Archaeology, Hydrogeology and Geomythology in the Stymphalos Valley

TY - JOUR

T1 - Archaeology, Hydrogeology and Geomythology in the Stymphalos Valley

AU - Walsh, Kevin James

AU - Brown, A.G.

AU - Gourley, Robert Benjamin

AU - Scaife, Robert

N1 - © 2017, Elsevier Ltd. This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy.

PY - 2017/5/3

Y1 - 2017/5/3

N2 - This paper uses the results of recent excavations of the city of Stymphalos and environmental studies on the floor of the Stymphalos polje to examine the role of both the lake and springs in the history of the classical city. Associated with Artemis and famed for Herakles' sixth labour (killing of the Stymphalian birds), the city has a rich (geo)mythology. While this narrative has been associated solely with the lake, it is argued here that this geomythology was part of the city's relationship to environmental unpredictability and the relationship between water supply and water loss. Seen in this context, the construction of the fountain-house above the contemporary lakeshore is symbolic of the importance of springs to the foundation and sustainability of the classical city during both the Greek and Roman Periods. Through these archaeological and environmental analyses, we seek to illustrate the complimentary, but complex nature of archaeological, hydrogeological and palaeoenvironmental data that intersect in the geomythological landscapes of Mediterranean antiquity.

AB - This paper uses the results of recent excavations of the city of Stymphalos and environmental studies on the floor of the Stymphalos polje to examine the role of both the lake and springs in the history of the classical city. Associated with Artemis and famed for Herakles' sixth labour (killing of the Stymphalian birds), the city has a rich (geo)mythology. While this narrative has been associated solely with the lake, it is argued here that this geomythology was part of the city's relationship to environmental unpredictability and the relationship between water supply and water loss. Seen in this context, the construction of the fountain-house above the contemporary lakeshore is symbolic of the importance of springs to the foundation and sustainability of the classical city during both the Greek and Roman Periods. Through these archaeological and environmental analyses, we seek to illustrate the complimentary, but complex nature of archaeological, hydrogeological and palaeoenvironmental data that intersect in the geomythological landscapes of Mediterranean antiquity.

KW - Mediterranean

KW - Mediterranean climate

KW - ARCHAEOLOGY

KW - LANDSCAPE

U2 - 10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.03.058

DO - 10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.03.058

M3 - Article

SN - 2352-409X

JO - Journal of Archaeological Science Reports

JF - Journal of Archaeological Science Reports

T2 - EAA

Y2 - 10 September 2014 through 14 September 2014

ER -