Island Towers: The Case of Thasos

Abstract

Towers on the island of Thasos are discussed, to determine how they relate to the Thasian countryside. It is unlikely that there is any single explanation for their existence. Defence does not appear to be a normal purpose. Some may have served as signals of danger to sailors, others were primarily agricultural, providing safe, if temporary, bases for farming and herding. Some may have been strong rooms associated with normal village dwellings for storage and protection of goods as well as people in times of danger or as a display of wealth. It is noted that village settlements are infrequent on Thasos. A catalogue of the towers is given in an appendix.

The Role of the Physical Environment in Ancient Greek Seafaring

“…1,234f., Anth.Pal.l.271-5, 285, 291 f., 374, 395, 397, 500, 591 f., 652-4 and Young (1951) p. 132. 422. Compare the remarks of Fenton (1993) Osborne (1986) passim (Thasos), McLeod (1960) 316ff. (Salamis).…”

“…However, the inscription on the tower (of Akeratos) at Cape Pyrgos in Thasos (/.G.XII, 8, add. 683, Baker-Pcnoyre andTod (1909), pp.95ff., no.9, andp.250, Young (1951) p. 132, Osborne (1986) Phanari (fig.66), Babouras and Akrotiri, all also in Thasos, probably had similar functions (Osborne (1986) p. 169). The more recent discovery of four (or possibly five) round towers constructed on top of the harbour walls of the classical port of Thasos town (not discussed by Osborne (1981); see Picard (1988) p.388, Picard (1989 p.499ff., Archontidou-Argyri, Simossi, and Empereur (1989) p.57f.)…”