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Ancient harbour of Samos

April 11, 2024

37°41′13″N 26°56′49″E / 37.687°N 26.947°E / 37.687; 26.947 The ancient harbour of Samos was located at the town of Samos (modern Pythagoreio) on the island of Samos. It consisted of a large mole, which was identified in the fifth century BC ancient Greek historian Herodotus as one of three greatest feats of engineering in the Greek world.[1] Large parts of the ancient mole seem to survive, partially incorporated into the modern mole, but these remains are very difficult to date.

History edit

The island of Samos became one of the major naval powers in the Aegean in the sixth century BC, culminating in the reign of the tyrant Polycrates. In the fifth century, Herodotus reports a mole surrounded the harbour, with a length of more than two stades out to sea (over 400 metres), and reached a depth of twenty orguia (c. 20 metres).[1]

The island's political power declined in the fifth century BC. However, the harbour continued to be a major naval base and an important economic hub, especially under Ptolemaic rule during the Hellenistic period and in the Roman imperial period. It was seriously damaged by an earthquake in AD 262. The modern mole of Pythagoreio was built in the 19th century.[2]

Description edit

Pythagoreio has a large natural harbour, but it is very open to the south, so the fierce northerly winds pose a threat to shipping in port. The ancient mole extended due east from the western edge of the harbour, in order to shelter the harbour from these winds.[3]

The remains of a stone structure are submerged to the south of the modern mole of the harbour, running parallel to it and partially incorporated into it. Archaeological research has revealed a mole that is 480 metres (1,570 ft) long. At its eastern end, the mole upper surface of the structure is 2.75 metres (9.0 ft) below the surface and it continues down below the modern sea bed to a depth of at least 14 metres (46 ft) below sea level.[4] A number of loose architectural components have been recovered, including two ashlar blocks and a column drum.[5]

The structure was repeatedly damaged by storms and earthquakes in antiquity and repaired by piling new stones on top of the old ones, making it very difficult to date. Pottery remains recovered in the foundations of the mole mostly date to the Roman imperial period, with the earliest material dating to c. 300 BC. The excavator, Angeliki Simossi thus dated the surviving structure to the early Hellenistic period, making it later and larger than that described by Herodotus. She suggested that the structure known to Herodotus might be underneath the surviving remains, perhaps in the northern section which is covered by the modern harbour mole.[6] Subsequent excavations suggested that some of this structure might be part of the 19th century construction work,[7] but it overlies a Byzantine sea wall, which itself overlies an ancient rubble mole.[8] Further traces of an ancient rubble mole have been found on the east side of the modern mole, but very little could be discerned about it.[8]

Excavations edit

In 1988, the modern breakwater of Pythagoreio collapsed and signs of the ancient mole were discovered in the course of repair work. An underwater excavation was undertaken from 8 September-14 October 1988 by a team of eleven divers from the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities under the direction of Angeliki Simossi.[4] Further excavations were undertaken by Simossi from 1992-1996 and substantial additional pottery remains were recovered during harbour works in 2009.[9]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Herodotus, Histories 3.60
  2. ^ Simossi (1991), 281-2
  3. ^ Simossi (1991), 289
  4. ^ a b Simossi (1991), 282 & 292
  5. ^ Simossi (1991), 283 & 294
  6. ^ Simossi (1991), 287-291
  7. ^ Blackman (1998-99), 105
  8. ^ a b Blackman (1999-2000), 122
  9. ^ Blackman (1998-99), 105; (1999-2000), 122; (2000-01), 121; Morgan et al. (2009-10), 157.

Bibliography edit

  • Simossi, Angeliki (1991). "Underwater excavation research in the ancient harbour of Samos: September-October 1988". The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology. 20 (4): 281–298. doi:10.1111/j.1095-9270.1991.tb00324.x.
  • Blackman, David (1998–99). "Archaeology in Greece 1998-99". Archaeological Reports. 45 (45): 105. JSTOR 580978.
  • Blackman, David (1999–2000). "Archaeology in Greece 1999-2000". Archaeological Reports. 46 (46): 122. doi:10.2307/581102. JSTOR 581102. S2CID 129665104.
  • Blackman, David (2000–2001). "Archaeology in Greece 2000-2001". Archaeological Reports. 47: 121.
  • Morgan, Catherine; Pitt, Robert K.; Mulliez, Dominique; Evely, Don (2009–2010). "Archaeology in Greece 2009-2010". Archaeological Reports. 56 (105): 101–106. JSTOR 550530.

