The cisterns of the Bisti promontory at Hermione. With a preliminary description of the Roman aqueduct

Abstract

This article reports the findings of the fieldwork exploring the cisterns at the Bisti promontory of Hermione, executed as part of a collaboration between the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Argolid and the Swedish Institute at Athens. In order to better understand the function of the cisterns within the water supply system, the article begins by presenting an overview of existing water resources in the area, primarily the naturally occurring sources and the city’s 2nd-century AD Roman aqueduct. Following this the study describes the remains of the 14 potential cisterns on the Bisti. Based on the empirical material the similarities and contrasts between these are explored, as well as what they can tell us about the history and life in ancient Hermione. In particular, the article suggests that the presence of the cisterns contributes to our understanding of the urban fabric of the city, and reveals important information about when the city was moved from the Bisti to the nearby Pron Hill.

An ancient cityscape and its people: A study of ancient Hermione. Introductory remarks on historical sources and visible remains, archaeological research and prospects

“…The Institute gladly accepted the invitation, and with the permission of the Greek Ministry of Culture, the project ran between 2015-2017, as a formal synergasia (collaboration) between the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Argolid and the Swedish Institute at Athens. The five case studies that follow this introduction present results from this first phase of the project, now continued within the framework of Editorial note: The section on Hermione, published in OpAthRom 14, comprises six articles: this contribution by Alcestis Papadimitriou;Gerding 2021;Blid 2021;Klingborg 2021;Kossyva 2021;Wallensten 2021. This article was translated from Greek to English by Katerina Gabierakis and Jenny Wallensten. remote-controlled drones and supplemented by digitized cartographic material and existing digital elevation data).…”

The Temple of Demeter Chthonia at Hermione

“…Editorial note: The section on Hermione, published in OpAthRom 14, comprises six articles: Papadimitriou 2021; Gerding 2021; this contribution by Jesper Blid; Klingborg 2021;Kossyva 2021;Wallensten 2021. in the year 67 BC, which most likely refers to the same Temple of Demeter. 6 The epithet Chthonia is repeatedly connected with Demeter: Pausanias, for instance, states that the goddess was called Chthonia and refers to religious celebrations in her honour as the "Chthonia Festival" ("Χθόνια ἑορτήν").…”