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Axon | Vol. 3 | Issue 2 | December 2019

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Research Article

Athenian Fortifications in the Classical age: Notes on Some horoi of Uncertain Interpretation

Daniela Francesca Marchiandi    Università degli Studi di Torino    

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abstract

The paper examines some Athenian horoi of uncertain interpretation. Specifically I refer to a series of three horoi inscribed with the letter κ (ca. 450 BC) and a fourth horos inscribed with the letter α (400-350 BC). The hypothesis is that the letters are to be recognised not as abbreviations, according to the current interpretation, but as letter-labels. The horoi would serve to mark the sectors in which urban fortifications were divided, according to what we know for other poleis of the Greek world since the classical period (Corinth, Smyrna, Stratonikeia, Kos). Precisely these comparisons lead us to believe that these subdivisions were functional to the organisation of the defence of the walls, the so called phylakē. Alternatively, it cannot be excluded that they should instead be explained in the framework of the organisation of the building works of the walls or of the management of their ordinary maintenance.

Published
Dec. 23, 2019
Accepted
Oct. 30, 2019
Submitted
Oct. 5, 2019
Language
IT

Keywords: Defense of the polis • Fortifications • Smyrna • Horoi • Corinth • Kos • Tacticians • Stratonikeia • Athens • Letter-labels • Architectural inscriptions

permalink http://doi.org/10.30687/Axon/2532-6848/2019/02/017

Copyright: © 2019 Daniela Francesca Marchiandi. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.