Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Η αρχιτεκτονική του ιερού του Ερμή και της Αφροδίτης στη Σύμη της Βιάννου

Νικόλαος Ζαρίφης 
Cover for Η αρχιτεκτονική του ιερού του Ερμή και της Αφροδίτης στη Σύμη της Βιάννου 

THE ARCHITECTURAL EVOLUTION OF THE SANCTUARY OF SYME OVER THE YEARS. THOUGHTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The centuries-long operation of the sanctuary of Syme over a period of more than 2.600 years provides the opportunity to follow the long-term architectural evolution of the buildings and outdoor constructions and at the same time to draw useful conclusions about the use of space, interconnected with the social structures and religious concepts, which influenced the architectural composition and design.

The establishment of the sanctuary of Syme dates back to the MM IA/IB period (ca.1900 BC), as is indicated by the pottery study and by the scarce remains of building constructions, that were found in the deeper layers of the excavation. However, the sanctuary took the form of an organized building complex around the middle of the MM IB period (ca. 1850 BC), a little later than the construction of the first palaces, since the surviving architectural details presuppose the existence of a significant construction experience. The choice of location[1] was not incidental: the site was an important junction point on the mountainous pathway which, bypassing the steep slopes of Dikti Mt., led from central Crete to the south-eastern coast. The natural plateau, partially protected from adverse weather conditions, especially the northern winds, with the inexhaustible throughout the year spring and the superable view, provided the wayfarers with an ideal site to stop and rest. In an area with intense animal husbandry activity, both in antiquity and today, the site of the sanctuary was a point of reference during the movement of herds from the plateau of Viannos’ Omalos to the winter herding stations and vice versa. The form of the building complexes V and U (pl. 20, 45, 67 and 68), of the protopalatial period, to the extent that this can be reconstructed on the basis of the remaining ruins, befits an autonomous unit of a mountain refuge[2] with the capability of temporary accommodation for both the contributors and the participants in the, as well as the supporting functions of the outdoor worship practice. From the size of the complexes U and V, calculated to be approximately 600m² and 475m² respectively, it follows that the buildings had the capability to meet the needs of approximately 40 to 50 people[3]. The remains of a paved road both along the northern face of building complexes V and U, as well as in the northwestern corner of the excavation site (pl. 21, 46), indicate the direct relationship of these protopalatial buildings with some open-air worship space to the northwest, in a position, which has not yet been identified and whose localization could be the focus of future research.

Copyright (c) 2023 Ευλιμένη σειρά αυτοτελών εκδόσεων. Μελέτες στην Κλασική αρχαιολογία, την Επιγραφική, τη Νομισματική και την Παπυρολογία / EULIMENE SERIES of Independent Publications

Details about the available publication format: pdf

pdf
ISBN-13 (15)
Vol. I: 978-618-86730-2-1; set (vol. I and vol. II): 978-618-86730-1-4
Date of first publication (11)
2023-12-20

Details about the available publication format: pdf

pdf
ISBN-13 (15)
Vol. II: 978-618-86730-3-8; set (vol. I and vol. II): 978-618-86730-1-4
Date of first publication (11)
2023-12-20

 

 

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Decoding the Message. Reviewing Propaganda, Communication and Local Identities on the Coinages of Classical and Hellenistic Crete

Manolis I Stefanakis, Volume editor
Cover for Decoding the Message. Reviewing Propaganda, Communication and Local Identities on the Coinages of Classical and Hellenistic Crete  

Propaganda, as a means of communicating information, is primarily used to influence an audience and promote an agenda. It may not be objective and may be presenting facts selectively to encourage a particular synthesis or perception since the motives are usually political or religious. Although it has been a popular subject of research both in archaeology and history, its concept is barely researched for coinages of the autonomous Greek poleis and tends to focus rather on Roman (mainly Imperial) coinages. Whenever the subject is touched in Greek numismatics, scholars (archaeologists and historians) tend to downplay the role of coins as a means for “propaganda” or “message diffusion”, let alone neglect to appropriately address and classify possible propaganda phenomena regarding the classifications established by social scientists.

The aim of this volume is to review the deliberate will of the issuing authorities to take advantage of coinage as a means for “propaganda” or “message diffusion”, the models of communication and propaganda through coinage, as well as stages and components of the process of propaganda; to re-consider propaganda and communication on the Greek coins attempting to discern the main axes of the monetary propaganda of the classical and Hellenistic era. Consequently, research attempts to target propaganda messages encoded on coins struck by the various Cretan mints from the 5th to the 1st c. BC. The analysis of the imagery placed on Cretan coins, weight standards and common denomination issues may indicate that different types of propaganda were in the first instance intended for other cities and ethnicities. They commemorated important traditions ‒thus supported locality and ethnicity‒ denoted political or economic alliances, let alone implied supremacy over secondary cities or economic control of less powerful communities. In this context propaganda and communication on Cretan coins is explored in three distinct areas: cultic iconography, symbolisms of ethnicity and ways of economic control.

Early drafts of the papers included in this volume were originally presented at The International Numismatic Congress in Warsaw in 2021, in the session entitled: “Reviewing the topic of propaganda, communication, and local identities on the coinages of Classical and Hellenistic Crete”.

