chapter eight

ΘΑΛΑΤΤΑ ΛΟΚΡΩΝ: PLYING THE SEA OF THE LOCRIANS

Manuel Arjona*

The Malian Gulf forms the northern boundary of what in Antiquity was known as Epicnemidian Locris. Strabo, an author who ofers considerable topographical details of the region, called the waters that lapped those shores “the Sea of the Locrians” (9.4.13). On the other hand, the waters between and Boeotia, and even Opuntian Locris, were known as “the Euboean Sea”. It seems that Daphnus, or rather the Cape Cnemis, marked the boundary between the two seas (9.3.1 and 9.3.17). The aim of the following chapter is threefold. Firstly, by presenting a historical overview of navigation along the Euboean Gulf, the Malian Gulf and the Oreus Channel during the pre-Christian Era, we shall try to show just how important this stretch of sea that separated Euboea from Mainland was for the ancient seafarers. The next section analyses various literary, epigraphical and archaeological sources in order to determine, as far as possible, what activities went on in the Epicnemidian ports. It should be said here that we shall allude only very super cially to the physical appearance of the Epicnemidian coast, since this topic is discussed at length in the chapter of this volume dealing with the geophysical characteristics of Locris. Finally, the last part of this chapter will examine the possible involvement or participation of the Epicnemidians in maritime trade, sea warfare and  shing.

1. Navigation off the Locrian Coast in Antiquity

It is clear from a study of the information deriving from numerous literary and epigraphical testimonia, together with the data from the archaeological record, that over the centuries seafarers from near and far sailed the waters of the Malian Gulf, the Northern Euboean Gulf and the Oreus Channel on

* Departamento de Historia Antigua. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. 362 manuel arjona vessels of very diferent types. Of course, a full analysis of the huge amount of material relating to this topic would constitute a major undertaking that goes far beyond the scope of this chapter. Here our sole intention is to briey review some of that evidence, su ciently to give an overall picture of this sea route’s importance in Antiquity. The discovery in areas near Epicnemidian Locris of several Neolithic settlements close to the ancient coastline suggests that the waters of the Northern Euboean Gulf and the Malian Gulf already supplied these com- munities with  sh and shell sh to supplement their diet.1 Recent excava- tions on Mt. Trikorfo revealed the remains of another Neolithic site.2 The fragments of Cycladic obsidian found in some of these settlements could perhaps have been transported and distributed by boats of shallow draft used at that time.3 Some scholars believe that before 3000bc the Strait of Euripus was closed. In their view, it was at the beginning of the Bronze Age that the sea level rose and completely separated Euboea from Main- land Greece.4 If that is the case, the Oreus Channel, the Northern Euboean Gulf and the Southern Euboean Gulf formed henceforth diferent sections of the same sea route. Ancient seafarers could sail in various directions (NW- SE and vice versa between the Lichades and Petaliae islands, SW-NE and vice versa between the Lichades and Sciathus) and in much better condi- tions than those prevailing out in the open Aegean. For example, vessels plying the waters of the Northern Euboean Gulf were shielded against north winds by the Telethrius and Candilion Mountains in Euboea and against south winds by the Locrian Callidromus and Chlomon Mountains. In addi- tion they could take advantage of the alternating currents which even today change direction every six hours.5 It should be pointed out that this sea route

1 In Achaea a Neolithic site has been discovered near the modern town of Bathykoilo Pelasgias (Dimaki 1994: 99–100). In the case of Opuntian Locris, there are the sites of ancient Halae/present-day Agios Ioannis Theologos (Kendall 1998; Coleman 1992: 273–274) and Rachi Proskynas (Dakoronia 2002a: 26–27). In Euboea there are settlements, probably dating to that period, in Koumpi Aidipsou, Kastelli Gialtron and Kastri Lichadas (Sampson 1980: 52–53 and 90–91). 2 Froussou 2004. 3 For early Mediterranean seafaring, see Johnstone 1980: 55f. For the obsidian trade, Sampson 1980: 44–46 and Dakoronia 2002a: 26–27. However, it is extremely di cult to determine the frequency with which obsidian reached the Malian Gulf. 4 Kambouroglou, Maroukian and Sampson 1988. See Stiros et alii 1993, on the conse- quences of tectonic activity in the area. 5 The only wind that would have worried ancient seafarers in this area was the winter wind from the NW, which may have sometimes reached force 9 on the Beaufort scale.