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Original: Eretria


 * This is an article about the Greek city of Eretria on Euboea. It should not be confused with Eretria in western Magnesia, Greece or the modern African nation, Eritrea.

Eretria (Greek: Ερέτρια) was a ancient Greek polis, located on the western coast of the island of Euboea (modern Evvoia or Evia), south of Chalcis, facing the coast of Attica across the narrow Euboian Gulf. Eretria was an important Greek polis in the 6th/5th century BC. It however lost its importance already in antiquity. There is a modern Greek town of the same name on the ancient site.

The name Eretria comes from the Greek: ἐρέτης (rower), which makes Eretria the "City of the Rowers".

Prehistory
The first evidence for human activity in the area of Eretria are pottery sherds and stone artefacts from the late Neolithic period (3500-3000 BC) found on the acropolis as well a in the plain. No permanent structures have yet been found. It is therefore unclear whether a permanent settlement existed at that time.

The first known settlement from the Early Helladic period (3000-2000 BC) was located in the plain. A granary and several other buildings as well as a pottery kiln have been found so far. This settlement was moved to the top of the acropolis in the Middle Helladic period (2000-1600 BC), because the plain was flooded from the nearby lagoon. In the Late Helladic period (1600-1100 BC) the population dwindled and the remains found so far have been interpreted as an observation post. The site was abandoned during the Dark Ages.

Geometric period
Eretria was resettled in the 9th century BC on a small scale. So far no habitations of this time have been found and the only evidence for this settlement are the tombs and pottery found on the site.

The first half of the 8th century BC is characterised by the establishment of domestic buildings within the area of Eretria. These houses were not yet part of a city, but where spread out as small settlements from the coast to the foot acropolis. The locations of these settlements were governed by the available space and each settlement probably contained a different family group. This division into family groups can also be seen in the small cemeteries that are placed all over the area. The population of Eretria increased rapidly in this time, as can be seen in the increasing number of domestic structures being constructed. As Lefkandi was declining at the same time, a population movement from there to Eretria has been suggested.

The cemetery around the Heroon of a community leader, west of the city, shows evidence for early religious activities in the form of ancestor worship. This cemetery was then marked off and not longer used for burials. It can therefore be seen as evidence for the move of society from a elite-based society to the polis. Other evidence for religion in the 8th century BC can be found in and around the sanctuary of Apollo Daphnephoros. A large apsidal building with an altar was erected on this site, which contained an earlier structure and evidence for banqueting, as well as large amount of pottery and traces of bronze craftsmanship. While the second phase shows clear evidence for religious activity, the situation for the first phase is not so clear and it could be interpreted as place of non-religious activities as well. Evidence for religious activities has also been found in a place nearby, where large amount of ritual pottery and votive offerings has been found.

Eretria in the 8th century BC had many commercial relationships in the Eastern Mediterranean. Evidence of this are artefacts found that originated in the Aegean and Egypt. This trade was however not only restricted to objects, but ideas were traded as well. Eretrian Geometric pottery had clearly motifs with oriental influences. Eretria is also one of the first Greek cities, in which alphabetic script has been found (as graffiti on pottery). It can therefore be seen as one of the centres from where the alphabetic script spread over Greece.

Eretria in the 8th century BC had many commercial relationships in the Eastern Mediterranean. Evidence of this are artefacts found in Eretria that originated in the Aegean, Cyprus and Egypt. This trade however was not only restricted to objects, but ideas were traded as well. Eretrian Geometric pottery had clearly motifs with oriental influences. Eretria is also one of the first Greek cities, in which alphabetic script has been found (as graffiti on pottery). It can therefore be seen as one of the centres from where the alphabetic script spread over Greece.

In the 8th century BC Eretria experienced a profound evolution, which led to internal conflicts. This was followed by people leaving Eretria and starting overseas colonies. Eretria, together with its Eubean neighbours, was one of the pioneers in early Greek colonization in Italy, as well as in the north of Greece, in Chalkidike. Cities that were founded by Eretrians in Italy were Pithekussai on island of Ischia in the Gulf of Naples (together with Chalcis) and Kumai. In Chalkidike, it was involved in the foundation of Methone, Dikaia, and Mende. This leading role however did not last for too long and Eretria was later surpassed by other Greek cities.

The earliest surviving literary mention of Eretria was by Homer in the Iliad, who listed Eretria as one of the Greek cities which sent ships to the Trojan War.

Archaic period
Eretria flourished during the second half of the 8th century BC and its pottery is found all over the Mediterranean. This however changed at ca. 700 BC, as all exports suddenly stopped. The island of Delos is the only place where Eretrian pottery of this time can be found. The Lelantine War between Eretria and Chalcis is often being cited as the reason behind this decline and it has been suggested that Eretria's defeat to Chalkis forced it to retreat from international trade or even that it was destroyed and abandoned at the beginning of the 7th century BC. The archaeological record however shows that that was not true. Proof for this is the diversion of a river next to the city in 680 BC and the building of a "hundred foot temple" (hekatompedon) on the place of the Sanctuary of Apollo Daphnephoros.

