The Contribution Archaeological or Written Evidence Have Made to Our Understanding of the Harbour’s Significance in Alexandrian Life and Society
Archaeological excavations and written sources have provided a
significant contribution to the understanding of the Harbour’s impact
within Alexandrian society. The ancient city of Alexandria quickly
became a booming metropolis equal in size to such great cities as Rome
and Athens. Perhaps the main stimulant of this intense and rapid
growth was the Great Harbour that serviced the city. Archaeological
excavations and written commentaries have indeed, aided in confirming
the existence of Alexandria. The cosmopolitan seaport of Alexandria
has accommodated two primary harbours since the 4th century AD, the
Great Harbour (Megas Limin) and the Eunostos, of which the Western one
was the chief commercial centre and the site of the customs house and
numerous warehouses for cotton, grain, sugar and wool. ‘The ports of
Alexandria flourished during the Hellenistic, and the Roman periods up
to the last decade of the 4th century AD.’[1] Indeed, the harbour
established an enclosure as described by Strabo, but was essential in
ensuring Alexandria’s control over Mediterranean trade (therefore
rivalling Rome and Athens) and establishing a significant transhipment
centre. The harbour could indeed create ‘a direct Hellenistic
challenge to the Phoenician maritime and commercial supremacy in the
Mediterranean.’[2] Ultimately, Alexandria’s ‘monopoly of the seas was
assured.’[3] Alexandria’s harbour’s essential purpose was to provide a
spacious enclosure ensuring continual commercial trade.
Written evidence has sugge...
... middle of paper ...
...chaeology.
March/April, pp.38-46
McCann. A.M. (1988) The Roman Port of Cosa. Scientific American:
Ancient Cities. 1994, pp. 92-93
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[1] Tzalas, H.E, The Two Ports of Alexandria,
http://www.greece.org/alexandria/ports/index.htm
[2] Ball, W., Rome in the East: The Transformation of an Empire,
(2000), London, pp. 171
[3] Ball, W., Rome in the East: The Transformation of an Empire,
(2000), London, pp. 171
[4] Fraser, P.M, Ptolemaic Alexandria, (1972), Oxford, pp. 5
[5] ibid, pp. 6
[6] ibid, pp. 5
[7] ibid, pp. 9
[8] Empereur, J.Y, Alexandria: Past, Present and Future, London, pp.36
[9] Fraser, P.M, Ptolemaic Alexandria, (1972), Oxford, pp. 21
[10] McCann, A.M., Ancient Cities, New York, pp. 92
[11] ibid
Schliemann’s archaeological breakthrough was instigated 6.5 km from the Aegean Sea in Turkey. In 1865, German-American adventurer Schliemann arrived at what was assumed to be Troys location. After reading the Iliad and inspecting the “Tell of Hissarlik” he was convinced he had found Troy. Schliemann believed that the Iliad was so true that it must be based on history, and his discovery of one of the many promising tells in the area motivated him to begin his dig. He discovered that this Tell had nine major levels and large walls, like Homer described. He claimed that the second (Troy II) was Homers ‘Citadel of Priam’. However if Schliemann and Homers Troy were the same, literature did not confirm.
Cahokia: Ancient America’s Great City on the Mississippi, by Timothy R. Pauketat, is on the history, society, and religious customs of the Cahokian people. Consisting of twelve chapters, each chapter deals with a different aspect of Cahokian society. Chapter one opens up by telling the reader how the stars in the sky played an important role in the Native American belief system. The Planet Venus was the key figure in all of this, in fact the ancient Maya believed Venus to be a god. According to the Cahokians , Venus had a dual nature, in the daytime Venus was viewed a masculine, and in the evening it was seen as feminine. In the same chapter, Pauketat lets us know about the discovery of, two hundred packed-earth mounds constructed in a five-square mile zone represented the belief systems of the Cahokian people. Historical archeology was the main reason for the discovery of two hundred earth packed mounds. At its peak, Cahokia had a population of over ten thousand, not including the people who lived in the towns surrounding the city. By the time the 1800s came around, the European Americans had already been living in North America for some time; however, many Europeans refused to acknowledge the Native American role in building these ancient mounds. Instead, they believed the mounds to been built by a race of non-Indians. Due to the preservation of Cahokia within a state park and modern highway system, many things became lost. Since many things became lost, very few archaeologists have a good understanding of Cahokia. While there may be a loss of a complete picture, archaeologists are still making progress with numerous discoveries. These discoveries bring into question long-held beliefs such as a people who were peaceful an...
The economic activity and industry are closely linked, and both played an important role in the everyday life of Pompeii’s citizens. Trade was a key aspect to the city’s economic activity. Strabo tells us that Pompeii was the port for Nuceria and Nola. Although archaeologists are yet to determine whether it was a sea port or a river p...
