Piraeus - Kantharos
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Kantharos is the larger of the three natural gulfs of Piraeus peninsula (the other two being Zea and Mounichia) in the South Athenian coast and it was used by Athenians as their main trading port. The formation and operation of Kantharos gulf as a harbour played an important role in the peak of the city that led to the Athenian hegemony.
Visible remains of the ancient establishments are minimal, although testimonies for their existence found in ancient literature as well as evidence brought up by recent research provide a clear image of the harbour installations and the surroundings in antiquity.
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Main features |
| Region |
Saronic Gulf
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| Use |
Commercial - Military
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| Prosperity period (centuries) |
5th B.C. - 4th B.C.
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| Existence of contemporary port |
Yes
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| Findings on site |
No, harbourworks until 19th c. but now covered under modern constructions
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General description |
"Megas Limin" or "Kantharos", a name derived most probably from the basin's shape that resembled the homonymous vessel, is located in the Northwest of the Piraeus peninsula. It was the "εμπόριον" (= the merchant harbour) of Piraeus although the existence of ship sheds near the port's entrance, at the Southeast, indicates a partial use for military purposes.
North of the ship sheds area was the main dock, separated by a "διάζευγμα" (=pier). The indicative stones ("όρος") that have been found determine the area of the "πορθμεία" (=the mooring sites) for the merchant and passenger vessels on both sides of the pier. In the northeastern cove a pier has been traced, probably related with the "μακρά στοά" (long arcade) that was located there. Four more stoae were located in the eastern part of the port's basin, among which the most important is mentioned as "deigma" (sample's exhibition).
The northwestern bay was a shallow swampy area, considered as the "κωφός λιμήν" mentioned in the written sources. At the entrance of this area what is mentioned, as "δια μέσου χώμα" (=earth in between) must be sought. The fortified promontory of Hiaetionia was closing the northwestern side of the basin (Imag. 1, 2).
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Technical features |
| Construction period (centuries) |
5th B.C. - 4th B.C.
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| Port configuration |
Natural Harbour, Inner Harbour
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| Port basin size |
m2 |
| Main wind direction |
SW
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| Port
land area |
km2 |
| Port entrance |
At the SE, 50m. wide, safed probably with a chain (Papachatzis 1974, 98), among two rectangular towers of the city wall (Spon 1676, 234).
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| Change
of sea surface elevation |
1.5
m |
| Sedimentation |
No
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| Outer port structures |
Moles
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| Inner port structures |
Quays, Piers
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| Land facilities |
Shipsheds, Temples, Store Buildings, Stoes, Defence Structures, Lighthouses
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| Construction method |
Ashlars of sand stone. Several quarryies have been located in Hiaetionia promontory and Piraeus penisnsula.
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| Neotectonic history |
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| Shore line displacement |
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Function and operations |
Fishermen and farmers inhabited the Piraeus peninsula until the dawn of the 5th century B.C. In the meantime Phaliro gulf was used as Athens harbour. Piraeus was extensively domiciled and the ports were constructed and walled after Themistokles urge, when he was elected as the "archon eponymous" in 493-492 B.C. Until the middle of the 5th century B.C. the entire Piraeus peninsula was fortified and connected to Athens with the so called "μακρά τείχη" (=long walls). At the same time the city of Piraeus kept growing.
The importance of Piraeus ports is directly related to the development of the Athenian state, so Kantharos became the prominent trading port of the Mediterranean during the 5th century B.C. The crucial character of Kantharos for Athens is depicted by the integrated program for urban development (hypodamian system), the fortification works for which Athens spent tremendous wealth (Isocrates mentions 1000 ingots for ship sheds building) and the governors and economical officers appointed to the port to sustain its impeccable function that are mentioned in the written sources.
The ports of Piraeus among which Kantharos is included paid host to the Athenian war fleet, which allowed the development of the Athenian democracy and hegemony. Simultaneously, trade fleets accompanied by war vessels ensured a constant supply of imports like grain and row materials and the export of the Athenian products like pottery, oil, honey, etc.
