Knowledge (XXG)

Hellenistic fortifications

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78: 268:, blocks were cut long and flat. Masons intentionally used a style of untrimming to give a stylistic effect common in Greek cities. In all fortification walls, one continuous idea was all walls were kept relatively low, but powerful from the use of small bricks or ashlar blocks. It was not economically effective to create extra-tall or extra-thick walls, when the strength in the stone would provide sufficient defenses. Walls were only made as tall or as thick as they were needed. Generally, fortifications were simple in design, as their purpose was to defend, not to necessarily look pretty. However, Chersonesos offers a unique example of Greeks emphasizing aesthetics over what was most economical or defensible. 17: 202:, therefore architectural methods and styles of the Milesians were used. But, in these same colonies, there was a sense of needing to legitimize their "Greekness". New rulers wanted to prove that they were just as Greek as cities in mainland Greece. Therefore, many elements found in traditional Greek fortification walls were also seen in colonies far from the mainland. 211: 143: 134:, Caria. Original construction had the citadel connected in the city walls. A later construction purposefully brought the citadel outside the city defense fortifications, and away from the city center. This has been hypothesized as a decision to further protect the city, by keeping a potential military target away from the city. 126:
At the start of the Hellenistic Period, towers were incorporated into the fortification walls. Later, there was a shift to towers being constructed separate from the wall system. Circular or multi-angled towers would have been more difficult to incorporate into the flat-walled architecture. They were
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Therefore, it was common to see Greek establishments at naturally defensible locations such as mountains and rivers. These natural barriers sometimes prevented the need to build fortifications. Choosing geography as a means of defense only increased during the Hellenistic period with the development
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Towers provided a variety of purposes for the Greeks. They were a place to store military supplies and provide lookouts out over the fortification walls. In the Hellenistic Period, there was a shift in the construction and placement of towers. This is due to the increasing necessity to have what
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In the Hellenistic period, the use of ashlar block style masonry developed. Here, blocks were evenly cut small and rectangular, to create the strongest individual block, creating stronger walls and towers. These construction projects were largely financed from public funds, rather than from
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controlled territories from Egypt to India. Over time, being "Greek" became less of a geographic locator, and more a representation of personal cultural ties. Therefore architecture built during this time developed both a mix of standard Greek elements and local styles.
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walls, towers, and gates. The expansion of their territory created the need for new fortifications for new settlements. This, combined with developing military technology, led to changes in style of architecture specific to the Hellenistic Period.
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The buildup of new cities required the build up of fortification walls. Fortification walls served multiple purposes. They served as a means of protection from invasion and as markers of territory. Walls were first constructed around the city's
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Hellenistic fortifications were built out of a variety of materials. The materials largely depended on what could be sourced locally. This provided the cheapest, most abundant option. Most common were
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would be the strongest defensive line. Prior to the Hellenistic Period, towers were largely simple, single-storied square buildings. Due to advances in military technology this style of tower changed.
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Colonies created during the Hellenistic period had a mix of Greek and indigenous styles of architecture. A majority of settlements around the Black Sea were founded by
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of colonies. When specifically looking to where to build a new city, rulers chose locations with defense in mind. An example of this can be seen at
77: 311: 522: 110:, the Mount Oreion mountain range provided a natural barrier for the city. In low sloping planes, such as the sites of Stanotopi and 251: 233: 358:
A comparative study of ancient Greek city walls in North-Western Black Sea during the Classical and Hellenistic times
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Caraher, William R.; Gregory, Timothy E. (2006). "Fortifications of Mount Oneion, Corinthia".
