Like many other centres in Greece and elsewhere in the Roman Empire, Athens strengthened its fortifications in the 3rd century AD in the face of the barbarian threat. Later the city received a reduced wall circuit that included only a small part of the previous urban area. The construction of reduced enceintes in Greece and elsewhere in the Roman Empire appears to be a typical phenomenon of the Late Antique process of fortification. But the dating of these circuits has often been too simplistically connected with barbarian attacks without considering the relationship between the walls and the contemporary development of the cities in question. This contribution seeks to analyse the fortification of various Greek cities between the 3rd and the 6th century AD. Given the religious significance of the Acropolis of Athens, which is included within the reduced wall circuit, the fortification of other Greek sanctuaries will also be taken into account. The examples considered here derive from various Greek provinces (Achaia, Macedonia, Epirus vetus, Epirus Nova). Each case will be studied in context by taking into account its geographical and strategic position, its significance within the imperial system, and the relationship between urban area and Late Antique circuits. A comparison with these cases will then hopefully lead to a better understanding of the Late Antique fortifications of Athens.
Baldini, I. (2016). About the meaning of fortifications in late antique cities: the case of Athens in context.
About the meaning of fortifications in late antique cities: the case of Athens in context
BALDINI, ISABELLA;
2016
Abstract
Like many other centres in Greece and elsewhere in the Roman Empire, Athens strengthened its fortifications in the 3rd century AD in the face of the barbarian threat. Later the city received a reduced wall circuit that included only a small part of the previous urban area. The construction of reduced enceintes in Greece and elsewhere in the Roman Empire appears to be a typical phenomenon of the Late Antique process of fortification. But the dating of these circuits has often been too simplistically connected with barbarian attacks without considering the relationship between the walls and the contemporary development of the cities in question. This contribution seeks to analyse the fortification of various Greek cities between the 3rd and the 6th century AD. Given the religious significance of the Acropolis of Athens, which is included within the reduced wall circuit, the fortification of other Greek sanctuaries will also be taken into account. The examples considered here derive from various Greek provinces (Achaia, Macedonia, Epirus vetus, Epirus Nova). Each case will be studied in context by taking into account its geographical and strategic position, its significance within the imperial system, and the relationship between urban area and Late Antique circuits. A comparison with these cases will then hopefully lead to a better understanding of the Late Antique fortifications of Athens.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