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Sources |
| References in ancient literature |
Αιλιανός, Ποικίλη Iστορία 2. 13
Αππιανός, Λιβικά 96, Μιθριδάτειος 30, 40, 41
Αριστοτέλης, Πολιτικά, ΙΙ 8, Αθ. Πολιτεία, 19, 37, 38, 54, 24, 46, 49, 61
Αριστοφάνης, Ιππείς 815, Ειρήνη 145
Βιτρούβιος 7. 152. 12
Δείναρχος, Kατά Φιλοκλέους 1, 13, Kατά Δημοσθένους παρ. 17
Δημοσθένης 34. 37, 19. 60, 19. 125
Διογένης Λαέρτιος, 6. 1
Διόδωρος Σικελιώτης, 11. 41, 12. 49, 14. 33, 14. 85, 18. 64, 18. 68, 20. 45
Δίων Χρυσόστομος, 6. 87, 25. 4
Ηρόδοτος, 6. 116, 8. 76, 77, 107, 92. 5, 93
Θεόφραστος, Χαρακτήρες 23
Θουκυδίδης, 1. 93, 93. 3, 107, 2. 13, 13. 8, 93, 94, 7. 11, 12. 4, 8. 90
Ισοκράτης, Αεροπογειτικός 66, Περί Αντιδόσεως 307
Καλλίμαχος Ύμνος εις την Αρτεμιν, 259
Λυκούργος, Κατά Λεωκράτους παρ. 11
Ξενοφών Ελληνικά , 4. 10, 2, 2. 4, 4. 31, 4. 11, Ανάβασις 7, 1. 27
Παυσανίας, Ι. 1. 2, 1. 1. 3, 1. 4, 2, 3, 25. 5 8. 10. 4
Πλάτων, Γοργίας 455
Πλίνιος, ΝΗ. 38. 1, 7. 37. 125
Πλούταρχος, Θεμιστοκλής, 32, 19. , Δημήτριος 8, Κίμων 13, Σύλλας 14
Πολύαινος, Στρατηγικά Ι 40. 3
Στράβων, 9. 1, 1. 15, 2, 395 , Ι. 3
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| Related researches |
Archeological
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| Findings in museums |
Yes
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| Other references |
Alten G., 1881, "Die Befestigungen der Hafenstadt Athens" Erlautender Text Heft I, Berlin, pp. 10-15
Blackman D. J., 1968, "The ship-sheds", in J. S. Morrison & R. T. Williams, Greek oared ships, Cambridge, pp. 181-192
Blackman D. J., 1973, "Evidence of sea level change in ancient harbours and coastal installations" in Marine Archaeology, Symposium of Colston Research Society, pp. 115-139
Blackman D. J., 1982, "Ancient Harbours in the Mediterranean", IJNA 11. 2, pp. 79-104 and 11. 3, pp. 185-221.
Blackman D. J., 1987, "Triremes and shipsheds", Τropis ΙΙ, Αthens (1990), pp. 35-52
Blackman D. J., 1996, "New evidence for ancient ship dimensions" Tropis ΙV, Athens (1996), pp. 113-125
Bradford J., 1957, Ancient Landscapes, London
Casson L., 1971, Ships and seamanship in the ancient world, Princeton
Casson L., 1974, Travel in the ancient world, London
Casson L., 1991, The ancient mariners, seafarers and sea fighters of the Mediterranean in ancient times,, New Jersey (1st edition, Oxford 1959)
Curtius E. - Kaupert J. A., 1881, Karten von Attika, ErlautenderText, Heft I, Der Peiraeus von A. Milchhofer, Berlin
Day J., 1927, "The Kophos Limen of the Piraeus", A.J.A. 31, pp. 441-449
Dodwell E., 1819, A classical and topographical tour through Greece during the years 1801-1805 and 1806, Londοn
Eickstedt K.-V. von, 1991, Beitrage zur topographie des Antikes Piraus, Athenes
Foucart P., 1887, "Les fortfications du Piree en 394-393", B.C.H. 11, pp. 129-144.
