Long walls
The Long Walls ( ancient Greek : τὰ μακρὰ τείχη) are fortress walls that connected the city of Athens with its port of Piraeus over 5 kilometers in ancient times in order to have a safe route between the two cities.
The first walls (north wall and wall Athens-Phaleron) were built under the leadership of Themistocles after 479 BC. Built in BC. Between 461 and 456 BC The fortifications were completed under the leadership of Perikles (construction of the south wall).
After Athens was defeated in the Peloponnesian War (431 BC to 404 BC), the walls were destroyed by the victorious Spartans in the following ways:
“After the peace conditions had been accepted, Lysander entered the Peiraios, the exiles returned, and people began with joy to tear down the walls to the accompaniment of flute players, as it was believed that on that day the beginning of freedom for Hellas had begun. "
In 394 BC They were rebuilt under Konon .
The course of all three walls is still clearly visible in the urban area of Athens today. The course of the streets "Kalirrhoe" and "Chamosternas" corresponds to the southwestern course of the ancient city wall of Athens. The street "Mikras Asias" coincides with the northeastern city wall of Piraeus.
- The north wall begins at Piraeus at the junction of road 56 with road "Mikras Asias" and follows this road 56 for 3.25 km, then it runs 1.1 km along the road "Kiprou". The last piece (approx. 450 m) to the old city wall of Athens is built over.
- At exactly 177 m (a stadium ) parallel to it, the first line of underground line 1 runs 3.4 km and then the streets “Kannelopoulou” and “Andrea Mourati”. This is the route of the south wall.
- The 413 BC Abandoned wall from Athens to Phaleron can be found at road No. 91 (Athens-Paleo Faliro).
The north and south walls to the west of the Kifisos river are particularly evident . This area used for agriculture in ancient times is now part of the Athenian district of Moschato . There road 56 and S-Bahn line 1 run exactly parallel to each other for 1.6 km with a distance of 177 m.
A similar defensive wall in the 4th century BC The Acropolis ( Akrokorinth ) and the city of Corinth connected with their port Lechaion on the Gulf of Corinth. Argos failed with a corresponding project due to multiple interventions by Sparta. Megara built long walls to the port of Nisaia with Athenian support in the 5th century.
The grave stele (NAMA 7901) was found during excavations .
swell
- Xenophon: Hellenika . Translated by Gisela Strasburger, Munich 1970 (several new editions), ISBN 3-7608-1639-8 .
Web links
- Jona Lendering: Article . In: Livius.org (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Xenophon 4,8,9 f.