Potidaea: Its History and Remains

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1

DEDICATION 4

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 5

PREFACE 8

I — LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY OF POTIDAEA PRESENT REMAINS 11

THE ARCHITECTURAL REMAINS 17

THE TERRACOTTAS 20

THE BRONZES 22

ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE SITE 24

II — FROM THE FOUNDING OF POTIDAEA TO THE PERSIAN WARS ca. 600-490 B.C. 25

PRE-CORINTHIAN OCCUPATION OF THE SITE 29

THE RESOURCES OF THE NEW CITY 31

GOVERNMENT 33

RELIGION 37

THE POTIDAEAN TREASURY AT DELPHI 40

DEDICATORY INSCRIPTION OF A POTIDAEAN AT DELPHI 44

III — POTIDAEA DURING THE PERSIAN WARS — 490-479 B.C. 46

THE REVOLT AND THE SIEGE OF POTIDAEA 47

PARTICIPATION AT PLATAEA 50

IV — FROM THE END OF THE PERSIAN WARS TO THE REVOLT FROM ATHENS — 479-432 B.C. 54

THE TRIBUTE OF POTIDAEA 58

RELATIONS WITH ATHENS AND CORINTH 64

V — THE COINAGE OF POTIDAEA TO 432 B.C. 67

CLASSIFICATION OF COIN ISSUES 68

CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCE OF PERIOD I (ca. 550-ca. 479 B.C.) 69

A. ca. 550-ca. 510 B.C. 69

B. ca. 510-ca. 479 B.C. 72

CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCE OF PERIOD II — (ca. 479-432 B.C.) 73

A. ca. 479-ca. 450 B.C. 75

B. ca. 450-ca. 432 B.C. 76

VI — DURING THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR — 432-404 B.C. 80

THE BATTLE OF THE ISTHMUS 83

THE SIEGE AND CAPITULATION 87

THE ATHENIAN EPOIKOI 92

SPARTAN AND ATHENIAN ACTIVITY IN THE REGION 97

THE END OF ATHENIAN OCCUPATION OF POTIDAEA 100

VII — FROM THE END OF THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR TO THE FOUNDING OF CASSANDREIA — 404-316 B.C. 101

RELATIONS WITH SPARTA, CORINTH, OLYNTHUS, AND ATHENS 101

ATHENIAN CLERUCHS AT POTIDAEA 105

PHILIP AND THE FATE OF POTIDAEA 106

THE BRONZE COINAGE OF POTIDAEA 110

THE FINAL PHASE AND THE FOUNDING OF CASSANDREIA 113

ABBREVIATIONS 115

BIBLIOGRAPHY 117

I. Ancient Sources 117

II. Modern Works 118

ILLUSTRATIONS 126

POTIDAEA

Its History and Remains

BY

JOHN A. ALEXANDER

PROFESSOR OF HISTORY

GEORGIA STATE COLLEGE

DEDICATION

TO

MY PARENTS

IN

GRATEFUL MEMORY

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PLATE I

Fig. 1. Nea Potidaea from the southeast.

Fig. 2. Nea Potidaea from near the pumphouse.

PLATE II

Fig. 1. View from the south side of Nea Potidaea.

Fig. 2. View from the Pyrgos looking toward the canal.

PLATE III

Fig. 1. Nea Potidaea from the northwest side of the canal.

Fig. 2. Houses on the west side of Potidaea.

PLATE IV

Fig. 1. Ruins of the temple of Poseidon.

Fig. 2. Ruins of the Metochion Dochiariou.

PLATE V

Fig. 1. East section of Nea Potidaea.

Fig. 2. View from the northeast end of the canal.

PLATE VI. The east shore of the peninsula at the isthmus, from the south.

PLATE VII. The ferry-boat.

PLATE VIII

Fig. 1. Location of the ancient harbor.

Fig. 2. Detail of tower of the mediaeval wall.

PLATE IX

Fig. 1. Remains of the mediaeval wall.

Fig. 2. Another view of the mediaeval wall.

PLATE X

Fig. 1. The northeast end of the canal.

Fig. 2. Remains, looking east from the tower.

