Isthmia – serie

This volume presents the Late Classical through Roman pottery from the University of Chicago excavations at Isthmia (1952-1989). In a series of three chapters-on the Late Classical and Hellenistic pottery, the Roman pottery, and the pottery from the Palaimonion-a general discussion is followed by a catalog presenting datable contexts and then by a catalogue of other noteworthy pottery. Appendixes discuss the stratigraphy of the Palaimonion and observations on new and previously published lamps. Amphora stamps are the focus of a further appendix, followed by a catalogue of the Slavic and Byzantine pottery found in the sanctuary area. Although the pottery is sometimes fragmentary, the range of materials over this thousand-year period is typical of Corinthian sites. The finds presented here provide critical information about the history of the Panhellenic sanctuary of Poseidon and the ritual activities that took place there.

This volume discusses more than 400 lamps and lamp fragments dating from the Late Archaic to the Byzantine period found over several decades at the Sanctuary of Poseidon at Isthmia. These come from excavations undertaken by UCLA from 1967 to 1987 under the direction of Paul Clement and since then by OSU under the direction of Timothy Gregory. In addition to a detailed catalogue, the volume presents a commentary on the types of lamps used at the sanctuary that enriches our knowledge of their manufacture, use, and artistic evolution over time. The lamps also contribute to a better understanding of the site, as they reflect the various historical, political, and religious vicissitudes at Isthmia, and in the Corinthia in general, over the centuries.

Oscar Broneer's excavations at the sanctuary at Isthmia between 1952 and 1960 revealed much about an important center of Greek civilization. This volume particularly provides the fullest possible picture of the temenos of Poseidon in Greek and Roman times, including the closely related stadia and the sanctuary of Palaimon and several monuments excavated to the west of the sanctuary: the Sacred Glen, the West Foundation, and the Hippodrome. The Temple of Poseidon itself is discussed in detail in Isthmia I. There is a wealth of information here including some particularly interesting discussion of the starting mechanism of the earlier stadium, the religious significance of two "cult caves" and the underground passage beneath the Temple of Palaimon.

This volume presents sculptural finds made by the University of Chicago at Isthmia during their excavations from 1952 to 1967. Sculpture found by the UCLA team in excavations from 1967 onwards are published elsewhere (Isthmia VI). The finds range in date from the 7th century B.C. to the 3rd century A.D. but are mostly fragmentary objects of Roman date. The two most important works are the Archaic perirrhanterion (a large shallow basin) from the sanctuary of Palaimon, and a cult statue group of Amphitrite and Poseidon on a base decorated with reliefs depicting the Calydonian board hunt and the slaughter of the Niobids.

The Hexamilion, a 7,600 meter long wall across the Isthmus of Corinth, was built in the reign of Theodosius II (A.D. 408 to 450) in an attempt to preserve the Greek peninsula from barbarian invasion. The fortress, located directly east and northeast of the sanctuary of Poseidon, is the best-preserved part of the Byzantine fortifications and is the area most fully excavated. This fifth volume in the Isthmia series examines earlier attempts to fortify the Isthmus and presents the most important testimonia for historical interpretation. The archaeological remains of the Hexamilion are traced from the Gulf of Corinth to the Saronic Gulf, with topographical maps and a schematic view of its elevation. Matters of military strategy and construction techniques are discussed and historical analysis provided.

A catalogue of the sculpture discovered during excavations by the University of California at Los Angeles in the sanctuary of Poseidon at Isthmia. The sculpture ranges in date from ca. 100 B.C. to ca. A.D. 400, with most of the 107 pieces included belonging to the mid-2nd century. Many of the fragments were found in the ruins of an elegant public bath building and may represent remnants of its decoration. The sculpture illustrates the artistic taste of the Antonine period and provides a glimpse of the interior decorative program of a major public building located in a Panhellenic sanctuary. Individually, the sculptures, which range in scale from miniature to colossal, raise intriguing questions about style, iconography, and religion. Important pieces published in this volume include two portrait heads of Polydeukion and a relief stele with twin Cybeles. Since most of the discussion is provisional, the author hopes that this preliminary publication will encourage other scholars to explore, debate, and eventually resolve the issues raised.

Objects made from bronze, iron, copper, gold, silver, and lead and recovered from the sanctuary of Poseidon at Isthmia are published in this volume. Many of the pieces, although very fragmentary, were recovered from the debris of the Archaic Temple of Poseidon and belong to the formative phase of the sanctuary during the 7th and 6th centuries B.C. They are representative of the range of offerings found in a major sanctuary during the period that saw development of the famous metalworking establishments at Corinth and the founding of Panhellenic games at Isthmia. Individual chapters focus on metal sculpture, vases, jewelry, horse-trappings, and tools, most of them from the Archaic period. Attention is given to metal used in architecture and to remains of foundry activity at the sanctuary. The author addresses the problem of the origin of the strigil, the chronology of horse bits, and questions of imports in relation to local production. She compares individual offerings with comparable pieces from other sanctuaries. Most of the objects are illustrated by line drawings, by photographs, or by both. Extensive bibliography, useful concordances and appendixes of uncatalogued objects make the material, although fragmentary, easily accessible. The armor will be published separately.

Final report on the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age evidence (pottery, metalwork, terracottas, architecture and other constructions) from excavations conducted by the University of Chicago at the sanctuary of Poseidon at Isthmia between 1952 and 1989. Stylistic analysis of artifacts offers important new information on Corinthian production: Isthmia has produced the first substantial collection of Early Iron Age Corinthian terracottas, for example, as well as 8th-century human figure depictions. Functional analysis, developing established methodology for site characterization, distinguishes Late Bronze Age settlement from Early Iron Age cult activity. Thus Isthmia may be counted among the growing number of Greek shrines established during the Bronze Age/Iron Age transition, and the nature and variety of cult practices at the site may be compared with those elsewhere. In its Corinthian context, Isthmia offers unique insights into 800 years of development, from Mycenaean province to Archaic polis.