ANCIENT COLONIES OF THE PELOPONNESE - PART 2

Text Nikos Aivalis, research Elpida Zografidou, translation by Eva Trombetas

Ancient Greece's borders many centuries ago certainly did not resemble its current borders at all. Phocaeans, Milesians, Ionians, Dorians, Mycenaeans and other Greeks traveled from one end of the Mediterranean to the other. From Spain with cities like Emporion and Hemeroscopeion, France with cities like Marseille and Nice, to Georgia with cities like Dioscuria, the Taurica Peninsula with cities like Pantikapaion, to North Africa with cities like Cyrene and Taurheira, as well as Egypt with cities such as Naukratis, but also many other parts of the world. In this article, we will try to see the colonies made by the Peloponnesians outside the borders of modern Greece. Here you can take a look at the first part of the feature: Ancient Colonies of the Peloponnese. Let's get to know the places that are connected with the Peloponnese!

To begin with, we are heading to ancient Epidamnos, known today as Durres in central Albania. The city was founded around 627 BC from Corinthians who had colonized Corfu, led by Falias the Corinthian, son of Eratocleides. The city flourished commercially and culturally on the Illyrian coast. This resulted in it getting targeted by the barbaric Taulantii, an Illyrian tribe, resulting in 435 BC. to start raids. The Epidamnians initially asked for help from nearby Corfu, but people of Corfu refused to help. The Epidamnians then received an oracle from the oracle of Delphi, to hand over the city to their old metropolis, Corinth, so that it could take over its protection. The Corinthians responded immediately, but when the people of Corfu learned this, in retaliation they sent an army to help the Taulantii, with whom the Epidamni aristocrats had allied, because they had been expelled by the Democrats. The reaction of Corinth was immediate, gatherιng a very large army both on land and sea, with the help of Megareon and Argion from Epidaurus, Ermioni and Troizina, while they asked for help from Kefallinia as well as Lefkada. When people of Corfu found this out, they asked for help from Athens, but the Corinthians again acted immediately and threatened Athens that if it allied with the people of Corfu it would be a violation of the peace with Sparta and the Peloponnesian Alliance. Athens discreetly helped the people of Corfu and as a result Epidamnos was an important occasion for the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War. Today Epidamnos, nowadays known as Durres, is the second largest city in Albania and its main port.

Epidamnos, ancient theater

Kanopos, Egypt, an important port for Greek trade, which was colonized by the Lacedaemonians, led by the mythical Kanopos, originally from Amyklais. Kanopus was the captain of Menelaus and took part in the Trojan War. After the end of the war, the ship of Menelaus, ruled by Kanopus, was dragged to Crete due to a great storm. From there he found himself in Egypt, where he remained for several years. This ancient port is located near the present-day Egyptian city of Abu Qir.

Abu Qir, where the ancient Kanopos was located

Cnidus of Caria, south of Halicarnassus (Bodrum), coast of Asia Minor. An ancient city which was founded by the Lacedaemonians, became the center of the Dorians and gained tremendous power and wealth. There was a market, a theater, a Gymnasium, as well as many temples and sanctuaries. Also in Cnidus was crafted the statue of Cnidia Aphrodite, work of the great sculptor, Praxiteles.

Cnidus, ancient port

Ancient city of Aizanoi, northwestern Turkey, near the present-day city of Cavdarhisar. The settler of the city, according to Pausanias, was Azanas, ancestor of the Arcadian tribe of Azans, son of Arcadas, ancestor of the Arcadians, descendant of Pelasgos and Lycaon, with mother the Nymph Erato. In this ancient city, founded by Arcadians from Azania in Arcadia, which is located in the present-day area of Kalavrita, there was a temple of Zeus, a temple of Artemis, a market, a theater and much more.

Aizanoi, temple of Zeus

Metapontio, southern Italy, was founded in the 7th century BC from Achaeans of ancient Eliki, in Achaea. Metapontio is located near Taranto. The city experienced great prosperity thanks to its trade. Metapontio at the end of the 6th century BC hosted Pythagoras and became the center of the Pythagoreans.

Metapontio, temple of Hera

Caulonia, east coast of Calabria, southern Italy. It was founded by Achaeans, led by Typhoon from Aigio, around 800 BC. The name of the city comes from the mythical hero Caulon, who was the son of the Amazon Cleitis, who was the nurturer of the queen of the Amazons Penthesilea, daughter of the god Mars and Otriris. According to the legend, Caulon and his mother Cleitis, went to Magna Graecia, where they founded the city of Caulonia. The city was an ally of Croton and Syvaris, while it constituted a trading center.

Caulonia, ancient temple

Syvaris, southern Italy, in the Gulf of Taranto. The city was founded by Achaeans of Eliki in Achaea, and Argeians from Troizina, in 720 BC. The name of the city, according to Strabo, comes from the corruption of "Saggar", which according to some researchers comes from the Thracian dialect. In a very fertile land, the city flourished with trade, while the city itself established colonies, such as Poseidonia in the area of Campania, south of Naples. Syvaris was famous for its prosperity, dominant power of the region, with monumental festivals, where wealth flowed abundantly, to such an extent that no citizen needed to do manual labor, which was done by hired laborers and slaves. They attached great importance to meals and cooks who were trying to devise new food dishes and sweets. All the noisy work was done outside the city, while many streets were covered with awnings to protect people from the sun and rain. All this resulted in them being criticized by the rest of the Greeks for the luxurious life of the inhabitants of the city, who, no doubt, had managed to create until the 6th century BC the largest and most prosperous city of that time.

Syvaris, ancient city

This is the end of the second feature. But it's not the last one, as a third part will follow, where together with the ancient Peloponnesians we will travel back in time to distant places. Stay tuned.