Kalaureia ( grc, Καλαυρεία) or Calauria or Kalavria ( ell, Καλαυρία) is an island close to the coast of
Troezen
Troezen (; ancient Greek: Τροιζήν, modern Greek: Τροιζήνα ) is a small town and a former municipality in the northeastern Peloponnese, Greece, on the Argolid Peninsula. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the munic ...
in the
Peloponnesus
The Peloponnese (), Peloponnesus (; el, Πελοπόννησος, Pelopónnēsos,(), or Morea is a peninsula and geographic region in southern Greece. It is connected to the central part of the country by the Isthmus of Corinth land bridge which ...
of mainland
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
, part of the modern island-pair
Poros
Poros ( el, Πόρος) is a small Greece, Greek island-pair in the southern part of the Saronic Gulf, about south from the port of Piraeus and separated from the Peloponnese by a wide sea channel, with the town of Galatas, Troizina, Galatas on ...
.
Strabo
Strabo''Strabo'' (meaning "squinty", as in strabismus) was a term employed by the Romans for anyone whose eyes were distorted or deformed. The father of Pompey was called "Pompeius Strabo". A native of Sicily so clear-sighted that he could see ...
describes the coastwise journey along the
Hermionic Gulf:
:The gulf begins at the town of
Asine
Asine (; grc, Ἀσίνη) was an ancient Greek city of ancient Argolis, located on the coast. It is mentioned by Homer in the Catalogue of Ships in the ''Iliad'' as one of the places subject to Diomedes, king of Argos. It is said to have bee ...
. Then come
Hermione
Hermione may refer to:
People
* Hermione (given name), a female given name
* Hermione (mythology), only daughter of Menelaus and Helen in Greek mythology and original bearer of the name
Arts and literature
* ''Cadmus et Hermione'', an opera by ...
and Troezen; and, as one sails along the coast, one comes also to the island of Calauria, which has a circuit of one hundred and thirty stadia and is separated from the mainland by a strait four
stadia
Stadia may refer to:
* One of the plurals of stadium, along with "stadiums"
* The plural of stadion, an ancient Greek unit of distance, which equals to 600 Greek feet (''podes'').
* Stadia (Caria), a town of ancient Caria, now in Turkey
* Stadi ...
wide.
Pre-classical asylum
![Temple of Poseidon Poros](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Temple_of_Poseidon_Poros.jpg)
On Calauria a
Doric temple
The Doric order was one of the three orders of ancient Greek and later Roman architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian. The Doric is most easily recognized by the simple circular capitals at the top of col ...
of
Poseidon
Poseidon (; grc-gre, Ποσειδῶν) was one of the Twelve Olympians in ancient Greek religion and myth, god of the sea, storms, earthquakes and horses.Burkert 1985pp. 136–139 In pre-Olympian Bronze Age Greece, he was venerated as a ch ...
was built in the ancient sanctuary, possibly around 520 BCE. The dimensions of the temple are 27.4 by 14.4 m. There are six columns on each short side and twelve on each long side.
There is strong evidence that the
epithet
An epithet (, ), also byname, is a descriptive term (word or phrase) known for accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, di ...
of Poseidon at Kalaureia was ''Geraistos'' (Γεραιστός), a word from an unknown
pre-Hellenic language. A 6th century A.D. dictionary by
Stephanus of Byzantium
Stephanus or Stephan of Byzantium ( la, Stephanus Byzantinus; grc-gre, Στέφανος Βυζάντιος, ''Stéphanos Byzántios''; centuryAD), was a Byzantine grammarian and the author of an important geographical dictionary entitled ''Ethni ...
gives the names of Zeus's sons as Geraistos,
Tainaros, and Kalauros, who sailed from an unspecified location and landed in different places on the Peloponnesus. Geraistos, Tainaros, and Kalaureia are all sanctuaries of Poseidon; in the towns of the latter two, one of the months of the year was named Geraistios (the only other ''poleis'' (πόλεις) with this month name are Sparta,
Kalymna
Kalymnos ( el, Κάλυμνος) is a Greek island and municipality in the southeastern Aegean Sea. It belongs to the Dodecanese island chain, between the islands of Kos (south, at a distance of ) and Leros (north, at a distance of less than ): ...
, and
Kos
Kos or Cos (; el, Κως ) is a Greek island, part of the Dodecanese island chain in the southeastern Aegean Sea. Kos is the third largest island of the Dodecanese by area, after Rhodes and Karpathos; it has a population of 36,986 (2021 census), ...
). It is also theorized that the epithet Geraistios (Γεραίστιος) also applies to Kalaureia because all three sanctuaries function as asylums.
