New release

The ERETRIA Series

Since 1964 the Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece has been directing excavations and studies of the remains of the ancient city of Eretria, on the island of Euboea. The ERETRIA series, which started in 1968, is the final presentation of the Swiss archeologists’ research and discoveries.

Since 2020, the Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece (ESAG) has started its own publishing house in collaboration with well-established companies in Switzerland (inFolio) and in Greece (Melissa books). The ESAG publishes the volumes in the ERETRIA Series, as well as the new AMARYNTHOS Series.

26 volumes have been published to date and others are in preparation. All volumes of the Eretria Series are available in open access.

ERETRIA XXVI

Tamara Saggini, Céramique en contextes. Érétrie au tournant des époques archaïque et classique.

The Greco-Persian wars, a pivotal episode in Greek History, mark the transition between the Archaic and Classical periods. They also represent a turning point in the fate of Eretria, which was sacked by Persian troops in 490 BC. Herodotus provides a comprehensive account of the siege, destruction and deportation. However, little is known about the city during the period preceding the events, the extent of the damage inflicted by the Persians, and the subsequent recovery of Eretria.

This book, which is the result of a doctoral thesis, provides new insights into these issues by comparing historical sources with an in-depth examination of the archaeological evidence. The study is based on a contextual analysis of the material from excavations carried out in the city by Swiss archaeologists since the 1960s. The catalogue, which includes over 1,500 entries, provides a comprehensive overview of 6th- and early 5th-century pottery, both locally produced and imported.

The analysis of the finds and contexts sheds light on the function of the various urban areas and their development. The study reveals both continuities and ruptures in the material culture and urban occupation of the city. These are compared with event history in order to assess the impact of the Greco-Persian Wars on Eretria. Disused quarters, interrupted workshop production, burials within the city walls and hasty renovations all bear witness to the upheavals that had a lasting effect on the life of the Eretrian population.

2024, 2 vol. of 280 and 328 pages in French with abstracts in French, German, English and Greek. Paperback, 22x30cm, numerous color illustrations and plans. ESAG & Infolio co-publishers.

ISBN 978-2-88968-170-9 (print)
ISBN 978-2-9701702-2-8 (digital)
DOI 10.5281/zenodo.13933110

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