Olynth
Olynth ( Greek Όλυνθος , Olynthos , Latin Olynthus ) was an ancient city on the Greek peninsula of Chalkidiki at the tip of the Toronean Gulf . The place was since the 8th century BC. Continuously inhabited. Olynth was in connection with the Persian Wars 480/479 BC. First mentioned and 432 BC. By a merger ( Synoikismos ) with the coastal cities of Mekyberna , Singos and Gale . As a result, the city developed into the dominant power of the Chalcidian city union . In the course of the Macedonian expansion, Olynthos became 348 BC. Destroyed at the instigation of the Macedonian king Philip II .
Geographical location
Olynth was about 4 km inland northwest of the end of the Toronean Gulf on the Greek peninsula of Chalkidike. The city was founded on hills east of the river Vatunia (ancient: Sardanos), which rise 30 to 40 m above the surrounding area. The polis area comprised the fertile river plain that borders in the north and east on the foothills of the mountains around Polygyros and in the west on a steep step parallel to the Vatunia. In the south-west and-east the area of Olynth met the area around the ancient cities Potidaia and Mekyberna.
Historical background
Beginnings and Persian Wars
The first settlement in historical times goes back to the 7th century BC. BC back. At that time, the Thracian tribe of the Bottiaier was expelled by the Macedonians from the area around the Thermaic Gulf and then founded Olynthus on the Chalkidike peninsula further to the east. 480 BC BC Olynthos had to submit to the Persians under Xerxes. A year later, after the Persian defeat at Salamis in September 480 BC. BC, the Persian general Artabazos attacked the now rebellious Olynthus and killed the Bottiaier living there. The city was then given to a Greek Chalcidian population.
Pentekontaëtie
After the Persian Wars, Olynthus joined the Attic League under the hegemony of Athens and paid a small tribute of about two talents into the federal treasury, corresponding to its minor importance.
Peloponnesian War
The year 432 BC BC meant a great change for Olynthus in its political as well as its urban development. The steadily increasing tensions between Athens and the Peloponnesian League also reached the northern edge of the Aegean during this time , which should ultimately lead to a defection of Olynths from Athens. Several factors certainly played a role here. On the one hand, the discontent among the members of the Attic League about the dominant position of Athens in the league increased. On the other hand, on the eve of the Peloponnesian War , the rift between Olynth's neighboring city Potidaia and Athens led to a destabilization of Athens' power in this region. The Macedonian King Perdiccas II forced this tense situation in his own interest and caused several Chalcidian cities, members of the Attic League, to turn away from Athens. The Chalkidians then gave up the coastal towns of Mekyberna, Singos and Gale, which could be threatened directly by the Athenian naval forces, and relocated the population to the inland, easier to defend, Olynthus. The city, located on two hills, had to be expanded considerably for this purpose, with the new city districts being laid out according to a regular pattern. Until the Peace of Nicias in 421 BC In BC, Olynthus fought on the side of the Peloponnesian League against Athens. Even after the peace treaty, the city, which had grown to become the dominant power of the Chalkidike, continued the war against Athens, as the peace provisions would have meant the destruction of the Chalkidic League of Cities.
Sparta's hegemony
In the period after the end of the Peloponnesian War, 404 to 382 BC. The importance of the Chalcidian city union with its most important city Olynth increased noticeably and became an influential power factor in northern Greece. However, the constant expansion of the league represented a permanent disruption of Sparta's hegemonic endeavors. After the conclusion of the King's Peace in 386 BC Sparta was Between the Persians and the Greek city-states ( Poleis ), in the interests of his position in Greece, which was established in this treaty, he was careful not to tolerate any major alliance systems ( Symmachien ) besides his own, i.e. the Peloponnesian League, and therefore pushed for those in the royal peace stipulated autonomy of the poleis. This autonomy, laid out in favor of Sparta, was called into question by the Chalkidischen Bund when it asked the cities of Akanthos and Apollonia to join their league. Sparta then concluded with Macedonia under Amyntas III. an alliance and sent 10,000 men to Chalkidike. In the so-called First Olympian War 382 to 379 BC BC Olynthos had to surrender and accept the temporary dissolution of the Chalcidian city union.
