A History of Eretria in the Archaic Age: from c.1000 to 490 B.C

Abstract

The thesis attempts to present a coherent account of the history of Eretria from the earliest times to the destruction of the city in 490, by which time it had assumed hegemonial status in central Greece and the Aegean, if not indeed within the Greek 'oikoumene'. For the earliest period, discussion covers all Euboia (for the Neolithic, we have important excavations at Tharrounia in the Eritrea's itself), while EH is also represented by finds on the city-site. Considerable mythological and cult information scattered through the works of classical writers is used together with archaeological data and the evidence of toponyms and linguistics to plot the movements of various prehistoric peoples to and through Euboia. Archaeological evidence becomes more important for the Mycenaean period. This thesis argues for Lefkandi as "Old" Eretria, and a chapter is devoted to this settlement. its destruction. and the migration of its people to the site (already occupied) of "New" Eretria.