Acharnae, the Ancient Greek town in the shape of a 'sea bass'
Acharnae (in Greek Archarnai) was a deme of ancient Attica located east of the pass between Mount Parnes and Mount Egaleo.
Its name is possibly of pre-Greek origin and may mean "sea bass" due to the plain’s resemblance to the shape of a fish. Another theory suggests it derives from Acharnas, a mythical hero and alleged founder of this town.
The earliest evidence of continuous settlement in Acharnae dates back to the Neolithic.
Acharnai is located in Peloponnese
Near the Lykopetra neighborhood, a Mycenaean tholos tomb has been uncovered, along with traces of another Bronze Age tomb in the modern-day area of Nemesis. Excavations across Acharnae have led to speculation that it may have been a politically autonomous region during the Mycenaean era.
Most archaeological findings come from the Classical and Hellenistic periods (5th-2nd centuries BCE), including necropolis spread across the area, remnants of the road network, and 4th-century BCE hydraulic infrastructure, which provide insights into local public and private life.
Acharnae had numerous sanctuaries and altars dedicated to gods like Apollo Aguieus, Heracles, Athena Hygieia, Athena Hippia, Dionysus Melpomenus, and Dionysus Kisseus (the latter named for the ivy plant, which the Acharnians claimed first grew in their deme).
Finds from grave goods - Archaeological Collection of Acharnae's Museum
Acharnae produced no particularly famous figures, but was renowned for its fertile lands, especially its vineyards and olive groves, which stretched as far as the banks of the Ilissos River and were irrigated by channels. The Acharnians were also known for cultivating cereals and for their charcoal production. They had a characteristic appearance: they were easily recognized in the market of Athens because were accompanied by donkeys which carried the goods. Notably, the donkeys of Acharnae were famous for their size, perhaps humorously so. The oligarch Peisander, who was from Acharnae, was even nicknamed "the donkey" due to this local association. Their rough, stubborn character was famously depicted by Aristophanes in his comedy The Acharnians. But according to Pindar, they were reputedly brave.
Kantharos with Donkey-Head Attachment. Greek, Attica, c. 520-500 BCE. Black-Figure Pottery. British Museum, London
The deme of Acharnae belonged to the Oineis tribe and was one of the most populous in Attica. According to Thucydides (II, 20, 4), this allowed Acharnae to provide the highest number of hoplites , over 3,000 of the 13,000-14,000 Athenian total, though this number is now believed to have been closer to 1,000.
Greek hoplite battle - Chigi Vase with Hoplites holding javelins and spears, c. 640 BCE - The Etruscan Museum Villa Giulia, Rome
During the initial phase of the Peloponnesian War, the Spartan army, led by King Archidamus II, advanced to Acharnae, where they ravaged the land in an attempt to draw the Athenians into open battle. The destruction, including the abandonment of the temple of Ares, contributed to the Acharnians’ reputation for ferocity, a trait highlighted by Aristophanes in Lysistrata.
In the aftermath of the Peloponnesian War, a decisive battle took place in Acharnae between democratic forces led by Thrasybulus and the Thirty Tyrants supported by Sparta. Thrasybulus’s 700 men and two cavalry divisions succeeded in cutting off the Spartans’ supplies, resulting in a victory for the democrats.
In the 4th century BCE, the city held a prominent position in the Athenian council, providing 22 out of the 500 council members, more than any other deme.
Textile production. Athena, the goddess of the city, of intelligence and of skill was also the patron goddess of weaving.
Last update: November 7, 2024
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