Ionian covenant
The Ionian League is the union of twelve Ionian cities on the west coast of Asia Minor (now Turkey ), which in archaic times was of political importance beyond common rituals. Apparently in the 7th century BC Founded in BC, according to Herodotus the following 12 cities and islands belonged to it:
Vitruvius gives in his list of the colonies founded under the leadership of Ion the same cities, as well as a 13th city, namely Melite , which was however covered with war and excluded because of the arrogance of its citizens. In its place, Smyrna was accepted into the covenant.
As a religious center they establish an "All-Ionian sanctuary", the Poseidon cult site called Panionion , north of Priene in the mountains of the Mykale tongue. Only those who had become members of the Ionian League took part in the meetings, were able to make sacrifices and supported the political and military decisions. In its twelve number the alliance followed an Altionic tradition - it was never expanded. The Dodekapolis , the community of twelve, saw itself as an elitist association and did not accept any further members.
The Ionians were after 1100 BC. . AD as a mix of people from Attica by Greek immigrants mainland. Only as colonists do they develop a common tribal consciousness - the self-image as "Ionians". Pride in "Ionianism" and its historical, religious, cultural, economic, military and political commonalities remained important for centuries. Only now is their settlement area on the Aegean coast called " Ionia ". As ports and trading centers, the cities become rich and the primacy of the economy takes precedence over the importance of changing lordship.
The most important cities were united in the Ionian League. Among them, Miletus held the predominant position in economic policy for centuries. Around 80 to 90 colony foundations, especially in the Black Sea region , are said to have originated in the city. In order to hold this position, Miletus was the first city to voluntarily join the Persian side and sign a contract of submission. Ephesus had made its trade several hundred kilometers to the east. It took on a strong oriental character and withdrew more and more from the culture that was considered "Greek" from the perspective of the mainland. As one of the few cities in Asia Minor, it never joined the Attic League .
Polic autonomy and free trade connections for each city were in the common Ionian interest . In principle, belonging to a multinational empire like Persia was not a contradiction in terms, provided that sufficient economic, political and cultic freedom remained and was protected by the supremacy. The "ionism" was the unifying bond and the ionic covenant its most powerful manifestation.
Herodotus (5.109) makes the special political significance of the Ionic twelve clear in a remarkable formulation: Koinon ton Ionon - the community of the Ionians - he calls the assembly of cities, a term which he otherwise only uses - in modern terms - "states" and apply their "governments". In contrast to Amphictyonia , tribal and cultic communities, the Probulen , the representatives of the Ionian cities, apparently performed political, perhaps even foreign-political functions.
How long the Ionian Covenant lasted is not known. According to the ancient Greek understanding of law, symmetries , i.e. foreign policy alliances, ended when an agreed duration had expired, a conjured goal was achieved or the treaty was formally terminated. This cannot apply to religious and tribal associations such as the Ionian League. One can therefore assume that he was related to the political developments of the 5th century BC. In Asia Minor (see Persian Wars ) became meaningless or functionless and was superimposed or replaced by new constructions such as the Delisch-Attic Sea League. This is supported by the all-ionic claim of the League and in it the weight of the Ionian islands on the side of Athens. This is supported by archaeological findings and literary references, according to which the Panionion apparently with the suppression of the Ionian revolt by the Persians in 494 BC. Chr. Was destroyed and a new building was never completed elsewhere.
literature
- Carl Roebuck: The Early Ionian League. In: Classical Philology , Vol. 50, No. 1 (Jan. 1955), pp. 26-40