Calydon

The acropolis of Calydon with Varasova mountain on the background.
Ancient theater of Calydon

Calydon (/ˈkælɪdɒn/; Greek: Καλυδών; gen.: Καλυδῶνος) was an ancient Greek city in Aetolia, situated on the west bank of the river Evenus, 7.5 Roman miles (approx. 11 km) from the sea.[1] Its name is most famous today for the Calydonian Boar that had to be overcome by heroes of the Olympian age.

History

According to Greek mythology, the city took its name from its founder Calydon, son of Aetolus.[1] Close to the city stood Mount Arakynthos (Zygos),[2] the slopes of which provided the setting for the hunt of the Calydonian Boar.

The city housed the important Aetolian sanctuary known as the Laphrion, dedicated to Artemis Laphria[1] and Apollo Laphrios. It was a prosperous city until the end of the 1st century BC.

In 31 BC, the Roman Emperor Octavian removed the population of the city to the new colony of Nicopolis, founded to commemorate his victory at the Battle of Actium earlier that year.[1] At the same time, the Romans removed most of the art and treasures of the city to Patras, including the gold and ivory cultic statue of Artemis.[1] Strabo, in his Geographia, comments on the former beauty of Calydon, which by his time lay desolate: "...Calydon and Pleuron, which are now indeed reduced, though in early times these settlements were an ornament to Greece."

One of the four tunnels the Ionia Odos motorway consists of crosses near the ruins of Calydon and is named the Calydon Tunnel (Greek: Σήραγγα Καλυδώνας) after it.

Archaeology

Previous and more recent excavations have revealed many buildings including:

  • the theatre of an unusual square plan
  • the Heroon
  • the temple of Artemis
  • the temple of Apollo
  • rich tomb underneath the Heroon

Finds

Many finds from the site including ancient terracottas from the temple of Artemis are exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Agrinion and in the National Archaeological Museum, Athens.

See also

Coordinates: 38°22′41″N 21°31′58″E / 38.37806°N 21.53278°E / 38.37806; 21.53278

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Wikisource Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Calydon". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  2. ↑ http://evinochori.gr/%CE%99%CE%A3%CE%A4%CE%9F%CE%A1%CE%99%CE%9A%CE%97-%CE%A4%CE%9F%CE%A0%CE%9F%CE%98%CE%95%CE%A4%CE%97%CE%A3%CE%97.php
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