Εισαγωγή εις την μελέτην του Κωπαϊδικού χώρου
Part of : Αρχαιολογικά ανάλεκτα εξ Αθηνών ; Vol.VI, No.2, 1973, pages 201-214
Issue:
Pages:
201-214
Parallel Title:
Introduction to the study of the Copaic area
Section Title:
Αρχαιολογικά χρονικά
Author:
Abstract:
As already mentioned ( see Theodore G. Spyropoulos, Egyptian Colonization in Boeotia, AAA V ( 1972 ), p. 16 ff. ), the plain of Copais and the lakes of Hylike and Paralimni in Boeotia are of the greatest interest for the study of Greek Prehistory.This is only an introductory note to the general study of this part of Boeotia, which began three years ago, under the auspices of Professor Marinates, and has already revealed an amazing archaeological panorama.The geographical and historical unity of the three Boeotian lakes ( Copais - Hylike - Paralimni ) will be the object of the author’s future publications. The present article gives only an outline of the study of another subject of research under the title: Man in Copais. Four items are included in this general review : a) the caves, b) the settlements, c) the technical constructions, d) the historical adventure of man in the Copaic lakes.a) The caves. Around the whole Copaic plain there is a continuous chain of caves, most of which bear traces of human installation. This has been already attested in several instances either by surface finds or by experimental digging. Work is still in progress in several of the Copaic caves. During the last months of the previous year I cleared a sector in one of the largest and most interesting caves of Copais, known today as the 'Cave of the Saracen’. It is situated on Mt. Ptoon, a hundred metres above the surface of the plain and about 500 m. to the west of the road to the village of Akraifnion. The cave has two distinct rooms. The first is a huge natural and roughly circular ( diameter 50 m. ) space, about 8 m. high, with a large opening to the south. Deep layers cover the whole room ( max. depth ca. 5 m. ). A stratigra- phical section in the middle of the cave yielded MH, EH and Neolithic finds to a depth of 3 m. Beneath this and down to bedrock level, to a depth of 4.60 m., we found no pottery ( Preceramic strata ), but only bones of small animals and birds and some blades of brown flint. The second room is an extensive, but very narrow and low opening, accessible through a rock - slit at the N.W. end of the main cave area. Although not yet properly explored, it was found to contain clay figurines of the Late Neolithic period and broken -pottery. A few metres below this last room were uncovered two excellent Neolithic vases ( see fig. 10 ). There will be several issues about this most important Copaic cave.b) The settlements. The Copaic area was densely occupied during Prehistoric times. Six Neolithic settlements have been identified there, as well as nine of the Early Helladic, tenof the Middle Helladic and seventeen of the Late Helladic periods ( Syrio- poulos, loc. cit. ). More settlements have been discovered, especially near or by the lakes of Hylike and Para- limni ( see Th. G. Spyropoulos, loc. cit. ). We have not yet found any settlements in Copais, for we did not have any knowledge of the existence of settlements in the lakes, as we do at present. Ancient tradition, however, speaks plainly of at least two cities at Copais, which were submerged in the Copaic flood. Those were Άθήναι and Έλευσίς ( Strabo IX, 18, 5 ), most probably situated between Aliar- tos and Koroneia ( see below ).c) The Technical Constructions of theCopaic area include :1. The banks, ditches, katabothrae, and tunnels.2. The fortified strongholds, which mainly surround the three lakes of the Copaic plain, apparently used as placesof inspection of the technical works which transformed the unhealthy and useless area into a land of prosperity and richness.3. The roads and other communication systems between the centres and posts of the Copaic world.As a whole, this work was the result of peace and unity within the flourishing central power of the Minyans, whose engineering skill is thus marked by one of the most ingenious works of antiquity. When this power disintegrated, the whole work was dissolved and destroyed ( see below ).The entire technical work in the Copaic area has not yet been completely interpreted and recorded, and so far no sufficient data support the proposed different dates of its construction.Advancing the theory that the Mi- nyans are to be identified with Egyptian settlers, who occupied Boeotia at the end of the 3rd millennium B.C.( see Theodore G. Spyropoulos, loc. cit. ), I suggested that they were the first to undertake and complete the above - mentioned technical works in the Copaic area ( loc. cit. p. 26 ).Excavation is the best, if not the only means, to prove the date of the Copaic works, which are still in progress in our days. By the north bank of Lake Copais, an area of about 10 m. in length and 2.80 m. in depth, facing the big wall of the bank, has been cleared this year. The pottery, although very poorly preserved, dates in my opinion to a very early phase of the MH period. It is too early yet to decide whether this date is to be ascribed to the Copaic works as well, but the first results of the exploration support fairly well the thesis proposed in the above lines.d) The Human Adventure in the Copaic area. Even today, after continuous rainfall, the plain of Copais turns into a swamp, the waters of the lakes inundating their banks and the surrounding area; the northern part of the plain of the village Vagia, before Onchestos, becomes a lake. Until some years ago those floods caused terror to people living in the plain of Copais. The waters of river Cephissos rushed to the katabothra of 'Bouka’, although the waters of the other canals were checked and flooded the lake.Ancient tradition mentions two cataclysmic disasters in Lake Copais, one before and the other after the Trojan War. Four towns or cities are mentioned as having been flooded. Arne, Midea, Athens, and Eleusis, while Copae had miraculously just escaped destruction. Besides that, recent archaeological research has revealed many settlements or whole cities in the banks of the two lakes ( see Theodore G. Spyropoulos, AAA IV ( 1971 ), pp. 319-331 ). Other settlements certainly lie under the waters of the lakes.Those events had immediate tragic consequences in ancient times. Whole cities disappeared under the waters in a biblical atmosphere, which stirred the human mind and created legends. The human adventure in Copais is a new chapter in World Prehistory.
Subject:
Subject (LC):
Keywords:
προϊστορία, Βοιωτία
Notes:
Περιέχει εικόνες, χάρτες και σχέδια