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La Fortification et Sa Place dans l'Histoire Politique, Culturelle et Sociale du Monde Grec
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Konecny, Andreas L.; Ruggendorfer, Peter (2014). "Alinda in Karia: The Fortifications".
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Ducrey, P (1982). "Les fortifications Grecques: Rôle, function, efficacite".
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Hesperia: The Journal of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
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Hesperia: The Journal of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
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in the eastern Mediterranean and into West Asia (323 - ca. 30
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also separated due to their vulnerability to attack.
190:individual donors as they were a public necessity. 56:The Hellenistic Period begins with the death of 114:, walls were constructed to add to protection. 31:are defense structures constructed during the 8: 361:(Thesis). International Hellenic University. 232:. There might be a discussion about this on 178:was common in colonies located around the 252:Learn how and when to remove this message 76: 289: 456: 454: 7: 350: 348: 346: 344: 342: 340: 338: 297: 295: 293: 461:Tomlinson, R. A. (November 1981). 130:This idea is seen specifically at 14: 209: 39:) by the states which succeeded 467:The Journal of Hellenic Studies 174:and stone filled with rubble. 60:and ends with the rise of the 1: 81:A fortification wall seen at 539: 523:Hellenistic fortifications 437:10.2972/hesperia.83.4.0709 429:10.2972/hesperia.83.4.0709 355:Fantsoudi, Fotini (2011). 138:Materials and construction 29:Hellenistic fortifications 20:A Hellenistic tower from 304:Greek Art and Archeology 66:successors, the Diadochi 170:. However, we also see 146:A Hellenistic tower at 302:Neer, Richard (2012). 159: 86: 25: 386:10.2972/hesp.75.3.327 145: 80: 52:Historical Chronology 19: 222:confusing or unclear 230:clarify the section 154:showing the use of 73:Fortification walls 58:Alexander the Great 41:Alexander the Great 278:Hellenistic armies 166:block masonry and 160: 108:Corinthian isthmus 87: 33:Hellenistic Period 26: 22:Achinos, Phthiotis 313:978-0-500-28877-1 262: 261: 254: 106:. Located on the 43:. These included 530: 507: 506: 458: 449: 448: 412: 406: 405: 369: 363: 362: 352: 333: 332: 324: 318: 317: 299: 257: 250: 246: 243: 237: 213: 212: 205: 538: 537: 533: 532: 531: 529: 528: 527: 513: 512: 511: 510: 460: 459: 452: 414: 413: 409: 371: 370: 366: 354: 353: 336: 326: 325: 321: 314: 301: 300: 291: 286: 274: 264:At the site of 258: 247: 241: 238: 227: 214: 210: 196: 140: 120: 75: 54: 12: 11: 5: 536: 534: 526: 525: 515: 514: 509: 508: 479:10.2307/629933 450: 423:(4): 709–746. 407: 380:(3): 327–356. 364: 334: 319: 312: 288: 287: 285: 282: 281: 280: 273: 270: 260: 259: 217: 215: 208: 195: 192: 139: 136: 119: 116: 74: 71: 64:. Alexander's 53: 50: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 535: 524: 521: 520: 518: 504: 500: 496: 492: 488: 484: 480: 476: 472: 468: 464: 457: 455: 451: 446: 442: 438: 434: 430: 426: 422: 418: 411: 408: 403: 399: 395: 391: 387: 383: 379: 375: 368: 365: 360: 359: 351: 349: 347: 345: 343: 341: 339: 335: 330: 323: 320: 315: 309: 305: 298: 296: 294: 290: 283: 279: 276: 275: 271: 269: 267: 256: 253: 245: 235: 234:the talk page 231: 225: 223: 218:This section 216: 207: 206: 203: 201: 193: 191: 187: 185: 181: 177: 173: 169: 165: 157: 153: 149: 144: 137: 135: 133: 128: 124: 117: 115: 113: 109: 105: 101: 95: 93: 84: 79: 72: 70: 67: 63: 59: 51: 49: 46: 45:fortification 42: 38: 34: 30: 23: 18: 470: 466: 420: 416: 410: 377: 373: 367: 357: 328: 322: 303: 263: 248: 239: 228:Please help 219: 197: 194:Architecture 188: 161: 129: 125: 121: 100:Mount Oneion 96: 88: 62:Roman Empire 55: 28: 27: 473:: 211–212. 266:Chersonesus 284:References 224:to readers 503:163743567 487:2041-4099 445:164421388 402:129584072 200:Milesians 180:Black Sea 172:limestone 168:mud-brick 104:Corinthia 92:Acropolis 517:Category 394:25067991 272:See also 242:May 2024 176:Mudbrick 85:, Caria. 220:may be 158:blocks. 152:Cilicia 112:Maritsa 501:  495:629933 493:  485:  443:  435:  400:  392:  310:  164:ashlar 156:ashlar 132:Alinda 118:Towers 83:Alinda 37:B.C.E. 499:S2CID 491:JSTOR 441:S2CID 433:JSTOR 398:S2CID 390:JSTOR 184:Ionia 483:ISSN 308:ISBN 182:and 148:Olba 475:doi 471:101 425:doi 382:doi 519:: 497:. 489:. 481:. 469:. 465:. 453:^ 439:. 431:. 421:83 419:. 396:. 388:. 378:75 376:. 337:^ 292:^ 186:. 150:, 102:, 505:. 477:: 447:. 427:: 404:. 384:: 331:. 316:. 255:) 249:( 244:) 240:( 236:. 24:.

Index


Achinos, Phthiotis
Hellenistic Period
B.C.E.
Alexander the Great
fortification
Alexander the Great
Roman Empire
successors, the Diadochi

Alinda
Acropolis
Mount Oneion
Corinthia
Corinthian isthmus
Maritsa
Alinda

Olba
Cilicia
ashlar
ashlar
mud-brick
limestone
Mudbrick
Black Sea
Ionia
Milesians
confusing or unclear
clarify the section

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