The Ancient Harbours Of The Piraeus

This volume, split into two fascicules, dives deep into the ancient harbours of Piraeus, focusing on their fortifications and shipsheds. It presents extensive archaeological research and historical analysis from the Zea Harbour Project, shedding light on structures dating back to the 5th century BC.

An in-depth exploration of Piraeus' ancient harbour fortifications and Themistoclean shipsheds.

Volumes 15,4 and 15,5 are combined as a single comprehensive work (III.1–2) consisting of two parts. The first fascicule (III.1) centers on the harbour fortifications of Mounichia and Kantharos. It details the Zea Harbour Project’s investigations from 2005 and between 2007 and 2012, revisiting what is known about Kantharos, which remains Piraeus' main harbour today.

The initial chapter sets the stage by discussing the project’s goals, relevant texts, archaeological data, terminology, and methods, introducing the concepts of “fortified mole” and “fortified breakwater.” Following this, the second chapter reviews textual sources related to Piraeus' fortifications, placing these structures within the harbour’s history from the late 6th century BC to their destruction in 86 BC by Sulla’s forces.

Chapter three surveys documentation by travellers since 1589, topographers since 1686, and scholars since 1881, focusing on descriptions of the harbour remains and incorporating maps, photographs, and artistic records. The fourth and fifth chapters analyze the topography and architecture of the fortifications at Kantharos and Mounichia, respectively. The findings reveal monumental constructions likely originating in the early 5th century BC, with two subsequent building phases identified in the 5th century BC (around 429/28 BC) and between the 4th and 3rd centuries BC.

The second fascicule (III.2) presents the results from 2010 to 2012 excavations on the northern side of Mounichia Harbour, focusing on Shipsheds 1–7 in Group 1. The first chapter covers the survey and excavation of this shipshed group, highlighting Shipshed 1(α), dated to no earlier than 500–480 BC. This discovery is particularly significant as it is the only Classical-period structure in Piraeus strongly linked to Themistocles’ building program.

The following chapter catalogs the ceramics and small finds uncovered during the excavation of Shipshed 1(α) and the northern fortified mole at Mounichia. The volume is rounded out with detailed appendices, figures, and plates, providing a thorough resource on the architecture, topography, and artefacts of these ancient harbour structures.