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KALYDON (Ancient city) IERA POLIS MESSOLONGIOU
Region: Aetolia
Periods: Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic
Type: Fortified city and sanctuary
Summary: Setting of the Kalydonian boar hunt.
Physical Description:
N of the entrance to the Gulf of Corinth, Kalydon was a
minor city enclosed by a 4 km long circuit wall (3rd century B.C. date) and a
strongly fortified acropolis. A sacred road ran ca. 400 m from the West City Gate
to the Sanctuary of Artemis Laphria. The sanctuary had originally 2 Archaic temples
dedicated to Artemis and Apollo. During the Classical and Hellenistic period the
sanctuary developed to include a number of stoas, treasuries and other structures.
Description:
Kalydon was recorded by Homer as the home of Oeneus and
the setting of the Caledonian boar hunt. The historical city is little known and
apparently unimportant, but the growth of the Sanctuary of Artemis, the construction
of the city's walls in the 3rd century B.C., and the size of some of the Hellenistic
tombs indicate some prosperity. The city declined in the Roman period, and in
30 B.C. Augustus transferred the inhabitants to the new city of Nikopolis.
Exploration:
Early description of the remains by Leake (1835) and Woodhouse
(1897). Excavations on the acropolis and at the sanctuary of Artemis Laphria in
1908 by G. Sotiriadis. In 1926, 1928, and 1932 joint Greek-Danish excavations
carried out under F. Poulsen and K. Romaios.
Donald R. Keller, ed.
This text is cited Oct 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains 13 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
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