y lo transformó en el más poderoso de toda Grecia.

A lo largo de sus páginas podremos conocer la historia del reino Macedonio, desde sus orígenes míticos hasta la formación de un imperio, de la mano del que, a la postre, se convertiría en el padre del mítico Alejandro Magno y en el forjador de un nuevo ejército que cambiaria el devenir de la guerra en la Antigüedad. Filipo II fue el creador de la falange macedonia, formación que se demostraría como inigualable en el campo de batalla y que reportaría incontables victorias sobre poderosos enemigos, como los ilirios, los tesalios, los tracios, los beocios o los atenienses. Pero no sólo eso, logró integrar en el campo de batalla a la infantería y a la caballería para emplearlos en nuevas formaciones tácticas: armó a sus soldados con las míticas sarissas y apreció como pocos las posibilidades militares que la maquinaria de guerra podía proporcionarle, siendo el mecenas de numerosos avances en este campo. Soñó con conquistar el Imperio persa, cuando ya había logrado lo que nadie antes fue capaz: el control de Grecia.

Sólo la muerte le arrebató esa hazaña, pero sentó las bases de lo que más tarde conseguiría su propio hijo. Su figura levantó tanto odios como pasiones; se le conocía como mujeriego y bebedor, pero también por su habilidad para la oratoria, por sus astucia, determinación y valor. Siempre luchó en primera línea junto a sus soldados y nunca permitió que éstos le llamaran rey, sino solo "General".

Ο καθηγητής, ο διπλωμάτης, ο άνθρωπος της τέχνης Παναγιώτης Κυζερίδης ανήκει για μένα σε εκείνη την ολιγομελή διεθνώς ελίτ του πνεύματος και της διανόησης που ωθεί τον κόσμο μας, ακόμη και εν αγνοία μας, σε υψηλότερες σφαίρες. Αισθάνομαι συγκινημένη και ευνοημένη από τη μοίρα που μου πρόσφερε τη δυνατότητα να τον γνωρίσω και να τον απολαύσω να μου μιλά για το ταξίδι του σε μια ζωή τόσο διαφορετική από αυτή των περισσοτέρων μας και στα μάτια μου συναρπαστική.
Η έκδοση που κρατάτε στα χέρια σας δεν καταγράφει απλώς τα γεγονότα του διημέρου 17 – 18 Σεπτεμβρίου 2016, αλλά φιλοδοξεί να κλείσει μέσα της, όσο δύναται, λίγη από την αίγλη του Παναγιώτη Κυζερίδη και λίγη από τη μακραίωνη αίγλη του Κονακιού Κυζερίδη στο Πολυνέρι Φαρσάλων. Ελπίζω, δε, να πυροδοτήσει μια ευρύτερη μελέτη γύρω από το Κονάκι, την ιστορία των ανθρώπων του, γαιοκτημόνων και κολίγων, μια ιστορία που αντανακλά ταυτόχρονα και τη νεότερη ιστορία του θεσσαλικού κάμπου.
Φάρσαλα, 9 Αυγούστου 2017
Η επιμελήτρια της έκδοσης
Βάσω Κων. Νούλα
Αρχαιολόγος – Ειδική Συνεργάτις Δημάρχου Φαρσάλων

The excavation of the Mycenaean Tholos tomb, called by the locals "Lamiospito", in Dimini, Thessaly, by the Director of the Gymnasium  Eleftherios Triantafyllou Kousis in Spring 1887, was reported by him in a detailed 12-pages report, plus a plan. The report is kept in the Historical Archive of the Archaeological Service and was the base of the publication by G.H.Lolling & P.Wolters (Athenische Mitteilungen 11(1886)435-443 και 12(1887)136-138), who simply visited the site together with the General Ephor of Antiquities Pan.Kavvadias. The report was presented by me at a colloquium with subject "The History of the Archaeological Service and the archaeological research in Thessaly" held at the Archaeological Museum of Volos (17.5.2010). A great part of my paper under the title «Φώς στα πρώτα άγνωστα στάδια της αρχαιολογικής έρευνας στο Διμήνι» (Light to the first unknown phases of the archaeological research at Dimini) was published in the periodical ΔΙΑΔΡΟΜΕΣ , a weekly edition of the newspaper H ΘΕΣΣΑΛΙΑ (Volos, 23 May 2010). Here is published the whole text of the paper as a tribute to the real first excavator of "Lamiospito" Eleftherios Triant. Kousis.

