View source for Kydonia

{{Short description|Ancient city in Crete, Greece}}
{{About|the ancient city of Kydonia|the former province|Kydonia Province|modern city|Chania}}
[[File:Minoan ruins in Chania, Crete 001.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Excavations of Minoan Kydonia.]]
'''Kydonia''' ({{IPAc-en|s|ɪ|ˈ|d|oʊ|n|i|ə}} or {{IPAc-en|k|aɪ|ˈ|d|oʊ|n|i|ə}}), also known as '''Cydonia''' ({{langx|grc|Κυδωνία}}, ''Kydōnía'') was an ancient city located at the site of present-day [[Chania]] on the [[islands of Greece|island]] of [[Crete]] in [[Greece]]. The city is known from archaeological remains dating back to the [[Minoan civilization|Minoan era]] as well as literary and historical sources.
==History==
In the area of Kastelli Hill, which is the citadel of Chania's harbor, archaeological excavations have discovered ceramic sherds and finds that date from the [[Neolithic]] to Late Minoan IIIC.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.minoancrete.com/chania.htm | title=Minoan Crete -- the Minoan town of Chania/Kydonia }}</ref>
=== Early Bronze ===
[[File:AMC - Vogelgefäß.jpg|thumb|Early Minoan bird-shaped vessel <small>(3000{{ndash}}2300{{nbsp}}BC)</small>]]
Scarce finds such as walls and ground floors confirm that the systematic habitation of the hill began during [[Minoan chronology|Early Minoan (EM) II period]].
=== Middle Bronze ===
In the Middle Bronze Age, the material culture on Crete is known as Middle Minoan (MM).
====Late Pre-Palatial Period====
In the MM IA (c. 2050/2000-1925/1900 BC<ref>Manning 1995:217</ref>), the architecture was still pre-palatial. These levels were destroyed with the constrution of the neopalatial town.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.minoancrete.com/chania.htm | title=Minoan Crete -- the Minoan town of Chania/Kydonia }}</ref>
====Neo-Palatial Period====
In the [[Middle Minoan|Middle Minoan III]] (MM III; c. 1750/1720-1675/1650 BC<ref>Manning 1995:217</ref>), a palace was built marking the beginning of the [[Neo-palatial period|Neo-Palatial Period]].<ref>Tzedakis and Chryssoulaki (1987) Neopalatial Architectural Elements in the Area of Chania. In the Function of the Minoan Palace, pp. 111-115</ref>
A large archive of Linear A tablets (97) have been found, the second largest archive known. The tablets were largely economic records of agricultural produce, people and animals.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.minoancrete.com/chania.htm | title=Minoan Crete -- the Minoan town of Chania/Kydonia }}</ref>
=== Late Bronze ===
A Minoan House (House I) with the characteristic hall was also unearthed. It was destroyed by fire during Late Minoan (LM) IB period. The houses from LMIIIA phase belonged to a palatial settlement, which ceased to exist in LMIII.
The city extended beyond Kastelli Hill as the excavations in Daskalogiannis Street revealed, where a LMI sanctuary or "[[lustral basin]]" came to light. The discovery of a corpus of [[Linear A]] and [[Linear B]] tablets points out the presence of an archive. Moreover, the archaeologists have identified the existence of a local pottery workshop, which was active in LMIII.<ref>The Greek-Swedish excavations at the Agia Aikaterini square, Kastelli, Khania, 1970-1987 and 2001  vol. 1,2,3 ed. by Erik Hallager and Birgitta P. Hallager.(2003)</ref><ref>Maria Andreadaki-Vlazaki, The county of Khania through its monuments (1997)</ref>
At the end of the LM IB, Kydonia seem to have been abandoned for a period.
====Mycenean Period====
In the Late Minoan IIIA (LM IIIA; 1435/1405-1360/1325 BC<ref>Manning 1995:217; see McEnroe 2010</ref>), new houses are built. At the end of LM IIIA, the houses are destroyed by fire. In "House 1" three Linear B tablets were found. In the Late Minoan IIIB (LM IIIB; 1360/1325-1200/1190 BC<ref>Manning 1995:217; see McEnroe 2010</ref>), the town was rebuilt again.
