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The Naxian presence in the Aegean during the late bronze age : contacts and relationships, influence and interconnection

Μελέτες-Articles

• Πολυχρονάκου-Σγουρίτσα, Νάγια

Naxos flourished during the Late Bronze Age, mainly from the 15th to the 12th century B.C., in a way similar to that of the Early Bronze Age. This may be due to its strategic position in the centre of the Aegean, to its available, more or less fertile land and raw material, to the special conditions of the times and to the Naxians’ experience in the sea roads.The acquaintance of the Naxians with the sea and their participation in the Aegean exchange system can be traced to the Late Neolithic period. This precious experience should have been exploited by the Mycenaeans of the mainland Greece. The Mycenaeanization of the Cyclades, and especially of Naxos, was accomplished by the 13th century B.C. It could be assumed that one or more of the Mycenaean “states” exercised a strong influence, at least cultural, but plausibly political as well, on the Cyclades and Naxos. During the 12th century, after the collapse of the Mycenaean palace system, Naxos was actively involved in the network of contacts and exchanges that was established in the Aegean and beyond. It may be assumed that Naxos was not any more simply a port of call for the Mycenaeans sailing to the East and South, but it was independently involved in the sea traffic and trade. It can also be possible as well that the Naxians were strengthened by mainlanders who settled there, fleeing from the disturbances in their homelands.It is easy to detect the possibly direct relationships that Naxos held with several regions of the Aegean, e.g. Attica, East Peloponnese, Crete, Dodecanese, as well as to investigate the influence exercised on Naxos by these areas and vice versa.The myths, though it is difficult to discern the historical truth from the political propaganda of the classical era, suggest an especially strong connection with Attica, which also the finds indicate.The intense activity of Naxos during the 12th century may be due to the new political situation in the Aegean and the independency, of whatever character, of the Cyclades from Mainland Greece. Though it may seem attractive, this hypothesis remains to be proved in the future by more archaeological evidence.

• History and Archaeology

• Ιστορία, Αρχαία

Νάξος, εποχή του Χαλκού

Περιέχει συντομογραφίες και βιβλιογραφία, Αποτελεί ανακοίνωση στο Β' Πανελλήνιο Συνέδριο με θέμα "Η Νάξος διά μέσου των αιώνων",Χαλκί, 4-7 Σεπτεμβρίου 1997.