“...Έχομεν όλα ετοιμάσει, πρακτικά, πίνακας εκτάσεις και άμα γίνη η κλήρωσις σε ολίγας ημέρας τελειώνομεν...”.
Ο μηχανισμός της απαλλοτρίωσης των αγροκτημάτων στη Θεσσαλία 1917-1939
Ολόκληρος ο τόμος προσβάσιμος στην ηλεκτρονική διεύθυνση,
https://mpk.gr/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Thessalia1917_low.pdf

This paper discusses the classical black-glaze pottery from Pharsalos. For this purpose, we have selected the pottery from: a) a built tholos tomb of the late archaic period, b) a built chamber tomb of rectilinear plan with a corbelled pyramidal roof dated in the second half of 5th c. BC and c) the house of “Dysmenta”, which was in use from the second quarter of the 5th c. until the last decades of the same century. We examine the shape and decoration of the vases, identify Attic imports and those vases that were produced by local workshops. Among the most favorite Αttic shapes in Pharsalos are the stemless cups, the saltcellars and the skyphos-type A. The latter were imitated by local artisans. The inhabitants of Pharsalos used the same shapes of black-glaze pottery in their household and in their tombs.

The paper discusses a hoard of 94 silver coins found around 1992, reportedly in Thessaly (listed as Coin Hoards IX.86). The coins, largely from Thebes, Sikyon, Philip II, Athens, and Lokris, also include 3 so-called Alexander coins with the eagle type, which were minted early in the king's reign.

George Kakavas, Witches of the stars and Sorceresses of the Hypati. Legends and Traditions.

In ancient times Thessaly was famous for its powerful witches and for its horses. Grandmothers of the area narrated tales, of which the main characters were not only beasts and demons, brave men and renowned
lords, but also beautiful enchanted princesses to whom witches gave poisonous herbs to drink. Somewhere in Katavothra, nowadays called Oeta, as well as in Vardousia and Neraidospilia witches and fairies were
gathered. The most famous of them were those of Hypati. They undertook love spells, filters that guided or forced into obedience, others that caused suffering. The Thettalides witches reached the peak of their glory. Their protector was the triple goddess Hecate.

Η Θεσσαλία, στο κέντρο της Ελλάδας, σταυροδρόμι κυριολεκτικά πληθυσμών και πολιτισμών από την αχλύ του μύθου, αποτελεί για τον λαογράφο-εθνολόγο μια πρόκληση. Κι αυτό, επειδή, κυρίως ο παραγωγικός πεδινός χώρος συγκέντρωνε το ενδιαφέρον ποικίλων πληθυσμιακών ομάδων, μόνιμα εγκατεστημένων ή μεταβατικών. Οι μετακινήσεις των ποιμενικών πληθυσμών από τα ορεινά στανοτόπια στα πεδινά χειμαδιά, αλλά και των ποικίλων επαγγελματικών ομάδων, που αναζητούσαν εργασία από διάφορα σημεία της Ελλάδας, κυρίως, και των Βαλκανίων και εγκαταστάθηκαν μόνιμα μετά την ενσωμάτωση της Θεσσαλίας στην Ελλάδα (1881), οι εγκαταστάσεις των προσφύγων πριν και μετά την Μικρασιατική Καταστροφή, δημιουργούν ένα πραγματικά ενδιαφέρον πληθυσμιακό μωσαϊκό. Η οποιαδήποτε κοινωνική έρευνα επομένως σε μια τέτοια περιοχή, για να δώσει αξιόπιστα αποτελέσματα, απαιτεί ιδιαίτερη προσοχή. Στόχος του παρόντος πονήματος είναι η παρουσίαση ορισμένων πτυχών του λαϊκού πολιτισμού της Θεσσαλίας μεταξύ των οποίων και η ενσωμάτωση πληθυσμών από διαφορετικά σημεία του ελληνικού χώρου με στοιχεία που προέκυψαν από επιτόπια έρευνα, εντεταλμένη από το Κέντρο Λαογραφίας, και συχνή προσωπική επιστροφή στο ερευνητικό πεδίο.

Remarks on the folk culture of Thessaly on the basis of fieldwork research.