There were buildings found with complex drainage systems and wide, paved streets, perfect for merchants, show sophistication unlike anything else from that time. The city was well planned and organized, and the size of some of the buildings indicate that they may have been used for religious or administrative purposes. The architecture is similar to that found on Crete, which is evidence of cultural diffusion between the two places, and their possible influence on each other. Crete-like architecture shows a trade route and influence from Crete, which means historians can find more connections between the Minoans on Crete and the Minoans in Akrotiri, which we would have not gained otherwise. From the buried city at the Akrotiri excavation site, we gained so much information about life in the Bronze Age, especially about their society and
Renfrew, Colin. The Emergence of Civilisation: The Cyclades and the Aegean in the Third Millennium B.C. London: Metheun 1972.
What was the Augustan Settlement? How did Augustus balance his perceived need for absolute power with his concern to lend the impression that the republic had been restored and the old ways were being observed: The Augustan settlement was a series of powers given Augustus. In 27 B.C Augustus was given these Providences Spain, Gaul, Syria, and Egypt to rule for ten years, then Augustus was given the power the declare wars and make treaties. Augustus is given the power of tribune for life and imperium miuse, so with these two powers he can veto anything. Octavian was given the cognomen Augustus. Augustus retained the power to appoint military tribunes and appoint tax collectors. Augustus restores consul elections and repletes power to the traditional magistrates. The Augustan settlement was obviously the settlement of the Providences mentioned but these were some of the powers that he retained for absolute power. Augustus was on a mission to become the dictator of Rome but he had to do it in a kind of secretive way, he didn't want to just take over and force the people of Rome to instantly comply, he needed to create an image of himself and he needed to do it humbly and slowly. The senate started to give Augustus more and more power out of either their own laziness or they saw that he was a really good leader and they thought that he could get Rome back to a peaceful era. So now that Augustus has his new wonderful powers and his new powerful nickname, he has to tread lightly because if he just blatantly says I am your new military dictator he will end up assassinated like Julius Caesar. Augustus also revives the old sense of morality and religion.
The significance of monumental architecture lies not only in the function it is built to serve but also in the cultural values it represents. Monumental architecture is aesthetic as well as functional, and in its aesthetic aspects it is a form of cultural expression. In Bronze Age Mediterranean civilizations, the development of monumental architecture was influenced primarily by the political structure of the state. Perhaps the most disparate forms of monumental architecture in this region were developed in Pharaonic Egypt and Minoan Crete, reflecting the differences in their political systems. The socio-political structure of these two cultures can be sharply contrasted through an examination of a predominant type of monumental architecture found in each region.
The Iliad alone would never have been a reliable source without archaeological evidence to verify the actuality of a Trojan war. Therefore archaeologists have been working on the site known as hissarlik since the 1800’s to uncover truths about the myth. Frank Calv...
Vitruvius wrote Document 31 Constructing a Harbor around the first millennium B.C.E. He provides a list of instructions on how to build a good harbor. The passage relates to Humphrey’s transportation section on chapter five because harbors played a huge role in early civilizations. Harbors are extremely important because they protect ships from severe weather conditions. It would be a problem for sailors if they encounter bad storms and rainfall because it can cause a lot of damage on their ships. Ever since early people started using transportation by sea, they always wanted a strong harbor to provide protection for their ships and other properties. One thing the passage shows about the ancient technological process for harbors is “retaining
Since the discovery of Troy in 1870 numerous extensive archaeological excavations have taken place in order to determine whether the conflicts that clearly occurred at Troy have any association with the Trojan War described in Homers Iliad. Though sources relating to the topic are limited besides the city of Troy itself, we are able to make some conclusions about the events that took place at Troy around 1200 BC.
Gates, Charles. Ancient Cities: The Archaeology of Urban Life in the Ancient Near East and Egypt, Greece, and Rome. London: Routledge, 2003. Print.
...ity in Classical Athens. New York, NY: Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation (USA) in Collaboration with the National Archaeological Museum, Athens, 2008. Print.
“Stay here and listen to the nightmares of the sea” - Iron Maiden (Rime of the Ancient Mariner) In “Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” Samuel Taylor Coleridge illustrates the story through the belief in God, and Christian faith. Throughout Mariner’s journey, many signified meanings interpret an important role such as, religious and natural symbolisms.
GREECE & ROME. Archaeology [serial online]. November 1987;40(6):18. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed December 22, 2011.
Throughout history, there have been several significant architectural movements. The last, and perhaps most enduring movement is that of Classic Greece. Although for centuries, the architecture of ancient Greece has been admired, mimicked, and replicated, its beginnings are somewhat surprising to one unfamiliar with the history of the region. It is important to understand the history and mechanics of Classic Greek architecture in order to fully appreciate its form, function, and beauty. “Ancient Greek architects strove for the precision and excellence of workmanship that are the hallmarks of Greek art in general. The formulas they invented as early as the sixth century B.C. have influenced the architecture of the past two millennia” (metmuseum.org).