Rise of Macedonia and destruction of Olynths
After a brief membership in the second Attic League in 378 BC. BC to 377 BC BC the towns on the Chalkidike succeeded in renewing their old alliance. The Chalkidische Bund regained power and importance in the following two decades and at times had over 30 members. However, he was drawn into the struggle for supremacy in the Aegean between Athens and the rising Macedonia under Philip II. With the conquest of Pydna , a member of the Attic League, by Philip II in 357 BC. BC Athens was forced to declare war on Macedonia. The Chalcidian Confederation then agreed to an alliance with Macedonia. In the years that followed, Philip II succeeded not only in maintaining the rule of his conquests, but also in expanding them considerably. After the battle on the crocus field in 352 BC. In Thessaly he was the undisputed ruler of northern Greece. The Chalcidian covenant was now in the middle of his domain and it was a matter of time that this covenant would be incorporated into his kingdom. The pretext for conquering the Chalcidian cities was given in 349 BC. With the admission of the fleeing half-brothers of Philip II, Arrhidaios and Menelaus , given by Olynthus. After Olynthus had not complied with the request of Philip II to deliver the pretenders to the throne, he ordered the attack on the city. The conclusion of a defensive alliance with Athens and the dispatch of Athenian auxiliary corps under Chares came too late, however, as the Macedonians took possession of Olynthus in 348 BC. BC previously succeeded. The city was destroyed and its residents sold into slavery. The remaining cities of the Chalcidian League then surrendered without significant resistance and were added to the Macedonian kingdom. Many former residents of Olynth were born in 316 BC. It was used to found Kassandreia in the area of Potidaias, also destroyed by Philip II, under the later Macedonian king Kassander .
The town
In chronological order, three separate districts were created in Olynth. The oldest part of the city, which was built by the Persians in 480/479 BC. Was destroyed, was on the south hill. This was followed by the two classic districts on the north hill and the eastern hill flanks of the north city.
Old town on the south hill
The old town of Olynths was on the plateau of an elongated hill in the south of the later city, which took up a settlement area of about 6 hectares. The settlement of the south hill continued in the 8th to 7th centuries BC. And can mainly be up to the 4th century BC. Be persecuted. The conquest of the city by the Persians, mentioned by Herodotus, in 479 BC. Chr. Can be with great certainty through a layer of fire from the 5th century BC. Archaeological record. The area was densely built up and is characterized by an irregular urban layout. As far as they could be reconstructed, the houses and rooms were relatively small due to the lack of space. The urban area opened up through two streets, each of which ran along the edge of the plateau.
City expansion on the north hill
With the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War in 432 BC Several Chalcidian Poleis joined together to form a city in order to be better armed against possible attacks by Athens. Olynthus was chosen as the place for this synoicism. In order to accommodate the large number of resettlers, the city had to be expanded considerably. Since the south hill with the old town was already densely populated, the plateau of the north hill and the areas east of the south hill were selected for the extension.
Plant of the north city
The planning not only provided for a multiplication of the previous population of Olympus, but also gave the city a completely new character. In contrast to the grown, irregular development of the old town, the new town was equipped with wide streets and spacious plots that were aligned according to a right-angled pattern. The basic unit of this classic grid city was the land, which was always cut to the same size, with a width of 58 feet and a depth of 57.5 feet. Depending on their location in the city map, up to ten lots, lined up in two rows, formed a block, the insula . Main and secondary roads separated the east-west facing insulae. The 5.80 m to 9.20 m wide main streets ran from north to south, connected the new and old town and served as arterial roads to the surrounding area. The side streets running east-west, on the other hand, enabled access to the individual properties and were around 5 m wide so that two carts could pass unhindered.
Private houses in the north of the city
Due to the destruction of Olynth in 348 BC Chr. The extended city existed for a short time, leaving the archaeologists only marginally affected by renovation work and spared by building plans. Apart from individual details, the plots were built in a relatively uniform manner. The house so typical of Olynthos is also known as the pasta house. In the northern part of a property there was a two-story building, consisting of oikostrakt and pastas, a small colonnade that opened to the courtyard. The courtyard reached as far as the southern property line and was bordered on the sides by two one-story outbuildings. Typically, an outbuilding with an andron and an anteroom served the men for drinking, the symposium . Depending on whether the property was in the northern or southern line of a block, you entered the house either through the Oikostrakt or through the courtyard.
City expansion in the east
In the aftermath of the Peloponnesian War, the northern city no longer seems to have enough space for additional residents. So it was decided to build another city quarter east of the city, in its immediate vicinity, which, like the northern part, has the planned layout of a grid city. The excavators named this extension The Villa Section after the spacious houses they found there . For the construction of this new district, the Olynthians used the experience they gained during the planning of the northern part of the city. The insulae were again oriented west-east and were divided into ten plots - two rows of five houses. Although the extent of the Villa Section has not been investigated, at least two main streets running south to north with a width of 6.30 m and 16 side streets running from east to west with a width of 5 m can be made out. The streets of the northern part of the city were, however, separated from those of the Villa Section by a city wall with gates and therefore did not need to relate to each other, which is noticeable, among other things, in a deviation of the street grid by two to three degrees. Also, in contrast to the city expansion on the north hill, not all the plots were built on. The undeveloped areas offered space for new residents, but may also have partly served as gardens for the neighboring houses. It is noticeable that, in contrast to Nordstadt, some of the plots are larger than the standard parcels. The houses in the Villa Section are also much more heterogeneous. Instead of the pasta house, there are predominantly peristyle houses with varying floor plans. All of this suggests that the eastern urban expansion was less planned and developed over a longer period of time.
