pothos.org

Hi all,

on reading various sources about Amphipolis, I became interested into the Tomb of Erotes, located in Eretria, in Greece. The more I read, the more interesting it became so I thought its worth sharing.

The tomb was discovered accidentally at the end of the 19th century. Workers digging in order to build a limekiln at a low hill northwest of the modern city of Eretria, dug out part of the tomb’s arch, through which they entered. At the time of discovery the tomb was unlooted and full of riches. The workers removed most of the funeral gifts, but rumours reached Eretria fast and the archaeologist responsible in that region (K. Kourouniotis) sealed the tomb, prevented further looting and tried to prevent the treasures reaching the market. Unfortunately, he was not successful, but luckily most (if not all) the finds ended up in a museum (Museum of Fine Arts in Boston) rather than in a secret, private collection. Among the finds, numerous terracotta figurines of Erotes, gave the name to the tomb.

Following the accidental discovery, the tomb was investigated and got preliminary publications by Korouniotis and a German archaeologist, K. G. Vollmoeler. Among the numerous interesting finds, which make this tomb a point of reference for studies of the Kastas monument of Amphipolis, was that the center of its ~40 m diameter tumulus housed a foundation, built into the artificial mound fill. The foundation comprised 4 sides, slightly inclining towards the interior (like a pyramid), while inside it was filled with sand, exactly as the foundation discovered on the summit and center of the grand Amphipolis tumulus.

All researchers who have studied this structure agree it was the foundation of a sema crowing the tumulus, with huge proportions with respect to the size of the tumulus. What supported this interpretation is that within the tumulus fill, numerous chips of marble were found, again similar to what was discovered in the Amphipolis tumulus. These chips were likely the remainders of the sculpting of the crowning monument.

The tomb was also full of surprises. It contained wall paintings and funeral furnitures retained in excellent conditions, on top of which the names of the dead were inscribed. Men were buried in klinai, women in thrones All findings, including paleographical analysis of the fonts of the names, indicated that the tomb was constructed in the 1st half of the 3nd century BC and was in use until the 2nd century. The furniture, as well as wall recesses, contained the bones of the deceased, most of which were cremated.

Interrestingly, the central furnishing of the tomb, was housing two women, both named Kratesipolis. The first researchers did not attempt to make any connection with historical figures. That was done only in 2008, when 100 years after the tomb’s discovery, it got the full 450-page publication that it deserved by Caroline Huguenot, then working as a student with Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece, now a professor of classical archaeology in Berlin.

Huguenot gave non-negligible probabilities that the tomb may have belonged to a royal family or with a very high social status. Copying from of Huguenot’s book reviews: the names were “
Kratesipoleis, daughter of Aristion and Kratesipoleis - daughter of Menelaos. Interestingly, the name is first known for a Molossian queen, wife of Admetus (ca. 472-470); another instance is the wife of Alexandros, the son of Polyperchon, a former lieutenant of Alexander the Great, regent of Macedon in 319” The latter is known also for her interaction with Demetrios Poliorcetes. “Huguento is inclined to connect the Kratesipolis of the Eretrian tomb with the latter: since, however, her identity with Alexandres' wife, who entered the political and military scene after her husband's death in 314 BC, can not be proved and seems overstated, the author would accept that the tomb received the remains of one of her descendants.” Onomatological analysis suggests a Macedonian origin for the family buried there.

All in all, an exceptional archaeological find, effectively unlooted (since most finds were recovered), with possible connection to historical figures, that deserves as much attention as many famous Macedonian tombs in Vergina, Pella, Mieza, Amphipolis and elsewhere.

Below you can find links to the original publications, to the book of Huguenot (unfortunately not freely available), photos from the tomb and the finds etc.

Kourouniotis (Τάφοι Καμαρωτοί Ερέτριας): https://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/…/eph ... 0122/image

Vollmoeler (ÜBER ZWEI EUBÖISCHE KAMMERGRÄBER
MIT TOTENBETTEN): https://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/digli ... 0343/image

Webpage of C. Huguenot (Academia.edu): https://independent.academia.edu/CarolineHuguenot

Publication, summary and reviews C. Huguenot’s investigation: https://www.esag.swiss/de/eretria-series/eretria-xix/

Location of Erotes tomb (Google maps): https://goo.gl/GBj1ZZ

Swiss School of Archaeology, Greece: https://www.esag.swiss/

Images: https://imgur.com/a/BEzmkzt

Fascinating, thanks. Bit confused though about what Macedonian aristocrats, or even royalty, would be doing in Euboea?

I think this review (https://www.esag.swiss/wp-content/uploa ... on2011.pdf) of Huguenot's thesis is very insightful about Macedonians in Eretria and many other aspects of her research. I have her full publication, but its in French, so reading is selective and slow

(...) the author prefers to take as chronological basis the historic fact of the establishment of the Macedonian garrison in Eretria in the second quarter of the 3rd century BC.(...) Moreover, on the basis of epigraphic evidence Huguenot suggests that relations between Macedonia and Eretria (and Euboea in general) were persistent from the last third of the 4th century to the end of the 3rd century BC (243). They began at the time of Philip II, saw a marked Antigonid presence in the second half of the 3 rd century and ended with occupation by the Romans in 198 BC (...) She gives an account of the dynamic history of Eretria and in general of Euboea during the age of the Diadochs. In the second half of the 3rd century BC Eretria remained under the rule of the Antigonids and this period is seen by the author as the most probable time for the construction of the Tomb of Amarynthos and the continuous use of the Tomb of the Erotes. Proxeny decrees and other inscriptions related to citizenship reveal a strong Macedonian presence within the high strata of Eretrian society and their diplomatic role between Eretria and Macedon.

Thanks. I guess Eretria was close enough to Athens to keep an eye on them without being too close to annoy them.

I'm very intrigued by this. Eretria has old links to Macedonia, via Methone. Thanks much for the post and links.