Another, older
aetiology
Etiology (pronounced ; alternatively: aetiology or ætiology) is the study of causation or origination. The word is derived from the Greek (''aitiología'') "giving a reason for" (, ''aitía'', "cause"); and ('' -logía''). More completely, e ...
of the temple says that it was bartered for by Poseidon himself, who received it from Apollo in exchange for his share of
Delphi
Delphi (; ), in legend previously called Pytho (Πυθώ), in ancient times was a sacred precinct that served as the seat of Pythia, the major oracle who was consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient classical world. The oracle ...
. This story is attested by
Callimachus
Callimachus (; ) was an ancient Greek poet, scholar and librarian who was active in Alexandria during the 3rd century BC. A representative of Ancient Greek literature of the Hellenistic period, he wrote over 800 literary works in a wide variety ...
,
Pausanias Pausanias ( el, Παυσανίας) may refer to:
*Pausanias of Athens, lover of the poet Agathon and a character in Plato's ''Symposium''
*Pausanias the Regent, Spartan general and regent of the 5th century BC
*Pausanias of Sicily, physician of th ...
referencing
Musaeus Musaeus, Musaios ( grc, Μουσαῖος) or Musäus may refer to:
Greek poets
* Musaeus of Athens, legendary polymath, considered by the Greeks to be one of their earliest poets (mentioned by Socrates in Plato's Apology)
* Musaeus of Ephesus, liv ...
, and Strabo referencing the history of
Ephorus
Ephorus of Cyme (; grc-gre, Ἔφορος ὁ Κυμαῖος, ''Ephoros ho Kymaios''; c. 400330 BC) was an ancient Greek historian known for his universal history.
Biography
Information on his biography is limited. He was born in Cyme, A ...
. Pausanias and Strabo both quote the following oracle: "For thee it is the same thing to possess Delos or Kalaureia / most holy Pytho
elphi
The Elbphilharmonie (; "Elbe Philharmonic Hall"), popularly nicknamed Elphi, is a concert hall in the HafenCity quarter of Hamburg, Germany, on the Grasbrook peninsula of the Elbe River. It is among the largest in the world.
The new glassy cons ...
or windy Taenarum."
Kalaureia was mentioned by
Philostephanus
Philostephanus of Cyrene (Philostephanus Cyrenaeus) ( grc, Φιλοστέφανος) was a Hellenistic writer from North Africa, who was a pupil of the poet Callimachus in Alexandria and doubtless worked there during the 3rd century BC.
His hist ...
in a lost work ''On Islands''.
It was to Kalaureia that
Demosthenes
Demosthenes (; el, Δημοσθένης, translit=Dēmosthénēs; ; 384 – 12 October 322 BC) was a Greek statesman and orator in ancient Athens. His orations constitute a significant expression of contemporary Athenian intellectual prow ...
the famous orator, condemned to death with his friends by the pro-Philip Macedonian party at Athens, fled and took sanctuary in Poseidon's sanctuary; as Antipater's officers closed in, he took poison and died, 16 October 322 BCE.
Legendary amphictyony
It is claimed by the Hellenistic historian
Strabo
Strabo''Strabo'' (meaning "squinty", as in strabismus) was a term employed by the Romans for anyone whose eyes were distorted or deformed. The father of Pompey was called "Pompeius Strabo". A native of Sicily so clear-sighted that he could see ...
that in the
Archaic period, an early
amphictyony
In Archaic Greece, an amphictyony ( grc-gre, ἀμφικτυονία, a "league of neighbors"), or amphictyonic league, was an ancient religious association of tribes formed before the rise of the Greek ''poleis''.
The six Dorian cities of coasta ...
, one of several Hellenic leagues of pre-classical times of which little is known, was centered on Kalaureia–the Calaurian Amphictyony. Archaeology of the site suggested to Thomas Kelly that the sacred league was founded in the second quarter of the seventh century BCE, ca 680-650; before that date there were virtually no remains at the site, which could not have been used more than sporadically. A ''peribolos'' (περίβολος) wall enclosing the sanctuary site was built with the temple, but there are no earlier traces of structures. The ''
temenos
A ''temenos'' (Greek: ; plural: , ''temenē''). is a piece of land cut off and assigned as an official domain, especially to kings and chiefs, or a piece of land marked off from common uses and dedicated to a god, such as a sanctuary, holy gro ...
'' or sanctuary dedicated to Poseidon, may have been linked to the sanctuaries at
Geraistos and
Tainaros (Ταίναρος).