Public facilities and places
In the north of the old town, the excavators found the foundations of a relatively large rectangular building measuring 32 × 16 m, which was probably used by the public. Another larger building was located in the south of the old town and was probably built after the Persian storm of 479 BC. BC and used as a public building. By expanding the city in 432 BC And with the arrival of new residents, additional buildings were added for economic and social life. In the southern area of the new town on the north hill there was a 135 × 85 m undeveloped area, which was delimited by public facilities on the north side and northeast corner. An accumulation of coin finds in the vicinity of this square suggested that this was the central square of the polis, the agora . Another interpretation approach saw here a sacred area with a temple, which, however, has not yet been proven by excavations. On the north side of the square was a portico . Adjacent to this was a building to the east that was equipped with a central row of columns and so could possibly serve meetings. A well house formed the northeast boundary of the square. Evidence of remains that suggest a theater has not yet been provided. However, an indentation on the southeast slope of the south hill offered enough space for possible auditoriums, which is why at least plays were very likely to be performed at this location.
Water supply
The supply of water in Olynth was ensured in various ways. In addition to the river Sardanos , which carried water all year round, and isolated cisterns, it was mainly clay pipes that supplied Olynth with water. The starting point of this partially pressurized pipeline system was in the mountains 8 km north of Olynth, where a spring catchment was found near Polygyros . At the end of the aqueduct there were probably several wells in the city, two of which can be proven. The pipe system appears as early as the 7th century BC. To have existed. This is at least suggested by shards of black-figure vases found on the floor of a house in the old town with a water connection. Olynth would have one of the oldest pressure pipeline systems in ancient Greece.
City fortifications
If there is no evidence of a defensive system for the old town, the Greek historian Xenophon for the year 381 BC can be found. The city wall mentioned in BC can also be archaeologically set. Based on the finds in the north of the northern city of Olynth, a 3.25 m thick mud brick wall can be reconstructed, which was provided with a defense tower about every 42 m and, according to Xenophon, during the Olynthian War , a dispute in the years 382 to 379 BC. Between Sparta and Olynthus, could be occupied with riflemen. So far, no remains of the city wall have been found for the eastern city, which was built later.
Necropolis
Three grave fields are known that were used by the inhabitants of Olynths. The largest necropolis is on the Sardanos River in the west of the city. Here, under the direction of the archaeologist Robinson, 560 graves could be examined. Another much smaller burial ground is in the north of the city. The third necropolis is located about 700 m east of the south hill.
Olynthian mills
Olynth is the main place where the so-called olynthetic mills were found . These mills had a number of advantages over the ancient Egyptian flour mills and marked a significant advance in the history of ancient technology . The older mills consisted of a large flat stone on which the grain lay and a smaller one that was moved back and forth to grind the grain. In the case of the Olynthian mill, on the other hand, the grain was placed in a funnel from which it fell into a gap between the millstones. The work therefore no longer had to be interrupted so often to refill the grain. There was also a long lever attached so that it was easier to move. In addition, oil mills were found in Olyth , which were used to press the olives.
People from Olynthos
- Ephippus of Olynth - historiographer (2nd half of 4th century BC)
- Herodotos - sculptor
- Callisthenes - historiographer (* around 370 BC, † around 327 BC)
- Andronikos († after 312 BC), commander of the Diadoch Wars
- Sthennis - ore caster
literature
- David Moore Robinson : Excavations at Olynthus . Baltimore 1929-52 (14 vols.)
- Michael Zahrnt : Olynthos and the Chalkidians. Studies on the formation of states on the Chalcidian Peninsula in the 5th and 4th centuries BC Chr.Beck , Munich 1971, ISBN 3-406-03097-1 . ( Vestigia , vol. 14)
- Ernst-Ludwig Schwandner , Wolfram Hoepfner : Olynth. A high-class strip town and its change in the 4th century BC Chr. In: Living in the classic polis . Volume 1: House and City in Classical Greece . Deutscher Kunstverlag, Munich 1994, ISBN 3-422-06024-3 , pp. 68-113.
- Ernst-Ludwig Schwandner, Wolfram Hoepfner: Olynth. A strip city with living comfort. In: History of Living . Volume 1. 5000 BC BC – 500 AD. Prehistory, early history, antiquity . Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, Stuttgart 1999, ISBN 3-421-03111-8 , pp. 261-279.
- Selene Psoma: Olynthe et les Chalcidiens de Thrace. Études de numismatique et d'histoire . Steiner, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-515-07538-0 .
- Nicholas Cahill : Household and city organization at Olynthus . Yale University Press, New Haven 2002, ISBN 0-300-08495-1 . (Text on the internet)
Remarks
- ↑ Cahill 2002, Chapter 2.2.8.
- ↑ Helmuth Schneider : The gifts of Prometheus . In: Wolfgang König (ed.): Propylaea history of technology . Volume 1, Propylaea, Berlin 1997, pp. 88-90, 94f.
Web links
Coordinates: 40 ° 18 ' N , 23 ° 21' E