In the Mycenean Period, Linear B is only found at the Cretan sites of Knossos, Kydonia/Chania and Malia. This indicates a scriptorium and archive within a possible palace in Kydonia.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.minoancrete.com/chania.htm | title=Minoan Crete -- the Minoan town of Chania/Kydonia }}</ref> The name of the city is first mentioned in [[Linear B]] tablets from [[Knossos]] as {{translit|gmy|Ku-do-ni-ja}} ({{langx|gmy|𐀓𐀈𐀛𐀊}}).<ref>{{cite book |last=Hooker |first=J. T. |year=1991 |title=Linear B: An Introduction |publisher=Bristol Classical Press |page=71|isbn=978-0-906515-62-4}}</ref> Unlike other sites on Crete, Kydonia maintained major trading activities. In the LM IIIA and LM IIIB, it was a large commercial and maritime center, exporting pottery, oil, perfume and ine throughout the Aegean.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.minoancrete.com/chania.htm | title=Minoan Crete -- the Minoan town of Chania/Kydonia }}</ref>
=== Iron Age ===
{{Primary sources|section|date=January 2024}}
Archaeological evidence from the Early Iron Age and Archaic Era is limited.{{cn|date=January 2024}}
In 429 BC, during the [[Peloponnesian War]], Kydonia was attacked by the [[Classical Athens|Athenians]] after the accusations of Nikias from [[Gortyna]] for pro-Spartan policy.<ref>Thuc. 2.85</ref>
In 343 BC the city was besieged by [[Phalaikos]] and his army of mercenaries after his failed attempt to capture [[Lyttus]]. He was killed from a lightning strike that burnt his siege engines.<ref>Diod. Sic 16.63</ref>
=== Hellenistic Period ===
In the [[Hellenistic period]], Kydonia took part in the struggle for domination among the cities of Crete.<ref>[[Angelos Chaniotis]], Die Verträge zwischen kretischen Poleis in der hellenistischen Zeit (1996)</ref> At the end of the 3rd century BC a peace treaty with [[Aptera, Greece|Aptera]] was signed.
During the [[Lyttian War]] In 220/219 BC both cities joined the alliance of Oreioi (in which [[Polyrrhenia]] was a member) and canceled the one with Knossos. Aggressive policy led to the capture of [[Phalasarna]] (184 B.C.E) and 14 years later that of [[Apollonia (north coast of Crete)|Apollonia]], an action criticized by [[Polybius]] since they were allies.<ref>Polyb. 28.14</ref>
=== Roman Period ===
In 69 BC the Romans under [[Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus]], after the failed attempt of [[Marcus Antonius Creticus]], invaded Crete. The Cretan general [[Lasthenes (general)|Lasthenes]] confronted them in the battle of Kydonia, where he lost and retreated. This outcome forced Cretan general [[Panares]] to capitulate to the Romans and deliver them the city without resistance.<ref>Appian sic 6</ref>
The coins of the [[city-state]] depict Kydon either as an infant suckling a female Cretan hound or as an archer stringing his bow, accompanied by his dog.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/artifactBrowser?object=Coin&field=Context&value=Kydonia|title=Art and Archaeology Artifact Browser: 2 Coins whose Context is Kydonia|website=Perseus Digital Library|publisher=Gregory R. Crane, Tufts University}}</ref>
The remaining base from the Hellenistic wall can be seen below the Byzantine wall of Kastelli Hill. Rescue excavations have discovered Hellenistic facilities below buildings of the modern city.<ref name="auto2">Maria Andreadaki-Vlazaki, Khania (Kydonia) : a tour to sites of ancient memory (2009)</ref>
After the [[battle of Actium]] (31 BC) [[Augustus]] set Kydonia free for its assistance to him.<ref>[[Dio Cassius]] 51.2</ref> Kydonians are mentioned in book 12 of the ''[[Aeneid]]'', where their excellent bow skills are used in an extended [[Virgil]]ian [[simile]] describing the Fury's descent to [[Juturna]]. The editors of the ''[[Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World]]'' suggest that the city also bore the name '''Apollonia''' ({{lang|grc|Ἀπολλωνία}}, ''Apollōnía'') at some point.<ref>{{Cite Barrington|60}}</ref>{{when?|date=April 2024}}{{why?|date=April 2024}}
=== Late Antiquity ===
In 365 the city must have been affected by the earthquake that devastated many cities of Crete. The Episcopate of Kydonia is referred in many ecclesiastical documents. The earliest is in 381 when Cydonius the bishop of Kydonia takes part in the [[First Council of Constantinople|First council of Constantinople.]]<ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=http://orthodoxcrete.com/en/places/holy-metropolis-of-kydonia-and-apokoronos/|title=Holy Metropolis of Kydonia and Apokoronos|website=Orthodox Crete}}</ref> The prosperity of the city during Late Roman times is illustrated by the mosaics of houses found near Agora Square. Roman workshops have been found in some parts of the modern city.<ref name="auto2"/><ref name="auto">Michalis Andrianakis and Maria Andreadaki-Vlazaki, The Old City of Hania Historical Review, Monuments, Archaeological Museum (1997)</ref> Material from the urban architecture of the ancient city was used for the construction of Kastelli Hill's Byzantine wall.<ref name="auto"/>
=== Middle Ages ===
{{main|Chania}}
The first Byzantine period of Kydonia ended with the [[Arab conquest of Crete]] in the 820s. After the [[Byzantine reconquest of Crete]] in 961, the bishopric was transferred outside the city near the village of Agya.<ref name="auto"/> It is uncertain when the toponym Kydonia ceased to be used in place of forms of the modern [[Chania]]. The scholars suggest that the name was changed by the Arabs, who named the city {{translit|ar|al-Ḵān}} ({{langx|ar|الخان}}, "the [[Caravanserai]]" or "[[Inn]]"). This name may have derived from a suburb of Kydonia called {{translit|grc|Alchania Komi}},{{what?|date=April 2024}}<!--actual Greek form of name--> where the god [[Welchanos]] had been worshipped in antiquity.<ref>Nikolaos Platon, Κρητικά Χρονικά Α (Kretika Chronika 1) (1947)</ref> Under [[Kingdom of Candia|Venetian rule]], the city was known as [[Canea]].
