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Notes on the Harbours of S. Boeotia, and Sea-trade between Boeotia and Corinth in Prehistoric Times1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 October 2013

Extract

The following notes were made partly in the course of a voyage taken in a small sailing boat in the late summer of 1922, from Corinth across the gulf, and along the Boeotian coast, during which all the south Boeotian harbours, as well as Voulis in Phokis, were visited, and partly in the course of subsequent visits from the land side. It is hoped that the notes may supplement, if they cannot improve upon, Mr. Gomme's excellent description of this part of Boeotia, and at the same time throw some light on trading relations between the two sides of the gulf in pre-Hellenic times.

Of the three possible harbours from which Thebes could be reached from the south, the nearest to Thebes is Kreusis, or, as it is now called, Livadóstro. The difficulties of the journey from there to Plataea are vividly described by Mr. Gomme (op. cit., p. 204), but there is reason to think that communication between Livadóstro and Thebes has always passed through Parapoúngia or its ancient representative Eutresis, rather than through Plataea. At the present day there are two paths to Parapoúngia, which serve the east and west sides respectively of the Livadóstro plain.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Council, British School at Athens 1925

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References

page 39 note 1 Of the wheel-tracks which the peasants told Skiás (op. cit., p. 128) were visible near Hágios Mámas, I found some possible, but no certain traces.

page 39 note 2 Xen., , Hell., V. 4, 17.Google Scholar

page 40 note 1 At Orchomenos, to judge from sherds in the Chaironeia Museum; at Eutresis in Miss Goldman's excavations, not yet published; at Thebes, to judge from illustrations in Δελτίον 3.

page 40 note 2 Mediterranean Pilot.

page 41 note 1 Evans, , J.H.S. xlv. pp. 142.Google Scholar

page 41 note 2 3165 feet (Baedeker's Greece, 1909, p. 161).

page 42 note 1 At Voúlis I found one Neolithic sherd (Thessalian B 3 α) and a few Minyan.

page 43 note 1 Haliké seems marked out by nature for smuggling or piracy.

page 43 note 2 J.H.S. xxxiv, p. 152.

page 43 note 3 Evans, loc. cit., p. 41.

page 44 note 1 On the analogy of the citadel-walls of Mycenae.

page 44 note 2 Leaf, loc. cit.

page 44 note 3 Whether Korákou or the port of Sikyon on the southern side was the principal port of this traffic it is impossible to say, as we know too little of Mycenaean Sikyon. The voyage from Sikyon has the advantage of being more direct; that from Korákou is complicated by the necessity of rounding the Perachóra promontory, no easy task when the wind is blowing a gale straight up the gulf, as it often does. However, small harbours do exist on the south side of the promontory; one a little east of Vouliagméni, one at Vouliagméni itself, and one just below the modern lighthouse. All are safe, except in southerly winds, and here the sailor would remain until he could round the headland. In the present state of our knowledge we must regard Korákou as the ‘early representative of Lechaion.’