PLATE XI

Fig. 1.—Mudbrick wall with mortar.

Fig. 2.—Remains of wall.

PLATE XII

Fig. I.—A pithos.

Fig. 2.—Ancient remains.

PLATE XIII

Fig. 1.—Ancient remains.

Fig. 2.—Ancient poros blocks.

PLATE XIV

Fig. 1.—Ancient poros blocks with dove-tail clamps.

Fig. 2.—Architectural poros block.

PLATE XV

Fig. 1.—Capital of a Doric poros column.

Fig. 2.—Capital of a Doric poros column.

PLATE XVI

Fig. 1.—Capital of a Doric poros column.

Fig. 2.—Part of a Doric poros column.

Fig. 3.—Typical sight at Nea Potidaea.

PLATE XVII

Fig. 1.—Ancient block showing T-shape clamp.

Fig. 2.—Ancient block.

PLATE XVIII

Fig. 1.—The sacred precinct of Apollo at Delphi.

Fig. 2.—The remains of the Potidaean treasury.

PLATE XIX

Fig. 1.—The Potidaean treasury.

Fig. 2.—The Potidaean and Syracusan treasuries.

PLATE XX

Fig. 1.—The Potidaean treasury.

Fig. 2.—The Sicyonian treasury.

PLATE XXI

Fig. 1.—Sculptured material at Nea Potidaea.

Fig. 2.—Samples of pottery at Nea Potidaea.

PLATE XXII.—Potidaean silver coins.

PLATE XXIII.—Potidaean bronze coins.

Map 1:—The Chalcidic peninsula and adjacent territory.

Map 2:—Sketch of canal and ancient ruins.

PREFACE

THE HISTORY of ancient Greece during the three or four centuries preceding the final supremacy of Philip of Macedon in 338 B.C. is essentially the story of a score of independent city-states, united by a common language, religion, and general culture, but separated by localism and the love of political freedom and autonomy. These elements of unity and separation shaped the course of Greek civilization to such an extent that the history of some of the more important states represents a sort of cross section of the history of Greece itself.

The history of Potidaea offers such a cross section, in spite of the limitations of our literary and archaeological sources. From the founding of the city as a colony of Corinth (ca. 600 B.C.) to its capture by Philip II in 356 B.C., and even to the establishment of Cassandreia on the same site forty years later, nearly all the major events of the history of Greece are represented. In fact, it is mainly from isolated comments on Potidaea’s participation in these events that the history of the city has been pieced together with some degree of continuity; as for the domestic developments, aside from general inferences, the coinage of the city, and the scanty archaeological remains from the site, our sources have completely failed us. The same holds true regarding the history and archaeology of Potidaea’s neighbors in Chalcidice.

The cause for this scarcity of information about Potidaea and the Chalcidic region in general is not difficult to ascertain. Ancient historical works dealing with this area have perished, and with the exception of one site, Olynthus, no appreciable excavations have been undertaken on these ancient sites. The works of ancient authors who wrote on the history of Pallene, for example, which naturally must have contained much information about the local history of the towns in that peninsula, have not survived. Dionysius of Halicarnassus mentions Hegesippus of Mecybema (whom, incidentally, he describes as an archaeologist) as having written a book entitled Palleniaca. Unfortunately, only a few fragments of this book remain, and those do not bear on Potidaean history. Another writer, Philonides, also from Mecybema, probably wrote a history of Pallene; both he and Hegesippus are mentioned by Stephanus of Byzantium. Only the works of Herodotus, Thucydides, and Xenophon remain as our main sources, but even here the information on Potidaea and Chalcidice in general is far from satisfactory. The main interest of these writers was to relate the activities of the leading states of Central Greece and the Peloponnesus, particularly Athens and Sparta; therefore their references to the cities of Chalcidice are almost entirely limited to events related to the history of these two states. Other contemporary or later writers add but few details to our knowledge of the history of the Chalcidic region.

In spite of the limitations of both literary and archaeological sources, the evidence available reflects the important role Potidaea played in the major events of the classical period in Greek history. The same role, even greater in some respects, was played during subsequent periods by Cassandreia, at least until its destruction by the Huns during the reign of Justinian in the sixth century of our era.