===Modernity===
The name is preserved in the [[Metropolis of Kydonia and Apokoronas]], which was established in 1962.<ref name="auto3"/> Today's archaeological recoveries from the ancient city of Kydonia are largely stored in the [[Chania Archaeological Museum]] in present-day [[Chania]].<ref>http://www.chaniamuseum.culture.gr {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160211194237/http://chaniamuseum.culture.gr/ |date=2016-02-11 }}</ref>
== Identification ==
The exact location of Kydonia was not understood until [[Robert Pashley]] worked it out<ref>Pashley, 1837</ref> based solely on ancient historical literature without any [[archaeological]] recovery.<ref>Hogan, 2008</ref> [[John Pendlebury]] also identified [[Chania]] with ancient Kydonia.<ref>J.D.S Pendlebury, The Archaeology of Crete: An introduction (1939)</ref> Ancient authors suggest that Kydonia was located in western [[Crete]], facing the [[Peloponnese]].<ref>Diod. Sic. 5.17</ref><ref>Strabo 10.4</ref> Strabo calculated its distance from other cities of Crete.<ref>Strabo 10.4.13</ref>
== Necropolis ==
Since Kydonia was inhabited for centuries, the [[necropolis]] of the city is quite extended and includes graveyards from all periods. It lies below the modern city of [[Chania]]. Burial types that have been found include [[chamber tombs]], [[cist]] graves, and [[Loculus (architecture)|loculus]] tombs.<ref name="auto2"/>
== Legacy ==
The ''[[Odyssey]]'' mentions a tribe called the Kydonians who live on both sides of the Iardanos River.<ref>Od. 3.276</ref> [[Herodotus]] claims that the city was founded by [[Samians]] {{c.|520 BC}}, who later on were defeated and enslaved by a coalition of [[Aeginetans]] and other [[Cretans]].<ref>Hdt 3.44 and 3.59</ref>
Some legends claim that Kydonia was founded by a king named [[Cydon]] ({{lang|grc|Κύδων}}, ''Kýdōn''), a son of [[Hermes]]<ref>Apol. Rhod. 4.1492</ref> or [[Apollo]]<ref>Steph. Byz. Kydonia</ref> and of [[Akakallis]], the daughter of King [[Minos]]. According to Pausanias,<ref>Paus. 8.53</ref> he was son of king [[Tegeates]]. [[Diodorus Siculus]] claimed that the city was founded by King [[Minos]].<ref>Diod. Sic. 5.78</ref>
The region of [[Cydonia (region of Mars)|Cydonia]] on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] was named for the Cretan city.
== Famous Kydonians ==
* [[Aristocles (sculptors)|Aristocles]] (5th century BC), sculptor
* [[Kresilas]] (5th century BC), sculptor
==See also==
*[[List of ancient Greek cities]]
*[[Malaxa, Crete|Malaxa]]
*[[Polichne (Crete)|Polichne]]
*[[Cydonia (region of Mars)]]
==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist|30em}}
===Sources===
* C. Michael Hogan, ''Cydonia'', Modern Antiquarian, January 23, 2008 [http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/10881/cydonia.html#fieldnotes]
* Robert Pashley, ''Travels in Crete'', 1837, J. Murray
* Ian Swindale, ''Kydonia'', [http://www.minoancrete.com/chania.htm]
* Marie-Louise Winbladh, The Greek-Swedish Excavations at Chaniá), Stockholm 2000.
* Marie-Louise Winbladh, Adventures of an archaeologist. Memoirs of a museum curator, AKAKIA Publications, London 2020
{{Coord|35.5173|24.0196|type:city_region:GR-94|display=title}}
{{Minoan civilization}}
[[Category:Chania (regional unit)]]
[[Category:Cretan city-states]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Greece]]
[[Category:History of Crete]]