Thessaly, a region of central Greece, situated literally in the crossroads of different peoples and cultures ever since the haze of legend, constitutes a challenge for the folklorist-ethnologist. That’s because mainly the productive lowland area of the Thessalian plaine attracted diverse populations, permanently installed or transitional. The movements of pastoral communities from the mountains’ pastoral sites to the lowland winter pastures, but also of various professional groups, jobseekers from different parts of the Balkans who settled down permanently after the annexation of Thessaly to Greece (1881), as well as the refugees’ settlements before and after the Asia Minor Catastrophe, create a really interesting population mosaic. Any social research therefore in such a region requires special attention in order to yield reliable results. The aim of this essay is to present in an indicative way certain aspects of the popular culture of Thessaly and of the integration of people from different parts of the Greek space as a result of traditional regular seasonal movements, like those of nomad pastoralists and seasonal workers, or of forced translocations as the population exchange after the Asia Minor Catastrophe etc. with insights from field research, commissioned by the Hellenic Folklore Research Centre, and frequent personal returns to the workfield.

The subject of the present study revolves around the burials of warriors in the area of Greece during antiquity, with emphasis on the phenomenon of burying the dead with arms. The time period, which is examined here begins from the Iron Age and reaches up to the Hellenistic Era. The first part of the thesis is divided into four chapters based on the chronological classification of findings. In the first chapter, I present the warrior burials of the Iron Age by geographical region, starting from the North and heading to the South. Afterward, I proceed to the chapters concerning the Archaic, the Classical, and finally, the Hellenistic Era. In the second part, I present the conclusions of the study that was conducted, the above are accompanied by detailed tables that record the archaeological data that were assembled. The conclusions follow the same structure as the main part of the thesis, as they are presented in the same chronological order.

SOMMARIO

Saggi


CRETA

Antonella Pautasso, Salvatore Rizza, Eleonora Pappalardo, Anno Hein, Giacomo Biondi, Rossella Gigli Patanè, Katia Perna, Valeria Guarnera, Priniàs. Scavi e ricerche nel 2021

Jacopo Bonetto, Anna Bertelli, Eliana Bridi, Edoardo Brombin, Valeria de Scarpis di Vianino, Maria Chiara Metelli, Il Santuario di Apollo Pythios a Gortina di Creta: nuovi dati e nuove considerazioni dalle ricerche del 2016 e del 2019

Enrico Zanini, Elisabetta Giorgi, Nicola Lapacciana, Luca Luppino, Jacopo Scoz, Indagini archeologiche nell'area del Quartiere Bizantino del Pythion di Gortina: settima relazione preliminare (campagne 2016-2021)

LEMNO

Riccardo Di Cesare, Germano Sarcone, Il santuario dell'acropoli arcaica e l'abitato classico-ellenistico di Efestia (Lemno). Scavi e ricerche del 2021

Carlo De Domenico, L'area del porto orientale di Efestia (Lemno). Scavi e ricerche del 2021

Giuseppe Mazzilli, La basilica paleocristiana presso il porto orientale di Efestia (Lemno): osservazioni preliminari sulla sua architettura

TESSAGLIA

Gioacchino F. La Torre, Sophia Karapanou, Vassiliki Noula, Lorenzo Campagna, Marco Miano, Mariacristina Papale, Skotoussa, il cd. Grande Edificio del settore A: scavi 2014-2018

MEGARIDE

Emeri Farinetti, Panagiota Avgerinou, WEMALP (Western Megaris Archaeological Landscape Project): ricerche nella Megaride Occidentale 2020-2021
 
In memoriam

Nunzio Allegro, Antonino Di Vita dieci anni dopo

Roberto Spadea, Angelo Maria Ardovino

Pietro Giovanni Guzzo, Ettore M. De Juliis

Isabella Baldini, Raffaella Farioli Campanati

Emanuele Papi, Elisa Lissi Caronna

Luciano Canfora, Paolo Moreno


Atti della Scuola 2021

This paper examines the organization, numbers and tactics of the Thessalian cavalry unit in the army of Alexander the Great. It is argued that already Philip II recognized the importance of Thessaly as a recruiting ground for heavy (noble) cavalry with regard to his planned invasion of Asia, and that it was partly for this reason that Philip closely integrated Thessaly in the Argead imperial system, cultivating personal relations with the Thessalian noble families also as a counterweight to the power of the traditional Macedonian nobility, the hetairoi (Companions). Alexander inherited these arrangements. The Thessalians on their part joined Alexander’s expedition more enthusiastically than other Greeks because of these pre-existing bonds with the Macedonian royal family and because the promise of honor and booty agreed with the heroic mentality of the Thessalian aristocracy.

