Article
alphabet, Greek
John William Pirie, Lilian Hamilton Jeffery, and Alan Johnston
Article
amphorae and amphora stamps, Greek
Mark L. Lawall
Article
Antissa
D. Graham J. Shipley
Antissa, small coastal *polis in NW *Lesbos; birthplace of the poet *Terpander. A bronze age site has been explored; the Classical town originated in the early geometric period. Three apsidal buildings (possibly temples), stretches of a probable city wall, and remains of a harbour mole have been identified. The Mytileneans strengthened the defences during their revolt of 428
Article
archaeology, underwater
A. J. Parker
Article
archives, Greek
Rosalind Thomas
Article
arms and armour, Greek
Matthew A. Sears
Evidence for Greek arms and armour is found throughout literature and art, and from archaeological excavation and historical reenactment. Mycenaean and Homeric warriors fought with spears and swords, protecting themselves with figure-eight shields and sometimes body armour. Hoplites wielded large round shields with double grips and attacked their enemies with thrusting spears backed up by swords. This basic kit could be supplemented by helmets, breastplates (including linen options as well as bronze), and greaves. Light-armed troops, with virtually no armour, attacking with arrows, slings, and stones were always a part of armies, and peltasts throwing javelins became increasingly popular. The Macedonians modified the phalanx by giving it longer spears and smaller shields, and coordinated this infantry in a combined arms force with cavalry of various types, particularly heavy cavalry with lances, and light-armed troops. Arms and armour were often key to a soldier’s identity and could feature in competitive display.
Article
Asia Minor, pre-classical
D. F. Easton
Article
Athens, Prehistory
O. T. P. K. Dickinson
The more substantial remains of later periods have largely effaced prehistoric settlement evidence, apart from subterranean features like tombs and wells. The distribution of these suggests that there was a nucleus of habitation on and around the Acropolis, particularly to its south, and a wider spread of hamlets and farms. The settlement's earlier history is obscure, but it clearly became one of the more significant Mycenaean centres (see
Article
Athens, topography
John McKesson Camp II
Article
Biblical Archaeology
Aren Maeir
Article
bronze
Frederick Norman Pryce and Michael Vickers
Article
Buthrotum
David R. Hernandez
Article
Cirrha
Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière Hammond
Article
collapse of the Bronze Age Aegean
Guy D. Middleton
Article
dead, disposal of
Ian Morris
Article
fortifications, Greek
Ian Archibald Richmond, Eric William Marsden, and Richard Allan Tomlinson
Article
gems
Frederick Norman Pryce, David Edward Eichholz, and Michael Vickers
Article
Gla
Michael F. Lane
Article
Greco-Roman architecture, reception of
Elizabeth R. Macaulay
Since antiquity Greek and Roman architecture has been subject to diverse and complex receptions. Architectural forms have experienced different and wide-scale transformations across space and time, both in antiquity and in postantique contexts. These adapted forms have emerged because of the complex interactions between building traditions and contemporary needs.
At a fundamental level, architecture must be functional. It must work for the purpose for which it was designed, be it a temple, law court, or residence. Vitruvius endorses this view in De Architectura (I.2.5), the only surviving architectural treatise from Greco-Roman antiquity. At the same time, architecture has a unique ability to concretise ideas. Not only were there political, religious, economic, social, and ideological concepts associated with specific types of ancient buildings, but the architectural forms of the classical world have had a powerful range of resonances that postantique architects, patrons, and regimes have been only too keen to exploit. Classical architectural forms come with a lot of baggage.