Connecting a City to the Sea: The History of the Athenian Long Walls (History and Archaeology of Classical Antiquity) (Mnemosyne, Supplements)

The Long Walls joining Athens with its harbors are universally recognized as symbols of naval imperialism and the lynchpin of a radical departure from traditional Greek military strategy during the later fifth century B.C. Nevertheless, many important questions about the structures remain disputed or simply neglected. As the first comprehensive history of the Long Walls, the present study dates each construction phase, examines the function of the structures from beginning to end, and chronicles their fluctuating viability. The analysis is driven by the proposition that the Athenians would not have relied on the walls to the sea when their navy did not control the sea lanes effectively. This full consideration of the Long Walls' development and strategic prominence over time will enable accurate assessment of their position in Greek military and political history from classical through early Hellenistic times. Connecting a City to the Sea: The History of the Athenian Long Walls 4 Contents 8 List of Figures 10 Preface 12 Acknowledgements 14 1 Introduction 16 Physical Characteristics of the Long Walls 18 Local Topography 19 Nomenclature: Phase Ia 34 Nomenclature: Phases Ia/Ib 39 Nomenclature: Phases II, III, and IV 49 Nomenclature: Summary 50 2 Phase Ia 52 462/1–458/7 52 Purpose 70 458/7–446 75 Summary 78 3 Phase Ib 80 Circa 443/2 80 Purpose 89 Summary 92 4 Phases Ia/Ib 94 Later 440s–431 94 Perikleian Strategy 95 Perikleian Strategy and the Phase Ia Long Walls 99 431–425 103 425–413 108 413–404 108 404–395/4 120 Summary 121 5 Phase II 124 395/4–Circa 392/1 124 Purpose 133 Circa 392/1–337 138 Summary 145 6 Phase III 148 337–Circa 334 149 Justifying the Phase III Long Walls 160 Circa 334–307 163 Summary 173 7 Phase IV 176 307–304 176 Justifying the Phase IV Long Walls 180 304 to Mid-280s 185 Summary 205 The Long Walls as Relics 207 8 Strategic Context of the Long Walls 214 Bibliography 220 Figures 244 Index 254 Driven by the proposition that the Athenians would not have relied on the Long Walls when their navy was weak, this comprehensive history of the structures dates each construction phase, examines the wallsa (TM) purpose, and chronicles their fluctuating viability