TOWERS AND FORTIFICATIONS AT VAYIA IN THE SOUTHEAST CORINTHIA Author(s): William R. Caraher, David K. Pettegrew and Sarah James Source: Hesperia: The Journal of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Vol. 79, No. 3 (July-September 2010), pp. 385-415 Published by: The American School of Classical Studies at Athens Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40981055 . Accessed: 18/03/2014 10:15 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. The American School of Classical Studies at Athens is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Hesperia: The Journal of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 71.168.218.10 on Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:15:35 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions HESPERIA 79 (2010) TOWERS AND Pages 385-415 FORTIFICATIONS AT VAYIA IN THE SOUTHEAST CORINTHIA ABSTRACT Althoughrural towers have long been central to the discussion of the fortified landscapesof Classical and Hellenistic Greece, the Corinthiahas rarely figured inthe conversation, despite the historical significance of exurban fortifications forthe territory. The authorsof this article report on therecent investigation bythe Eastern Korinthia Archaeological Survey of two towers and associated fortificationsinthe region of Vayia in the southeast Corinthia. By integrating topographicstudy, intensive survey, and architecturalanalysis, they suggest thatthese three sites served to guardan economicallyproductive stretch of - - theCorinthian countryside and to protect or block majormaritime and landroutes into the region. Recentwork in theeastern Corinthia has expanded our understanding of theeasternmost parts of the area under the control of the Greek polis of Corinth.1To date,however, much of this research has concentrated on the easternpart of theCorinthian Isthmus and thefar southeastern corner 1. An earlyversion of this paper Vayia.Gregory facilitated our work at This paperhas benefitedfrom was presentedat the110th Annual everystep of the way and helpedus conversationson sitewith Timothy Meetingof the Archaeological Institute obtainaccess to thefacilities at Isthmia Gregoryand Yannis Lolos, and from ofAmerica in Philadelphiain 2009. fora finalanalysis of the finds. EKAS commentsby Michael Dixon, Daniel WilliamCaraher and David Pettegrew and theOhio StateUniversity Excava- Pullen,and Thomas Tartaron. The two areresponsible for the final text of this tionsat Isthmiakindly provided mate- anonymousHesperia reviewers provided article;Sarah James prepared and wrote rialequipment for the investigation, thoughtfuland criticalcomments on thecatalogue. Timothy Gregory pro- and participantsfrom both projects ourinterpretations that contributed to a videda preliminaryanalysis of the helpedus to discover,record, and draw morethorough, nuanced, and balanced potteryin 2003,and Kate Pettegrew thesesites in 2001,2003, and 2008. We presentationof the argument. and SusannahVan Horn illustratedthe areespecially grateful to HollyCook, Finally,we aregrateful to Messiah artifacts. JonFrey, Dimitri Nakassis, Kate Pette- Collegefor supporting Pettegrew's We aregrateful to thecodirectors of grew,Lita Tzortzopoulou-Gregory,and researchwith a HumanitiesEnrich- theEastern Korinthia Archaeological AnthoullaVassiliades for advice and mentFund Travel Grant, and the Survey(EKAS), TimothyGregory and assistancein thefield. The 37thEpho- AmericanSchool of Classical Studies Daniel Pullen,and thefield director, reiaof Classical and PrehistoricAntiq- at Athens,where Caraher prepared his ThomasTartaron, for encouraging us to uitiesprovided cooperation and contributionswhile serving as theRhys investigateand publishthe site of Ano encouragement. CarpenterFellow. © The American School of Classical Studies at Athens This content downloaded from 71.168.218.10 on Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:15:35 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 386 W. R. CARAHER, D. K. PETTEGREW, AND S. JAMES Figure 1. Map of the southeastern of the near and its harbor, There has been territory Sophiko Korphos.2 Corinthia,showing modern and less work on the coastline fromthe comparatively rugged stretching ancientsites, and majorroutes. Isthmusto the bay of Frangolimano(Fig. 1). The neglectof this area is W. R. Caraher understandable.Most scholarshave arguedthat the main ancientroad throughthe southeastern Corinthia bypassed this region, proceeding south to the Epidauriaand Argolidalong the inlandroute through the modern villagesof Galataki and Rhytobefore emerging in the fertileplain