As a member of the staff of the fourth archaeological expedition to Olynthus in 1938 under the direction of the late Professor David M. Robinson of The Johns Hopkins University, I had the opportunity to visit the site of Potidaea-Cassandreia and to study the topography and extant remains. The Potidaean period in the history of the site was submitted in 1939 under the title Potidaea as a dissertation for the doctorate. A debt of gratitude is due Dr. Robinson by those of us privileged to have had him as a teacher. His constant interest in our work, his ready assistance, and his fine example of industriousness can hardly be forgotten. In the mind of Dr. Robinson the story of Potidaea ranked second to that of Olynthus. In fact, both cities had so much in common and their respective histories were so interrelated that one might be tempted to speak of them as the twin cities of Chalcidice.

Since 1939 I have been able to review the entire evidence on Potidaea’s history and to revise or supplement it accordingly, taking into consideration the more recent publications of importance on Potidaea’s history. Of particular significance are the monumental work of Meritt, Wade-Gery, and McGregor, The Athenian Tribute Lists, vols. II-IV (Princeton, 1949-53) and of Gomme, A Historical Commentary on Thucydides, vols. I-III (Oxford, 1945-1956).

It is hoped that studies of this type, dealing with important cities of antiquity, may serve as collateral reading for courses in ancient history and in the history of European civilization. It is with this in mind, at least partially, that the present work on Potidaea’s history and remains has been finally prepared.

I am indebted to my sister-in-law, Miss Eva Tsiropoulou, for securing for me on a recent visit to Greece the photograph used in Fig. 1, Plate XVIII. The photographs used in Plates I-XXI were taken by me in 1938. Some of these have suffered somewhat through the pissing of time, but their usefulness has by no means been impaired. In Plate XXII I am indebted to The Johns Hopkins Press for permission to use the Potidaean coins illustrated in Robinson’s Excavations at Olynthus. The two maps that accompany the text were prepared for me by my former colleague of the Geography Department at Georgia State College, Professor W, R. Walker, to whom I am greatly indebted.

I also express sincere thanks to the Ephor of Antiquities of Macedonia, Ch. Macaronas, and to his predecessor, N. Kotzias, for placing at my disposal for study all the Potidaean and Cassandreian material, both at the Thessalonica Museum and on the site. To Mr. Macaronas I am also grateful for a copy of the Nea Potidaea Canal Plan from which Map 2 has been adapted.

A previous version of this manuscript was read in 1949 by my former professor of Greek Art and Archaeology at Washington University, Dr. George E. Mylonas, and by my former colleague (now Professor Emeritus) of the English Department at Georgia State College, Dr. H. O. Smith. Another colleague of the English Department, Dr. Jack Biles, has read the text of the manuscript in its present form. To all three of my readers I wish to express my gratitude for their helpful comments and encouragement Finally, my sincere thanks are also due to the director and staff of the University of Georgia Press for their suggestions and cooperation in preparing the manuscript for publication.

JOHN A. ALEXANDER

Georgia State College

Atlanta, Georgia

I — LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY OF POTIDAEA PRESENT REMAINS

POTIDAEA, a colony of Corinth, was situated on the isthmus of the peninsula of Pallene, the westernmost of the trident-like southward projections of Chalcidice. The name of the city is derived from the Corinthian (Doric) term for Poseidon, a god greatly honored on the isthmus of Corinth. The relative similarity between the isthmus of Corinth and that of Pallene, where the new town was to be founded, probably occasioned the adoption of the name Potidaea.{1} The ancient writers are in full agreement as to the location of the town on the isthmus of Pallene. Whenever the location of Potidaea is mentioned, it is spoken of as being at the neck of the peninsula. Characteristic of this uniformity of opinion are the statements of Thucydides (I, 56) speaking of the Potidaeans as living on the isthmus of Pallene; of Xenophon (V, ii, 15) mentioning Potidaea as being on the isthmus of Pallene; of Strabo who writes (VII, 330), it lies on it (the isthmus).{2} Because the isthmus is a geographically well-defined spot and because there is specific mention in ancient authors that the city was located here, no doubt can be raised as to the identification of the site.