This thesis presents a first archaeological introduction to the study of Byzantine ports, harbours and other coastal installations in the region of Thessaly. Thessaly not only constitutes an ideal region to gain equal information for the Early- to the Late Byzantine periods, but also to compare independent regional and imperial central building activities. However, in particular Thessaly’s maritime connectivity has never been studied in detail before. As such, a first step into a terra incognita, the thesis is divided into two main sections:
In order to conceptualize the study of harbour sites, the thesis first sets up a framework for the definition, understanding and interpretation of the physical features of harbours and their function and purpose. Taking into account influencing environmental conditions, such as natural, economic, social and political components, this helps to determine an accurate hierarchical model and to illustrate the interrelationship between different types and forms of harbour sites.
Subsequently, comprehensive archaeological investigations around the island of Skiathos and other harbour sites in Thessaly, executed in 2012 and 2013, are set against this theoretical groundwork.
In contrast to the common approach of regional studies, where a first general overview is followed by individual detailed case-studies, the opposite methodology is undertaken in order to achieve a systematic study of the Thessalian harbours and the complexity of their network system. Consequently, the collection of data starts from the analysis of a distinct area of a region and continues with the broader regional picture of primary ports, secondary harbours and staple markets. Functioning as an important junction of the Aegean shipping lanes and being involved in regional as well as supra-regional trade and port networks, focus is therefore primarily dedicated to the island of Skiathos. A joint survey project in cooperation with the Greek Ephorate for Underwater Antiquities (EEA), the 13th Greek Ephorate for Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities and the 7th Greek Ephorate for Byzantine Antiquities was initiated by the author in 2012. A number of sites, including harbour installations and other coastal infrastructures, have been detected, documented and subsequently verified by geophysical prospections, using a Sub-bottom profiler and Side-Scan Sonar, in 2013. These have allowed to draw a clear historical picture of architectural developments, port networks and changes in the socio-economic connectivity of the area.
Followed by a close investigation of further harbour sites throughout the entire region of Thessaly during two field seasons between 2012 and 2013, the detailed picture gained from the Skiathos survey project is brought to a wider context. This comparison finally allows an overall picture of the history and architectural developments of harbour structures and associated coastal sites, as well as general conclusions concerning the hierarchy and port network in the region during the Early to Late Byzantine periods. This has allowed a comprehensive understanding of the growth, use and decline of various ports, harbours and staple markets within Thessaly and has important repercussions for our understanding of wider social and economic changes that were occurring during these periods, such as the rise of the church as a powerful economic institution or the increasing activities of private entrepreneurs.
In this way the submerged maritime heritage of Thessaly has provided a rich new resource with which to understand the cultural dynamics of the region as it emerged from its peripheral location to comprising major ports within the Roman maritime network and to stand out of the heart of the commercial route ways to and from Constantinople, as well as being part of the emergent networks of the western maritime states at the end of the period, such as Venice.

Hera was indigenous and represents a matrilinear system; she reigned alone at Argos, at Samos, her temple at Olympia is distinct from and far earlier than that of Zeus. Her first husband, or rather consort, was Herakles [Heracles]. The conquering Northerners pass from Dodona to Thessaly. Zeus drops his real shadow–wife, Dione, at Dodona, in passing from Thessaly to Olympia, and at Olympia Zeus, after the fashion of a conquering chieftain, marries Hera, a daughter of the land. In Olympos [Olympus] Hera seems merely the jealous and quarrelsome wife. In reality she reflects the turbulent native princess, coerced but never really subdued by an alien conqueror (T: 491).

In patriarchal mythology, Hera becomes the wife of Zeus, although the connection of Zeus with Hera through the sacred marriage is a ‘late and superficial usage.’ Hera is portrayed as Zeus’ troublesome, disagreeable wife in a stormy marriage. The archaic theme of parthenogenesis is found in Homer’s work several times in connection with Hera linking her to the older matrifocal world (LG: 80-81).