near Sophiko(Fig. I).3 Even todaythe area near the village of Katakali is rugged country,relatively undeveloped, and lackingin pavedroads. The difficulty in accessingthis area, compared to thewell-trod Isthmus, has contributed to the relativeneglect of its topographyand antiquities. In 2001 and2003, members of the Eastern Korinthia Archaeological Sur- 2. Forthe Isthmus, see Tartaron et al. 2006; Caraher,Nakassis, and vey(EKAS) conductedfieldwork in thisregion, concentrating their activities Pettegrew2006. Forthe area around nearLychnari Bay and the ofVayia (Fig. 2).4 Although the main goal peninsula Korphosand Sophiko,see Dixon 2000; ofthis work was to documentan Bronze siteon the Early Age Vayiapenin- Tartaronet al.,forthcoming. sula,5EKAS alsoconducted an extensivesurvey of the surrounding territory. 3. Fowler1932, pp. 99-101;Wise- The surveyrevealed three significant, undocumented sites with preserved man 1978,p. 127; Dixon 2000,pp. 61- 62. architectureofLate Classicalto Hellenisticdate, which we havecalled Lych- nari Ano and Kato With the of the 4. See Tartaronet al. 2006 foran Tower, Vayia, Vayia. encouragement overviewof the EKAS aimsand directorsof EKAS, TimothyGregory and Daniel Pullen,and a studypermit methods. providedby the Greek Ministry of Culture, we conducteda shortstudy sea- 5. Tartaron,Pullen, and Noller son in 2008 to completethe documentation of theremains at thesesites. 2006. This content downloaded from 71.168.218.10 on Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:15:35 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions TOWERS AND FORTIFICATIONS AT VAYIA 387 ^^^c===H^^c=i^^H Meters N 0 100 200 300 400 500 a 20-m Contours ^^^ L0UrK'Yl LyCBay" Tower ^'' r^^^XVvi ^V *' ''''' / ' ' ^Vayia <^ ' ''/ ^^^X-^i 2. of and Figure Map LychnariBay In thisarticle, we seekto placethese three newly discovered rural theVayia peninsula. W. R. Caraher installationsinto their local context, with the principal aim of providing specificinformation on the Classicaland Hellenisticlandscape of the easternCorinthia. A carefulreading of the local topography, the ceramic artifactsassociated with the sites, and other fortified sites in the Corinthia providesevidence for the military function of these buildings. Moreover, the sitesnear Lychnari Bay reinforce this stretch of the Corinthian countryside as a productiveand strategically important coastal environment and a sig- nificantcorridor for regional communication. In addition to highlighting thesignificance ofthis micro-region for the Corinthian polis, we alsoaim to contributein a smallway to thebroader discussion of the function of ruraltowers and associated installations in antiquity. TOPOGRAPHY OF THE VAYIA AREA TheVayia region occupies a key place within communication and travel net- worksbetween Corinth's proximate chora on theIsthmus and its more distantsouthern coastal territory. The rockyspine of Mt. Oneionforms thedramatic southern boundary to the flat plain of the Corinthian Isthmus (Fig.3), stretchingfrom the imposing rock of Acrocorinth to theharbor townof Kenchreaiin theeast. To movesouth by land along the eastern coastof the Corinthia, avoiding both the city of Corinth and the fortifica- tionsnear Kenchreai, would have required crossing Mt. Oneionthrough 6. Stroud1971a; Caraher and theMaritsa pass, fortified during the Late Classical period.6 Once south of Gregory2006. themountain ridge, there were several routes through the rugged country This content downloaded from 71.168.218.10 on Tue, 18 Mar 2014 10:15:35 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 3^8 W. R. CARAHER, D. K. PETTEGREW, AND S. JAMES Figure3. Mt. Oneion, viewedfrom of the southeasternCorinthia that provided access to cultivablevalleys the north(the Isthmus),showing the andunfortified settlements, roads west into the Argolid and south into the Maritsa pass. PhotoD. K. Pettegrew Epidauria,and several natural embayments. The bayof Lychnariis one of thebest natural inlets on thejagged coastof the eastern Corinthia (Fig. 4; cf.Fig. 2). Whileno evidencefor ancientharbor works has beenfound there, its sheltered aspect and flat beachwould have been well suitedfor ancient ships.7 The peninsula knownas Vayiashields the small bay from the east, and the rocky hilltop ofLychnari protects the bay below from the western wind. Lychnari Bay opensinland onto a broadvalley bounded to thenorth and eastby the coastalridge and to the south by the abrupt mountains of the southeastern Corinthianinterior. The valleybottom (Fig. 5) providesrelatively easy passagefrom the vicinity of Lychnari Bay through the