#Gla and the TEXTUAL EVIDENCE
from Homer and Greek Historians
First a reminder of the location of GLA!
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Map Image is a cropped photo of the relevant page in Barringtons Atlas. I hope this post counts as reasonable educational usage? |
NOTE the Location of COPIAE which is mentioned in the Catalogue of Ships!
Homer's list of cities that sent troops and ships to Troy includes several cities in Boeotia many rediscovered and others we are still uncertain about.
Homer's List :
Hyriae Aulis Schoinos Scolos Eteonos Thespeia Grais Mycalessos Harma Eilesion Erythrai Eleon Jyle Peteon Ocalea Medeon COPAI Eutresis Thisbe Coronea Haliartos Plataea Glisas Thebes Onchestos Arne Mideia Nisa Anthedon
Orchomenus no longer a major power by the time of the Trojan war gets one mention separately.
Some of theses settlements changed their names or moved in later centuries.
Copai was near modern Kastro. Hyria became Hysiai? and the occupants of Mideia and Arne were the ancestors of the founders of Lebadeia and Chaironeia.
Strabo states some of these cities were once closer to marshes and moved because of flooding.
Pausanias writes of how many ancient settlements were ruins and rubbles.
NONE OF THEM MENTION A CITY ON AN ISLAND.
Archaeological surveys shows that GLA was attacked and abandoned at the end of the Mycenaean but probably before the Trojan War.
So the possibilities are
a) one of the listed cities that has the hele element in their name referring to marshes.
b) COPIAE
We know some cities got renamed. The ruins of Copiae are smaller than Gla.
I'm thinking the simplest explanation is that the survivors from Gla moved to the Copiae site?
c) another idea I've seen is that Gla was Hyle but that name suggests trees and wood and I have been unable yet to find out if anyone has done a full archaeobotanical survey of Gla.
Finally the local residents traditionally are more likely to call GLA Paliokastro the Old fort!
Next time the FUNCTION of GLA Why abandon such an useful site?
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