April 11, 2024
ancient, harbour, samos, ancient, harbour, samos, located, town, samos, modern, pythagoreio, island, samos, consisted, large, mole, which, identified, fifth, century, ancient, greek, historian, herodotus, three, greatest, feats, engineering, greek, world, larg. 37 41 13 N 26 56 49 E 37 687 N 26 947 E 37 687 26 947 The ancient harbour of Samos was located at the town of Samos modern Pythagoreio on the island of Samos It consisted of a large mole which was identified in the fifth century BC ancient Greek historian Herodotus as one of three greatest feats of engineering in the Greek world 1 Large parts of the ancient mole seem to survive partially incorporated into the modern mole but these remains are very difficult to date Contents 1 History 2 Description 3 Excavations 4 References 5 BibliographyHistory editThe island of Samos became one of the major naval powers in the Aegean in the sixth century BC culminating in the reign of the tyrant Polycrates In the fifth century Herodotus reports a mole surrounded the harbour with a length of more than two stades out to sea over 400 metres and reached a depth of twenty orguia c 20 metres 1 The island s political power declined in the fifth century BC However the harbour continued to be a major naval base and an important economic hub especially under Ptolemaic rule during the Hellenistic period and in the Roman imperial period It was seriously damaged by an earthquake in AD 262 The modern mole of Pythagoreio was built in the 19th century 2 Description editPythagoreio has a large natural harbour but it is very open to the south so the fierce northerly winds pose a threat to shipping in port The ancient mole extended due east from the western edge of the harbour in order to shelter the harbour from these winds 3 The remains of a stone structure are submerged to the south of the modern mole of the harbour running parallel to it and partially incorporated into it Archaeological research has revealed a mole that is 480 metres 1 570 ft long At its eastern end the mole upper surface of the structure is 2 75 metres 9 0 ft below the surface and it continues down below the modern sea bed to a depth of at least 14 metres 46 ft below sea level 4 A number of loose architectural components have been recovered including two ashlar blocks and a column drum 5 The structure was repeatedly damaged by storms and earthquakes in antiquity and repaired by piling new stones on top of the old ones making it very difficult to date Pottery remains recovered in the foundations of the mole mostly date to the Roman imperial period with the earliest material dating to c 300 BC The excavator Angeliki Simossi thus dated the surviving structure to the early Hellenistic period making it later and larger than that described by Herodotus She suggested that the structure known to Herodotus might be underneath the surviving remains perhaps in the northern section which is covered by the modern harbour mole 6 Subsequent excavations suggested that some of this structure might be part of the 19th century construction work 7 but it overlies a Byzantine sea wall which itself overlies an ancient rubble mole 8 Further traces of an ancient rubble mole have been found on the east side of the modern mole but very little could be discerned about it 8 Excavations editIn 1988 the modern breakwater of Pythagoreio collapsed and signs of the ancient mole were discovered in the course of repair work An underwater excavation was undertaken from 8 September 14 October 1988 by a team of eleven divers from the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities under the direction of Angeliki Simossi 4 Further excavations were undertaken by Simossi from 1992 1996 and substantial additional pottery remains were recovered during harbour works in 2009 9 References edit a b Herodotus Histories 3 60 Simossi 1991 281 2 Simossi 1991 289 a b Simossi 1991 282 amp 292 Simossi 1991 283 amp 294 Simossi 1991 287 291 Blackman 1998 99 105 a b Blackman 1999 2000 122 Blackman 1998 99 105 1999 2000 122 2000 01 121 Morgan et al 2009 10 157 Bibliography editSimossi Angeliki 1991 Underwater excavation research in the ancient harbour of Samos September October 1988 The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 20 4 281 298 doi 10 1111 j 1095 9270 1991 tb00324 x Blackman David 1998 99 Archaeology in Greece 1998 99 Archaeological Reports 45 45 105 JSTOR 580978 Blackman David 1999 2000 Archaeology in Greece 1999 2000 Archaeological Reports 46 46 122 doi 10 2307 581102 JSTOR 581102 S2CID 129665104 Blackman David 2000 2001 Archaeology in Greece 2000 2001 Archaeological Reports 47 121 Morgan Catherine Pitt Robert K Mulliez Dominique Evely Don 2009 2010 Archaeology in Greece 2009 2010 Archaeological Reports 56 105 101 106 JSTOR 550530 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ancient harbour of Samos amp oldid 1106888365, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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