The modern traveler to the peninsula finds a canal cut through the isthmus (Map 2). The work on this canal was started in 1935 by the Monx-Ullen Company and completed in 1937, except for minor finishing work. The canal has a length of about 1,200 metres, a width of 40 m., and a depth of 6-7 m. Small boats with a displacement of 20 are able to pass through, thus facilitating traffic among the various seacoast towns of the Thermaic and Toronaic Gulfs.

Before the present canal was cut through the isthmus, traces of trenches were still distinguishable in several places along the line now occupied by it. From the Greek word for trench the place was named Handaks{3} Apparently in ancient times also a canal had been cut through the isthmus, as may be gathered from the statement of Strabo.{4} How early this canal was cut is not known. With the passing of time, however, it was filled up, leaving only a few traces as a mark of its existence.

Crossing the canal on the ferry-boat (Pl. VII), one notices remnants of the towers of a mediaeval wall (Pl. IX, 1, 2) which has much ancient material employed in its construction. Many towers of the wall are still standing, though much ruined, and extend the entire length of the isthmus. At the east end about 60 m. from the shore the wall changes its course and extends directly northeast for about 70 m.; then, ending in a tower, it reaches the shore. With the exception of the tower the wall has been included in the canal (Pl. X, 1). From this tower the wall extends about 50 m. to the northeast where it also ends in a tower at the shoreline. The western end of the wall is similarly constructed, terminating in a tower on the shore (Pl. VIII, 1, 2); however, a cross-wall which forms almost a right angle intersects the main wall about 150 m. inland from the western terminus. The cross-wall extends southward for about 75 m. and ends in a tower situated on elevated ground near the shore (Pl. III, 2, to the left). Thus the area facing the sea between the main wall and the southward extending cross-wall must have been used as a harbor (Pls. III, 2 and VIII, 1).

We cannot say how closely this mediaeval wall followed its ancient predecessors. Struck believes{5} that the substructure of the later wall dates back to the classical period. Of this we cannot be certain because no parts of the substructure exposed so far can definitely be assigned to the walls mentioned by Thucydides or, even later, to the walls of Hellenistic times. Remains of an earlier wall (Pl. IX, 1) visible especially on the right as one enters Pallene probably belong to the time of Justinian.{6} The mediaeval walls were restored during the war of liberation (1821-29) when the Greeks of the entire peninsula of Cassandra defended themselves at the isthmus against the Pasha of Thessalonica.{7}

A few remains from another wall can be seen farther south at about 900 m. from the north wall and parallel to it.{8} Much of the material employed in the construction of these walls has been taken from ancient remains. From a passage which was broken through the north wall and which thus gives the appearance of a gate, the name Portes,{9} occasionally still used, was given to the place.

Not much is known about the walls of the ancient town. They extended the entire length of the isthmus and thus cut off the peninsula from the rest of Chalcidice. Perhaps the mediaeval walk followed, in general, the lines of the ancient walls. During the work on the canal, traces of ancient wall construction, apparently classical, were reported to have been found;{10} and Mr. Kotzias, then Ephor of Macedonia, who had followed the canal work, prepared a study on the walls of ancient Potidaea.

Evidence for the existence of ancient walls, both during the Potidaean and the Cassandreian periods, is abundant. Of special interest are the passages in Herodotus, VIII, 129, where the author relates the unsuccessful attempt of the Persian Artabazus to pass in front of the north wall, probably at the east extension, into Pallene at low tide. This statement sets the earliest date for the construction of the wall at 479 B.C. when this incident happened.

Later Aristeus, after the battle in front of the north wall in 432 B.C., was more successful in an attempt to enter the city. He advanced directly through the sea and passed along the breakwater in front of the sea wall, as Thucydides tells us.{11}

The strength of the walls is substantiated not only by the failure of the three-month attack of Artabazus, but even more so by the two-year siege in 432-429 B.C., during which the reputed skill of the Athenians in attacking walls was defied. The attempt of Hagnon and Cleopompus to overcome the walls may