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Tomb of Brasidas
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Introduction
[edit]Brasidas was a successful Spartan general during the second Peloponnesian War. He lead the Spartan army in a particularly important battle at Amphipolis. After, Amphipolis regarded Brasidas as the founder of the city and held yearly games in his honor. Unfortunately, Brasidas was injured and died during this major battle and Amphipolis honorably buried him within the walls of the city while Sparta dedicated a cenotaph in his honor.[1][2]
Background on Brasidas
[edit]Although his early years are not well documented, Brasidas is well recognized for many successes during the second Peloponnesian war. He was first noticed after defending Methone from the Athenian navy with only 100 hoplites. Soon after he was elected to be an annual magistrate. He then had a number of other positions advising the Spartan navy and leading ground assaults that ended up giving the Spartan's strategic positions in places like Megara, which is located near the Isthmus between Sparta and Athens.[1]
Brasidas fought in Amphipolis is 424 BCE but soon after he captured the city of Torone a truce was made between Athens and Sparta. However, this only lasted about a year before Brasidas's final battle was fought in the city of Amphipolis. In 422 BCE, Brasidas defeated the Athenian army in Amphipolis. Unfortunately, he was mortally wounded during this battle and died a short time after the major victory. Amphipolis considers Brasidas the founder of the city and honored him by burying him within the city walls and by holding games for him every year.[1]
Brasidas is also recognized for partially influencing the downfall of Thucydides military career, which is important because he later wrote a detailed history on the second Peloponnesian war.[1]
Burial and memorials
[edit]According to the Greek historian Thucydides, Brasidas's grave was placed in front of the new, relocated agora of Amphipolis. An archaeological dig at Amphipolis unearthed the foundations of a small building and the remains of a cist grave containing the remains of a silver ossuary accompanied by a gold wreath, believed to hold the remains of Brasidas.[3][4] This ossuary is currently located in the Archaeological Museum of Amphipolis.[citation needed] The grave itself was a hole dug into the existing rock, with limestone blocks and mortar used to create the cist grave.[4] The placement of these remains shows the importance of the interred person, as most dead were buried outside of the city walls.[4]
The Spartans erected a cenotaph for Brasidas near the tombs of other prominent Spartan figures such as Pausanias and Leonidas.[5]
References
[edit]https://www.ancient.eu/Brasidas/
http://digitalcommons.adelphi.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=ant_pubs
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Brasidas
https://archaeology-travel.com/top-ten/10-popular-ossuaries-in-europe/
http://www.academia.edu/3604218/WREATH_ITS_USE_AND_MEANING_IN_ANCIENT_VISUAL_CULTURE
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- ^ a b c d "Brasidas".
- ^ "1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Brasidas".
- ^ Fox, Robin J.; Fox, Robin Lane (2011-06-22). Brill's Companion to Ancient Macedon: Studies in the Archaeology and History of Macedon, 650 BC - 300 AD. BRILL. p. 415. ISBN 978-9004206502.
- ^ a b c Chaido, Koukouli-Chrysanthaki; P.A., Agelarakis (2002). "Excavating Classical Amphipolis & On the Lacedaemonian General Brasidas".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "Brasidas". Encyclopædia Britannica, Volume 4.4. Encyclopædia Britannica. 1911.