The Cambridge Companion to Ancient Athens (Cambridge Companions to the Ancient World)

Named for a goddess, epicenter of the first democracy, birthplace of tragic and comic theatre, locus of the major philosophical schools, artistically in the vanguard for centuries, ancient Athens looms large in contemporary study of the ancient world. This Companion is a comprehensive introduction the city, its topography and monuments, inhabitants and cultural institutions, religious rituals and politics. Chapters link the religious, cultural, and political institutions of Athens to the physical locales in which they took place. Discussion of the urban plan, with its streets, gates, walls, and public and private buildings, provides readers with a thorough understanding of how the city operated and what people saw, heard, smelled, and tasted as they flowed through it. Drawing on the latest scholarship, as well as excavation discoveries at the Agora, sanctuaries, and cemeteries, the Companion explores how the city was planned, how it functioned, and how it was transformed from a democratic polis into a Roman city. Athens : an introduction / Jenifer Neils -- #Leagros : an Athenian life / H.A. Shapiro -- Asty Chora : city and countryside / Sylvian Fachard -- The emergence of the Polis / John K. Papadopoulos -- City streets, walls, and gates / Leda Costaki and Anna Maria Theocharaki -- The Akropolis / Panos Valavanis -- The Agora : public life and administration / John McK. Camp II -- Athenian inscriptions / Elizabeth A. Meyer -- Water and water manangement / Jutta Stroszeck -- Housing and domestic architecture / Katherine B. Harrington -- The archaic and classical cemeteries / Tim Shea -- Population and social structure / Danielle L. Kellogg -- The Athenian family / Cynthia B. Patterson -- Death and disease / Maria A. Liston -- Animals in Athenian life / Tyler Jo Smith -- Labor and employment / David M. Lewis -- Piraeus : harbors, navy, and shipping / George Steinhauer -- The archaeology of markets and trade / Mark L. Lawall -- Coinage and its economic implications / John H. Kroll -- The ceramic industry / Susan I. Rotroff -- Sculpture and its role in the city / Olga Palagia -- The philosophical schools / Geoffrey Bakewell -- Athletics, democracy, and war / David M. Pritchard -- Theatrical spaces / Valentina Di Napoli -- Athenian festivals / Margaret M. Miles and Jenifer Neils -- Eating and drinking / Ann Steiner -- Sex and the city / Kirk Ormand -- Associations / James Kierstead -- Rule of law and lawcourts / Edward M. Harris -- Armed forces / David M. Pritchard -- Roman Athens / Dylan K. Rogers -- Early travelers and the rediscovery of Athens / Robert K. Pitt -- Modern Athens and its relationship with the past / Robert A. Bridges, Jr. -- Urban archaeology : uncovering the ancient city / Leda Costaki Contents 5 Contributors 8 Abbreviations 10 Athens: An Introduction 11 1. #Leagros: An Athenian Life 17 Part 1. The Urban Fabric 29 2. Asty and Chora: City and Countryside 31 3. The Emergence of the Polis 45 4. City Streets, Walls, and Gates 57 5. The Akropolis 73 6. The Agora: Public Life and Administration 96 7. Athenian Inscriptions 108 8. Water and Water Management 120 9. Housing and the Household 134 10. The Archaic and Classical Cemeteries 150 Part 2. Inhabitants 167 11. Population and Social Structure 169 12. The Athenian Family 183 13. Death and Disease 198 14. Animals in Athenian Life 209 15. Labor and Employment 225 Part 3. Business/Commerce 239 16. Piraeus: Harbors, Navy, and Shipping 241 17. The Archaeology of Markets and Trade 254 18. Coinage and Its Economic Implications 267 19. The Ceramic Industry 279 20. Sculpture and Its Role in the City 292 Part 4. Culture and Sport 303 21. The Philosophical Schools 305 22. Athletics, Democracy, and War 317 23. Theatrical Spaces 329 24. Athenian Festivals 342 25. Eating and Drinking 355 26. Sex and the City 372 Part 5. Politics 387 27. Associations 389 28. Rule of Law and Lawcourts 402 29. Armed Forces 415 Reception 429 30. Roman Athens 431 31. Early Travelers and the Rediscovery of Athens 447 32. Modern Athens and Its Relationship with the Past 459 33. Urban Archaeology: Uncovering the Ancient City 472 Index 492 "Named for a goddess, epicenter of the first democracy, birthplace of tragic and comic theatre, locus of the major philosophical schools, artistically in the vanguard for centuries, ancient Athens looms large in contemporary study of the ancient world. This Companion is a comprehensive introduction the city, its topography and monuments, inhabitants and cultural institutions, religious rituals and politics. Chapters link the religious, cultural, and political institutions of Athens to the physical locales in which they took place. Discussion of the urban plan, with its streets, gates, walls, and public and private buildings, provide readers with a thorough understanding of how the city operated and what people saw, heard, smelled, and tasted as they flowed through it. Drawing on the latest scholarship, as well as excavation discoveries at the Agora, sanctuaries, and cemeteries, the Companion explores how the city was planned, how it functioned, and how it was transformed from a democratic polis into a Roman city"-- Provided by publisher This book is a comprehensive introduction to ancient Athens, its topography, monuments, inhabitants, cultural institutions, religious rituals, and politics. Drawing from the newest scholarship on the city, this volume examines how the city was planned, how it functioned, and how it was transformed from a democratic polis into a Roman urbs.