Glances into History: New Evidence from the Archives of Pallas from Argos

 

 

In 2000-2001 the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Argolid made an important discovery in Argos: some 136 bronze inscribed plaques were found in a private plot (48, Korinthou street). They were part of the archives of the treasury of Pallas. They were put in stone chests and in clay or bronze vases, all hidden in the ground and covered with heavy stone slabs. Thus, they were a kind of primitive strongbox (thesauroi). The plaques can be dated mostly to the first half of the 4th century BC and all are financial accounts. The texts shed new light in the history of Argos at that crucial period, which includes the events of the Corinthian War (394-386 BC), the war with Phlious, the defeat of the Spartans at Leuctra (371 BC), the civil strife in Argos that led to the bloody events of the scytalismos (370 BC), the invasions of the Thebans and their allies in Laconia in the same year, the temporary dictatorship of Euphron in Sicyon (c. 368-366 BC) and other events, which are reflected in the new texts. On the basis of the new data we can argue that the annexation of Thyreatis to Argos probably took place after Leuctra and not after 338 BC as we once believed. The incorporation of Cleonai as a kôme in the territory of Argos must have been quite early, perhaps during the Corinthian War. The texts provide valuable evidence for the last phases of the construction of the new temple of Hera, as well as the gold and ivory statue of the goddess, which seems to have been completed around 370 BC. They also provide unique facts about the political institutions and the social and military organization of the democratic Argos.

 

 

Charalampos Kritzas is the emeritus Director of the Epigraphical Museum at Athens, where he served as Director from 1994-2005. He received his diploma in History and Archaeology, University of Athens in 1967 and conducted his Postgraduate studies in Paris (Ecole Normale Supérieure, Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, University of Paris I, 1981-1983). During his illustrious career as a member of the Greek Archaeological Service (1970-2005), he served as head of the Department of Archaeological Sites, Greek Ministry of Culture and as Curator of Antiquities in Argolis – Corinthia, Athens – Megaris, and then Ephor of Antiquities and Director of the Museum of Heraklion Crete, before becoming Director of the Epigraphical Museum at Athens in 1994. His main fields of study are Classical and Marine Archaeology, Dialectology and above all Epigraphy.