THE EURYKLIDS AND KYTHERA

Strabo informs us that in his time Kythera was 'in part' the possession of a friend of Augustus, G. Ioulios Eurykles. In this paper the origins, nature, and length of the Euryklid presence on the island are examined. Although the view that Kythera was granted to Eurykles as a reward for hi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Mediterranean archaeology 2006-01, Vol.19/20, p.199-206
Main Authors: Steinhauer, G., Paspalas, Stavros A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Descendants
Donations
Emperors
Excavations
Fathers
Hegemony
History, Epigraphy, and Numismatics
Magistrates
Senators
Sons
Stelae
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Summary:Strabo informs us that in his time Kythera was 'in part' the possession of a friend of Augustus, G. Ioulios Eurykles. In this paper the origins, nature, and length of the Euryklid presence on the island are examined. Although the view that Kythera was granted to Eurykles as a reward for his participation in the Battle of Actium is not mentioned in any of the sources, it has been commonly accepted by modern scholarship. The granting of territories to allied poleis and rulers was not a rare phenomenon. However, it is argued, on the evidence provided by some unpublished inscriptions, that the Euryklid possession of Kythera predated the famous naval battle and that the island remained in the family's hands until the Euryklids came to an end in the 2nd century AD. The Euryklid possession of the island was directly linked with both Kythera's strategic location and the leading position occupied by this Spartan family in Sparta and Achaia.
ISSN:1030-8482