Ancient Maritime World VII

International Workshop / Summer School 2024 

Towards Troy

The Northern Aegean in Classical Antiquity

from/to Skiathos – Sept 14th–Oct 05th

Language: German/English

Located on the edge of the Minoan and Mycenaean world, the northern Aegean increasingly came into the focus of an emerging Greek world from the Dark Ages onwards. Several colonies were founded on the coasts and islands, and It was not least the maritime routes to the Dardanelles and the Bosporus that opened a way to an even more remote world – the Euxeinos Pontos. With the Iliad, the beginning of the Odyssey and the Argonaut saga, this region also occupied a central place in the mythical world of the Greeks already at this early stage. For all these developments and mythic narratives the sea was of course of central importance and the coexistence of Greek coastal regions and a non-Greek hinterland remained characteristic throughout the archaic and classical periods. A significant example of this coexistence is offered by the Athenian maritime empire with its northern border regions.

The successes of Philip II and Alexander the Great changed the political situation in the northern Aegean in the long term and brought this now largely Macedonian sea more into the centre of international conflicts. Roman dominance then led to a long and mostly peaceful period for the northern Aegean, however, in a globalised Mediterranean world dominated by Rome the main maritime routes had developed elsewhere. Thus, with the exception of the way to the Black Sea, the northern Aegean was of minor importance for a long time. This was only to change in late antiquity, particularly with the invasion of Germanic tribes across the Black Sea, whereas a fundamental change took place with the founding of Constantinople. With the second Rome and new imperial capital until the 15th century, the northern Aegean not only became a core area of Roman rule, but the Aegean even the main sea of the Roman Empire, from then on referred to as the Byzantine Empire.

Topics and places e.g.

Minoan and Mycenaean outposts – Mount Olympus and its gods – Pelion, Chiron and the Centaurs – Iolkos and the Argonauts – Homer's heroes, their way towards Troy and back – Between the seas: the Hellespont – Early Greek colonies in the northern Aegean – Kabeiroi in the northern Aegean – 'Etruscans' on Imbros and Lemnos – Gods and sanctuaries on Samothrace – Tyrants and poetry on Lesbos – Mardonios, Xerxes and Mount Athos – Xerxes' army and fleet in the northern Aegean – Cape Artemision 480 – The Delian League in the northern Aegean – Athens' cleruchies and grain route – Arginousai 406 – The Chalcidian League – Olynth and Amphipolis – Aristotle and Stageira – Alexander and the Hellespont – Macedonian naval supremacy – Roman rule in the northern Aegean – Constantinople's fleet and naval supremacy – Islamic incursions into the Aegean – Mount Athos and its monasteries – Alonnisos, its shipwrecks and marine park.

Note: Travelling by sailing yacht offers a wide range of experiences and insights into the maritime world. It does not offer the comfort of a cruise trip and means living under simple conditions in a confined space. Participation can therefore mean getting out of one's comfort zone – mentally and physically.

Final route see Previous Events.

Above: Mount Athos from Órmos Platí, Lemnos – Samothrace from the West