Many thanks are owed to Dr Elpida Kosmidou and Dr Nick Salmon, for their useful remarks on earlier drafts of this volume, Ms Maria Achiola for her immense editorial assistance, Dr Asimina Vafiadou for the production of the introductory map of Crete and Ms Vicky Chatzipetrou for saving the manuscript from various language errors.

Copyright (c) 2025 Ευλιμένη σειρά αυτοτελών εκδόσεων. Μελέτες στην Κλασική αρχαιολογία, την Επιγραφική, τη Νομισματική και την Παπυρολογία / EULIMENE SERIES of Independent Publications

Details about this monograph

ISBN-13 (15)
978-618-86730-5-2
Date of first publication (11)
2025-12-22

  • Nikos Petropoulos, “Propaganda and communication on ancient Greek coins: setting the principles”
  • Manolis I. Stefanakis, “Cultic imagery as a means of communication and propaganda on the coinages of Classical and Hellenistic Crete”
  • Federico Carbone, “Propaganda, communication, and ethnicity on the coinages of Classical and Hellenistic Crete”
  • Vassiliki E. Stefanaki, “Economic control as a form of propaganda among Cretan mints: the so-called ‘monetary alliances’ between Cretan city-states”

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    Michaelides Fragments: Coptic

    Image of fragment Mich.Pap.1217 

    Cambridge University Library purchased the Michaelides Collection in 1977 from the family of the antiquities collector Georges Anastase Michaelides (1900–1973). Michaelides’ collection was listed for sale at the end of 1976 by a London dealer and, after it had been evaluated by specialists in the Library as being of outstanding value and importance, the majority of the collection was purchased in two instalments (other parts of Michaelides’ original collection were purchased by the British Library in 1976 and 1979). Work was begun on accessioning and conservation between 1977 and 2012 but this was never completed. Approximately 170 papyri were conserved and framed in the early 1990s–2000s, and a small number are loose in paper folders, but the great majority are housed between sheets of polyester film.

    Michaelides was born in Cairo and later educated in Egypt and France. He developed a profound interest in the history of Egypt from its early civilisations to far beyond the Islamic conquest. At the time of his death, he possessed over 1,700 manuscript fragments, on papyrus, parchment, paper and other materials. They are written in several languages and scripts, predominantly Arabic, but also Greek, Turkish, Persian, Latin and the Ancient Egyptian languages, including Hieratic, Demotic and Coptic.

    This selection from the Michaelides Collection provides digital access to the Coptic manuscripts, comprising legal texts, accounts, literary, magical and medical texts, recipes, amulets and other documents including “protocols”. Some fragments contain drawings or carry bullae. The material includes texts in several dialects, and is of considerable interest for palaeography, including a very wide range of types of hand, ranging from formal book-hands to the most rapid documentary cursive. There are examples of the work of well-practiced professionals, but also of those who clearly had difficulty in forming and spacing their letters.

    There are numerous letters, both of a personal nature, and dealing with administration, especially that of monasteries, and business documents cast in letter-form. As often in Coptic material, there are numerous records of deliveries and accounts of wine. Michaelides had acquired his fragments from dealers, often in large miscellaneous lots. Therefore the Coptic material is very varied, although some groups of clearly similar or related texts can be identified. Also, there is no record of the original find-spots, and where the texts were written is generally uncertain or disputable.

    Only a small proportion of these manuscript fragments have been the subject of academic study. A few have been published: notably, the late Sarah Clackson (1965–2003) edited a number of documents stemming from a monastery of Apa Apollo. The descriptions used for this part of the Michaelides collection have been compiled by Catherine Ansorge, Anna Johnson and John Tait.

     

     

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    Mediterranean Connections: The Frankish Kingdoms and the Roman Empire (476–756)

    Laury Sarti
    Cover Mediterranean Connections: The Frankish Kingdoms and the Roman Empire (476–756)  
    The Medieval Mediterranean, Volume: 145

    This monograph challenges the idea that Roman imperial authority in the West ended in 476. It shows how the Frankish realm maintained ties to the empire, with real separation only emerging in the late sixth century.
    Tracing enduring Frankish-Byzantine diplomacy, shared identities, religious controversy, and trade into the seventh century, it reveals a landscape of continued exchange rather than abrupt decline. Including previously overlooked sources, the study offers a new perspective on Frankish identity, imperial affiliation, and the evolving relationship between Rome, the empire, and the Merovingians from the fifth to the eighth century.  

    Copyright Year:
    2026
    E-Book (PDF)
    Availability:
    Published
    ISBN:
    978-90-04-74607-7
    Publication:
    20 Oct 2025
    Hardback
    Availability:
    Published
    ISBN:
    978-90-04-74364-9
    Publication:
    30 Oct 2025
     
    Front Matter
    Author:
    Laury Sarti
    Pages:
    1–15
    Author:
    Laury Sarti
    Pages:
    43–103
    Author:
    Laury Sarti
    Pages:
    104–132
    Author:
    Laury Sarti
    Pages:
    180–184
    Back Matter
    Author:
    Laury Sarti

     

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