The role that Italy played in the Holocaust of the Jews of Thessaloniki has not been documented.  Jewish Greeks of Thessaloniki and other nearby locales did not benefit either by Italian or Spanish Diplomacy and the Diplomats.  The unfortunate indirect role that Italy played in the Annihilation of Jewish Greeks will be demonstrated.  The adaptability, along with the fortunes of war, and, consequently, its interpretation at will by the Spanish Administration, of the Spanish Citizenship (its rights and privileges) of Jewish Thessalonikians is also demonstrated.  It is regrettable that the self–evident and obvious duty of a Country – State to protect its own citizens had to be transubstantiated into and elevated to the realm of Humanity and Saving and Rescue.

Includes Update and Addenda Section (September 2017) and download link for the full Proceedings published end 2016

PROVISIONING THE OTTOMAN ARMY. THE MARCH
OF THE G. VIZIER FAZIL AHMED PASHA TO THEBES
IN THE YEAR 1077/1666

On February of 1666, sultan Mehmed IV called his Grand Vizier
Köprülü Fazıl Ahmed Pasha to complete, at last, the campaign against
Crete by capturing Candia (Herakleion), the only place still under the
hold of Venice in the island. He escorted him to Edine (Adrianoupolis),
appointed him as commander in chief and sent him to Crete. Fazıl
Ahmed Pasha passed from Gümülcine (Komotini), Sıroz (Serres), Selânik
(Thessaloniki), Yenişehir (Larissa) and on August of 1666 reached İstefe
(Thebes) where he stayed for about two months.
As it comes out from the dates of the orders that are addressed to the
kadı of Yenişehir and are registered in the sicil defters of Yenişehir, the
ottoman army crossed the distance from Selânik to İstefe from 28th of
June 1666 to 16th of August of 1666. At the head of the army was Fazıl
Ahmed Pasha, the Grand Vezier, together with the Ağa of the Janissaries,
accompanied by the men of the six corps (altı bölük halkı).

Το ιερό της Εννοδίας στη Μελιταία εντοπίζεται πάνω σε ένα μικρό άνδηρο εξωτερικά του δυτικού τείχους,  πιθανόν κοντά σε πύλη και σε μικρή απόσταση από το νοτιοδυτικό νεκροταφείο της πόλης. Αυτό αποτελεί το τρίτο ανασκαφικά επιβεβαιωμένο ιερό της Εννοδίας, το πρώτο εκτός των Φερών και ένα από τα πρωιμότερα ιερά της θεάς, καθώς η λατρεία σε αυτό ανιχνεύεται ήδη από το β΄ μισό του 5ου αι. π.Χ.
Κατά τη διάρκεια της ανασκαφικής του έρευνας εντοπίστηκαν αρκετά κινητά ευρήματα, όπως κεραμική που αποδίδεται σε κρατήρες, οινοχόες, λεκάνες, σκύφους Bolsal, σκυφίδια, πινάκια, κανθάρους, λεκανίδες, μαγειρικά σκεύη και άλλα. Επίσης περισυλλέχθηκαν λύχνοι και θυμιατήρια, πήλινες αγνύθες, καθώς τμήματα ειδωλίων που αναπαριστούν την Εννοδία, την Δήμητρα-Κόρη, την Αφροδίτη, την Αθηνά και τον Απόλλωνα. Από τα γλυπτά ευρήματα ξεχώρισε μια νεανική γυναικεία κεφαλή, καθώς και ένα ακέφαλο γυναικείο αγαλμάτιο που κρατά δάδα. Επιπλέον από τον χώρο του ιερού περισυλλέχθηκαν αρκετές βάσεις αγαλμάτων, η μια από τις οποίες φέρει αφιέρωση στην Εννοδία.
Η λατρεία που ανιχνεύεται στο ιερό έχει χθόνια χαρακτηριστικά, ενώ, μέσω των ευρημάτων, επιβεβαιώνεται ο γονιμικός και κουροτροφικός χαρακτήρας της θεάς. Ο ναός, ο οποίος παρουσιάζει δύο φάσεις, καταστρέφεται αρχικά στα τέλη του 4ου με αρχές του 3ου αι. π.Χ. και ξανά στα μέσα περίπου του 1ου αι. π.Χ.