The island was known at one time as ''Eirene'' (Εἰρήνη) ("Peace"), clearly in reference to the amphictyony. A reference in Strabo gives a list of the ''
poleis
''Polis'' (, ; grc-gre, πόλις, ), plural ''poleis'' (, , ), literally means "city" in Greek. In Ancient Greece, it originally referred to an administrative and religious city center, as distinct from the rest of the city. Later, it also ...
'' that belonged:
:And there was also a kind of Amphictyonic League connected with this temple, a league of seven cities which shared in the sacrifice; they were
Hermione
Hermione may refer to:
People
* Hermione (given name), a female given name
* Hermione (mythology), only daughter of Menelaus and Helen in Greek mythology and original bearer of the name
Arts and literature
* ''Cadmus et Hermione'', an opera by ...
,
Epidaurus
Epidaurus ( gr, Ἐπίδαυρος) was a small city (''polis'') in ancient Greece, on the Argolid Peninsula at the Saronic Gulf. Two modern towns bear the name Epidavros: ''Palaia Epidavros'' and ''Nea Epidavros''. Since 2010 they belong to the ...
,
Aegina
Aegina (; el, Αίγινα, ''Aígina'' ; grc, Αἴγῑνα) is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece in the Saronic Gulf, from Athens. Tradition derives the name from Aegina (mythology), Aegina, the mother of the hero Aeacus, who was born ...
,
Athens
Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...
,
Prasïeis,
Nauplïeis
Nafplio ( ell, Ναύπλιο) is a coastal city located in the Peloponnese in Greece and it is the capital of the regional unit of Argolis and an important touristic destination. Founded in antiquity, the city became an important seaport in the ...
, and
Orchomenus Minyeius; however, the
Argives
Argos (; el, Άργος ; grc, label=Ancient Greek, Ancient and Katharevousa, Ἄργος ) is a city in Argolis, Peloponnese (region), Peloponnese, Greece and is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inh ...
paid dues for the Nauplians, and the
Lacedaemonians
Sparta (Doric Greek: Σπάρτα, ''Spártā''; Attic Greek: Σπάρτη, ''Spártē'') was a prominent city-state in Laconia, in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (, ), while the name Sparta referred t ...
for the Prasians. (Strabo, ''Geography'' viii.6.14.)
Troezen
Troezen (; ancient Greek: Τροιζήν, modern Greek: Τροιζήνα ) is a small town and a former municipality in the northeastern Peloponnese, Greece, on the Argolid Peninsula. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the munic ...
and
Poros
Poros ( el, Πόρος) is a small Greece, Greek island-pair in the southern part of the Saronic Gulf, about south from the port of Piraeus and separated from the Peloponnese by a wide sea channel, with the town of Galatas, Troizina, Galatas on ...
, which he considered the harbour of Troezen, Strabo omitted. However, there is no archaeological evidence to corroborate this list, and modern scholars believe that a feast in the ancient ''
temenos
A ''temenos'' (Greek: ; plural: , ''temenē''). is a piece of land cut off and assigned as an official domain, especially to kings and chiefs, or a piece of land marked off from common uses and dedicated to a god, such as a sanctuary, holy gro ...
'' celebrating the "revival" of the amphictyony, may have been based on a Hellenistic invention; the feast certainly existed: a third-century BCE plaque celebrating the "revival" of the Kalaureian League has been recovered.
After the
Greco-Persian Wars
The Greco-Persian Wars (also often called the Persian Wars) were a series of conflicts between the Achaemenid Empire and Greek city-states that started in 499 BC and lasted until 449 BC. The collision between the fractious political world of the ...
, the friendly connection between Athens and Troezen appears to have continued; and during the hegemony of the
Athenian empire
The Delian League, founded in 478 BC, was an association of Greek city-states, numbering between 150 and 330, under the leadership of Athens, whose purpose was to continue fighting the Persian Empire after the Greek victory in the Battle of Plat ...
before the
Thirty Years' Peace
The Thirty Years' Peace was a treaty signed between the ancient Greek city-states of Athens and Sparta in 446/445 BC. The treaty brought an end to the conflict commonly known as the First Peloponnesian War, which had been raging since c. 460 BC.
B ...
(455 BCE) Troezen was an ally of Athens, and was apparently garrisoned by Athenian troops; but by this peace the Athenians were compelled to relinquish Troezen. (19.29)
Archaeological excavations
![Kalaureia_Map_-_Med_innehall_och_modern_vag_eng](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/Kalaureia_Map_-_Med_innehall_och_modern_vag_eng.png)
The Sanctuary was excavated by Swedish archaeologists in 1894. These early excavations are treated in Ingrid Berg's PhD thesis (Stockholm University), published in 2016. Excavations were resumed in 1997, conducted by the
Swedish Institute in Athens in collaboration with the Greek National Heritage Board. The results of these new excavations are published in the Institute's journal Opuscula Atheniensia (-2007) and (with
open access
Open access (OA) is a set of principles and a range of practices through which research outputs are distributed online, free of access charges or other barriers. With open access strictly defined (according to the 2001 definition), or libre op ...
