AcharnaiCLAIRE TAYLOR

Acharnai (Menidi/Acharnes) was, during the

Classical period, the largest deme in Attica

(contributing twenty-two councilors to the

BOULE; this was increased to twenty-five in

the reorganization of 307/6). It was a strategic

point within Attica, controlling access to the

roads leading to ATHENS, Thria, Dekeleia,

and Phyle, which presumably explains in part

why ARCHIDAMOS camped here in 431/0

(Thuc. 2.20–3). For this reason it also became

by the end of the fourth century an important

ephebic center, and the ephebic oath was set up

here on a stele that also recorded the oath taken

at PLATAIA in 479 (SEG 21.519). As a deme

Acharnai appears to have had its own distinct

character: literary sources in the Classical

period describe the Acharnians as successful

in athletic contests and bellicose, but also

imply that they are formidable rural farmers,

even comparing them with donkeys (Pind.

Nem. 2.16; Thuc. 2.21; Ar. Ach. 994–9, 609,

Ar. Lys. 61–3). The area also seems to have

been well known for charcoal production

(Ar. Ach. 212–14, 331–5), but Acharnians are

found as carpenters, architects, mine opera-

tors, bankers, and owners of slaves who work

as shield-makers, wool-workers, traders, cob-

blers, farmers, and carriers (IG I3 475; SEG

21.121; Dem. 36.4; IG II2 1554–9). Viticulture

was also an important part of the local econ-

omy (Ar. Ach. 512).

Inhabitation in the area can be traced back

to the Mycenaean period, as is demonstrated

by the tholos tomb and nearby settlement.

Rescue excavations since the 1980s have

uncovered classical houses, a large cemetery

dating from the early seventh century to the

third century CE, a fourth-century theater

(only previously attested epigraphically), and

a subterranean aqueduct (third quarter of the

fourth century). There is little Hellenistic

material (e.g., a roadside sanctuary with

a Hellenistic building phase), but the Roman

remains include an early Roman workshop,

a bath-house, and a late Roman (fourth/fifth

century CE) farm complex.

Acharnai had a rich cultic history. PAUSANIAS

(1.31.6) mentions cults of Apollo Agyieus,

Athena Hygeia, Athena Hippias, Dionysos

Melpomenos, and Dionysos Kissos, but there

was also a fourth-century altar (no temple has

been found) to Athena Areia and ARES (SEG

21.519), a sanctuary of HERAKLES (HERCULES)

(BCH 1960: 655–8), and evidence for HERO

CULT at the Mycenaean tholos tomb from the

late eighth century BCE onwards. The deme

celebrated the Rural DIONYSIA at the end of the

fourth century (SEG 43.26), and made dedica-

tions to the emperor Augustus together with

Ares in the first century CE (IG II2 2953).

SEE ALSO: Demes, Attic; Eleusis, Attica;

Local histories; Menidi in Attica; Thorikos.

REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED READINGS

Jones, N. (2004) Rural Athens under the

democracy. Philadelphia.

Mersch, A. (1996) Studien zur Siedlungsgeschichte

Attikas von 950 bis 400 v. Chr. Frankfurt.

Platonos-Giota, M. (2004).Αwarnaί: istοrikή kaitοpοgrajikή episkόpZsZ ton arwaίonΑwarnώn, ton geitοnikώn dήmon kai tonοwurώseon tZς PάrnZyaς. Athens.

Whitehead, D. (1986) The demes of Attica,

508/7–ca. 250 BC. Princeton.

The Encyclopedia of Ancient History, First Edition. Edited by Roger S. Bagnall, Kai Brodersen, Craige B. Champion, Andrew Erskine,

and Sabine R. Huebner, print pages 42–43.

© 2013 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Published 2013 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

DOI: 10.1002/9781444338386.wbeah14006

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