Frost H., 1972, "Ancient harbours and anchorages in the eastern Mediterranean", in UNESCO 1972, pp. 95-114
Frost H., 1987, "Where did they build Ancient Warships" in Tropis ΙΙ. Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on ship construction in antiquity, Delphi 1987, Αthens (1990), pp. 181-185
Hoepfner W. - Schandrner E., 1994, Haus und Stadt im Klassichen Griechenland, Neubeargeitung, Munchen, pp. 22-50
Garland R., 1987, The Piraeus, from the fifth to the first century B.C., Ithaka N.Y.
Georgiades A. S., 1907, Les ports de la Grece dans l' Antiquite, qui subsistent encore aujourd'hui, Athenes
Goodchild R.G., 1956, "Harbours, docks and lighthouses", in Ch. Singer & al., A history of technology, Οxford, v. II, pp. 516-524
Judeich W., 1905, "Topographie von Athen" in Mόmmers Handb. d. Klass, Altertumswissenschaft III 2/2/1905, pp. 375-403
Judeich W., Judeich W., 1905, Topograph von Athen, (III, 2, 2), Munchen
Mazarakis Ainian Ph., 1992, Les Structures Portuaires en Grece Antique. Memoire presente en vue de l' obtention du titre de Licencie, Univ. Libre de Bruxelles
Milshoefer A., 1881, "Der Peiraieus", in Curtious E. & Kaupert J.A., 1881, pp. 23-71
Negris P., 1904, "Vestiges antiques submerges", Ath. Mitt. 29, pp. 340-363
Noack F., 1908, "Bemerkungen zu den Piraeusmauern", Ath. Mitt. 33, pp. 33-38
Spon, 1676, Voyage d'Italie, de Dalmatie, de Grece et du Levant, v. ΙΙ
Steinhauer G., 1996, "La decouverte de I'arsenal de Philon", in Tropis IV, Athens, pp. 471-480
Touchais G., 1979, "Chronique des fouilles en 1978" : Le Piree, B.C.H. 103, p. 541
Travlos I., 1988, Bildlexikon zur Topographie des antiken Attika
Αγγελόπουλος Η., 1898, Περί Πειραιώς και των λιμένων αυτού κατά τους αρχαίους χρόνους, Αθήνα
Αλεξανδρή Ο., 1973/74, "Πειραιεύς", Α.Δ. 29Β, σσ. 99, 144 & 151
Δραγάτσης Ι. Χ. - Αγγελόπουλος Η. , 1899, "Περί των εν Πειραιεί ανασκαφών", Π.Α.Ε. 1899, σσ. 37-41
Δραγάτσης Ι. Χ. , 1885, "Έκθεσης των εν Πειραιεί ανασκαφών", Π.Α.Ε., σσ. 63-68
Δραγάτσης Ι. Χ. , 1885β, "Πειραϊκές αρχαιότητες", Α.Ε., σσ. 85-92
Λιάνγκουρας Α. , 1967, "Πειραιεύς", Α.Δ. 22Β, σσ. 142-143
Ματζαρόγλου Π., 1977, Πειραϊκό Λεύκωμα, Αθήνα
Ναυτικόν Μουσείον της Ελλάδος, Οδηγός Μουσείου, Πειραιάς 1984
Ορλάνδος Α.Κ.- Τραυλός Ι.Ν., 1986, Λεξικόν Αρχαίων Αρχιτεκτονικών όρων, Αθήνα
Πανάγος Χ.Θ., 1968, Ο Πειραιεύς, Οικονομική και ιστορική έρευνα από των αρχαιοτάτων χρόνων μέχρι του τέλους της ρωμαϊκής αυτοκρατορίας, Αθήνα (2η έκδοση με νεώτερα στοιχεία για την τοπογραφία και την οικονομική ζωή του Πειραιά από τον Έφορο Αρχαιοτήτων Γ. Σταϊνχάουερ, Αθήνα 1995)
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Σοφού Ε.Ν., 1973, "Χάρτης του Πειραιώς συνταχθείς 1687 υπό των ενετών" Α.Ε., σσ. 246-58, πιν. 112-113
Σταϊνχάουερ Γ.Α., 1995, "Τοπογραφία του Πειραιά. Νεώτερες αρχαιολογικές ανακαλύψεις" στο Πανάγος Χ.Θ. 1968
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| Protection regime |
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| Author |
Theotokis Theodoulou
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| Editor |
Theotokis Theodoulou
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