) in Opuscula (2008-).
The excavations are also presented at the Institute'
webpage In 2007-2012 the extensive research program "The City, the God, and the Sea" was financed by
Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, and a final report of the results, written in Swedish, is available with open access a
rj.se
Archaeological finds during modern excavations
During the Late Archaic period a number of buildings were erected, including the temple, Stoa D and the Propylon (Building E). Little is known about the temple constructed during this period as it was almost completely robbed out by the time of the early Swedish excavations and when modern work started only foundation trenches and roof tiles remained. The temple was a peripteral building with 6×12 columns, constructed mainly out of poros limestone and was surrounded by a low wall with the main entrance on the east side and a smaller entrance in the south. Stoa D, a simple colonnaded hall, was constructed during the same period and is currently poorly preserved. Building E, usually interpreted as the sanctuary’s propylon, is somewhat better preserved. It has two identifiable rooms in addition to the entrance way, the rooms may have functioned as a bouleuterion or the seat of the amphictyony.
[Penttinen, A., B. Wells ''et al.'' 2009. ‘Report on the excavations in the years 2007 and 2008 southeast of the Temple of Poseidon at Kalaureia’, ''OpAthRom'' 2, 89–134.]
Building activity continued also during the Classical period. Stoa A and Stoa B were constructed along the north side of the sanctuary. Only the foundation of the back wall of Stoa B is preserved. More is known of Stoa A which originally was a Doric building with polygonal walls covered in red plaster and with an inner Ionic colonnade. The building was destroyed already in antiquity, probably around 100 BC. Later, in Roman times, it housed several small sheds with commercial activity, suggesting that the area had an economic function at this time.
The next major phase of building activity also took place during the late 4th century BC. Structures were erected both inside and outside of the sanctuary. Stoa D was expanded by the large trapezoidal building D to the south. Building D was composed of three rectangular rooms that opened into the Stoa. Stoa C (the fourth and final stoa) was erected at the same time to the north-east of Building D. Facing the inner open area of the sanctuary it had an outer Doric and inner Ionic colonnade. An inscription
[IG IV 841] suggests that the building functioned as an archive or was used for other administrative purposes.
Several buildings have also been revealed outside of the sanctuary itself. Building E was interpreted as a bouleuterion due to the many statue bases found in front of it. The large Stoa F was located just to the west of Building E. On the other side of the modern road a rectangular structure (Building G) was located. This was formed by a courtyard which was entered from the east and surrounded by several rooms. Among the finds was a statuette of Asklepios. There is also evidence for private architecture. Immediately to the south of Building D lies the Building I; a large structure which remained in use from the Late Classical period to Roman times. The proximity to the sanctuary suggests that the temenos of Poseidon was surrounded by the city at this time and not isolated from the urban landscape.
The most recent work on the site have focused on Area L to the south of the sanctuary and Building I, across the modern road. The identification of several large pithoi suggests that the building filled a communal function.
See also
*
Swedish Institute at Athens
The Swedish Institute at Athens ( sv, Svenska institutet I Athen; el, Σουηδικό Ινστιτούτο Αθηνών) was founded in 1946 and is one of 19 foreign archaeological institutes operating in Athens, Greece. The Institute is one of ...
Sources
* Swedish Institute at Athens - Kalaureia (2015): https://www.sia.gr/en/articles.php?tid=16&page=1
* Swedish Institute at Athens - The 2016 excavation campaign in Ancient Kalaureia: https://www.sia.gr/en/articles.php?tid=80&page=1
* Swedish Institute at Athens - Kalaureia, Poros (1894 and 1997– ongoing) (2020): https://www.sia.gr/en/articles.php?tid=329&page=1
* Swedish Institute at Athens - The Kalaureia Excavation Project 2021 (2021): https://www.sia.gr/en/articles.php?tid=546&page=1
Notes
External links
*
Kalaureia Archaeological Excavations
{{Authority control
Saronic Islands
Dorians
Ancient Greek sanctuaries
Mycenaean sites in the Peloponnese (region)
Ancient Greek archaeological sites in Greece
Ancient Troezen
Populated places in ancient Argolis
Former populated places in Greece
Poros