The second half of the 6th century BC and the beginning of the 55th century BC saw a turbulent time for Eretria's history. The development was foreshadowed by the building of a city wall in ca. 550 BC. Eretria had links with Athens at the end of the 6th and beginning of the 5th century BC. These links can be seen in the Temple of Apollo, which was built in ca. 530 BC. Its west-pediment shows Theseus, fighting against the Amazons and Athena in a central position. These links also led to Eretria giving refuge to the Athenian tyrant Peisistratos at ca. 540 BC. The end of the 6th century saw also the naval supremacy, from 506 BC until its destruction by the Persians in 490 BC. In 499 BC, Eretria joined the Athenians in their fight against the Persian Empire.

This involvement in the First Persian War led to a Persian expedition being sent in 490 BC by King Darios to punish Greek cities that supported the Ionians. The Siege of Eretria lasted for 6 days and ended with the conquest of Eretria by the Persians. The impact of the conquest however is not clear. The burning of sanctuaries is attested in the archaeological record, but no evidence has been found that the whole city was destroyed. Evidence of deportation of several hundred Eretrians (including women and children) to Arderrika (north of Susa) has been found, however this were probably just a small minority and most of the Eretrian citizens were able to find refuge in the nearby mountains.

Classical period
Despite the aftermath of the conquest by the Persians Eretria recovered quickly and participated again both on land and sea in the Second Persian War (480-479 BC) to defeat the invading King Xerxes. After the defeat of the Persians Eretria aligned itself with Athens and joined the Delian League (like all Eubean cities did. Some years after joining the Delian League (ca. 457 BC), Eretria had to hand over Oropos its ancient trading post on the mainland to Athens. During the second half of the 5th century BC, Eretria, together with other Euboean cities, rebelled 3 times against Athens. The first rebellion in 446 BC was defeated by Perikles. The second rebellion, which most likely occurred in 424 BC, after a defeat of Athens in Boeotia, ended in a severe defeat of Eretria and Chalkis. The last and final rebellion started after the catastrophic defeat of the Athenian expedition to Sicily in 413 BC. The final step of the rebellion happened in 411 BC with the help of the Spartan admiral Agesandridas after the Athenian democracy was overthrown and the naval defeat of Athens in the harbour of Eretria. This led to the Eretrians joining the Peloponnesian side. Autonomos son of Samios, an Eretrian squadron leader was then part of the army of the Lacedaemonian Lysander that brought the last defeat to the Athenian naval fleet.

This time however was not only a time of despair for Eretria, but even brought a certain prosperity to Eretria. Eretrian Silver coins from the 5th century BC to ca 430-425 BC and precious imports from Attica testify to this prosperity. At the same time some famous Eretrian artists like the sculptor Philesios and the poet Achaios are known.

In 394 BC, 10 years after the end of the Peloponnesian War, Eretria split with Sparta and allied itself with Athens again. In 378 BC Eretria, together with its neighbours, joined the Second Athenian Empire. They were however soon bothered with Athens' imperialism and left the empire in 371 BC, after Athens had regained control again over Oropos, which they had lost in 411 BC to Eretria.

After its split with Athens, Eretria formed an alliance with Thebes. At the same time an attempt was made by several Euboean cities, to form a confederation of cities, which can be seen on several coins, issued in the first half of the 4th century BC. Even so they had success in taking back Oropos from Athens in 366 BC) with the help of Thebes, Eretria had a time of huge struggle, internally, as well as externally, for the following quarter of a century. Several coups d'états happened during this time in a struggle between oligarchs and democrats. Notable people were there the tyrants Ploutarchos and Kleitarchos. This time of struggle ended in 341 BC with the help of Athens.

After the defeat of the Greek coalition at the Battle of Chaeronea by Philip II of Macedon in 338 BC, Eretria came under the control of the kings of Macedonia. Eretria took not part in the rebellion of Greek cities against Macedonian domination, which started in 323 BC, after the death of Alexander the great, because it hoped to regain control over Oropos, when the rebellion was put down.

Hellenistic period
Eretria enjoyed a period of relative independence in the time after the Lamian War from 322 BC to 267 BC. The most prominent citizen of the city at that time was the philosopher Menedemo, who occupied several important offices in the city during this time. This time saw the construction of a new theatre, as well as the great civil engineering project of the drainage of a marshy area in the heart of their territory.

Next: Macedonian ambitions

Roman period
In 198 BC it was plundered by the Romans. In 87 BC it was finally destroyed in the Mithridatic Wars and abandoned.

Modern Revival
The modern town of Eretria was established in 1824, after Greek independence, and is now a popular beachside resort. Excavations of ancient Eretria began in the 1890s and have been conducted since 1964 by the Greek Archaeological Service (11th Ephorate of Antiquities) and the Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece, who also established its archaeological museum, which displays finds from Eretria and Lefkandi.

The town can be reached from Attica by ferry or via Chalcis by car. It's an important station on the way to the south of the island. It has many taverns and a long beach promenade. The archaeological excavations are located on the northern edge of the modern town.

GNU Photos Eretria

Eretria in Literature

 * Diodoros of Sicily mentions Eretria in his thalassocracy list (VII 11, 1).
 * Homer (Iliad 2.537)

Notable Citizens

 * the sculptor Philesios, who worked for his compatriots in Olympia
 * the poet Achaios, the author of tragedies staged in Athens
 * exile Gongylos, the founder of a princely dynasty in Mysia (Asia Minor),