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Patience, brothers. Soon we will reveal the secrets of this painting.
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Aspasia:Greetings, wanderer, and welcome to the port of Piraeus.
("Who are you?")
Aspasia:My name is Aspasia. Though I am not original from Athens, I have climbed to the top of its social ladder using my wit and intellect. I've even earned the love of Perikles, one of the most powerful men in the city. The mind truly is a beautiful thing.
("What do you think of this place?")
Aspasia:Piraeus is one of the busiest, most important ports in the Greek World. Money flows through here like a river. A river that runs all the way to Athens.
("Let's begin the tour.")
Aspasia:Acting as a port for Athens, Piraeus welcomed merchants, goods, and travelers from all over the world. It was a central part of Athens' economy, but it was also fortified enough to protect the city's considerable fleet. When you finish exploring the port, find me, and we will talk further.
Map of the Piraeus, from Pausanias' Description of Greece, Translated with a commentary by J.G Frazer, London, 1898 / 1898
Piraeus, a peninsula southwest of Athens, became the city's main port after the politician Themistokles encouraged the development of its natural harbors.
These developments led to the gradual abandonment of the older harbor of Phaleron.
Piraeus' fortifications were further developed by Kimon and Perikles, along with the Long Walls which ensured goods could still be moved during sieges.
Piraeus was divided into three main sectors: the military port, the emporion, and the residential area.
By the 5th century BCE, it had become not only Athens' naval headquarters, but also the mercantile center of the Mediterranean.
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Piraeus was divded into three sectors: Zea and Munichia on the east side, and the grand Kantharos harbor on the west side.
Piraeus' agora – called the "Hippodamian agora" in honor of the architect Hippodamos – was located near the cove of Zea. It functioned as a local market, but also as a political and military meeting place.
The Munichia harbor was Piraeus' main military port, and was mainly made up of storage areas and shipsheds.
The Kantharos harbor – which was also the largest natural harbor in the Mediterranean Sea – housed the emporion, where international trade took place.
Terracotta statuette of Artemis Bendis with a hind / 4th cent. BCE (Classical Greece)
Piraeus' development during the 5th century BCE attracted a large population.
Many craftsmen, merchants, bankers, sailors, and ship-owners moved to the port in great numbers.
The population was a mix of Greek citizens, foreign visitors, and immigrants known as metics.
The variety of the port's inhabitants gave Piraeus a cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Most of the residents involved in trade, but others worked on ship building, or in larger scale industries like shield factories.
Piraeus' commercial focus offered many opportunities for those seeking to increase their wealth and status.
One such "rags to riches" tale is that of Pasion, a slave who eventually became a citizen and earned a fortune thanks to his bank and his shield factory.
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Metics made up a large part of the port's population. It's estimated that at the end of 5th century BCE, there were anywhere from 5000-6000 metics living in Piraeus. These varied inhabitants added to the port's cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Metics also had an impact on religious practices in Piraeus. From at least the 5th century BCE onward, metics introduced the worship of various eastern deities such as the Thracian goddess Bendis and the Egyptian goddess Isis. The cults these immigrants brought with them created a varied and colorful spiritual life within the neighbourhood.
Terracotta figurine of a merchant selling bread / 540 BCE (Archaic Greece)
Because of its size, function, and varied population, it had a much more complicated administrative structure than other demes.
Above all, Piraeus was closely monitored and controlled by the Athenian assembly, due to its importance to the city.
Within the port, there were two seperate categories of trade: international trade, which took place in the emporion, and retail trade, which was managed by kapeloi in Piraeus' agora.
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In 393 BCE, Piraeus' emporion was attacked in a daring raid by the SpartanTeleutias.
Teleutias was the commander of a small fleet based on the island of Aegina. His forces sailed twelve triremes into the grand harbor at daybreak and took the Athenians by surprise. As a result, Teleutias was able to capture a number of merchant ships.
The raid ended up discouraging foreign traders from travelling to Piraeus, which put Athens' economy in jeopardy. Consequently, Athens was forced to negotitate peace with Sparta.
Aspasia:You've returned! I hope you enjoyed your stroll through the port. Piraeus was important to Athens' commercial interests, but it eventually came into its own as a vibrant and bustling port. If you have any questiosn, don't hesitate to ask.
("I'm ready for the quiz.")
("Take on the next suggested tour.")
("Take me on a random tour.")
([LEAVE] "That's all for now.")
