Aigeis (Ancient Greek:Αἰγηΐς,romanized: Aigēis) was a tribe (phyle) ofAncient Athens which contained twentydemes. It was named for the legendary kingAegeus.[1] The quota of demes for Aigeis showed the greatest variety of all the phyles during the first and second periods (343–253 BC) of bouleutic government.[2]
Ankyle Hypenerthen (Ancient Greek:Ἀγκυλή ὑπένερθεν) orLower Ankyle andAnkyle Kathyperthen (Ancient Greek:Ἀγκυλή καθύπερθεν) orUpper Ankyle were located east ofAthens and borderingAgryle to the south.[3] The site of Lower Ancyle is located northeast of modernArdettos.[4][5] Upper Ancyle passed from thephyle Aigeis toAntigonis in 307/306 BCE; Lower Ancyle remained in the Aigeis phyle.[6][7] In the 3rd century, in Roman times, the demoi were home to rich landed properties. Their name derives from the Greek name for "javelin" (which was thrown with a rope). The same root also appears in an epithet attributed toCronus and toPrometheus, "of sharp wits". Of the deme Ankylē, an individual is known, Polystratos, who owned land within that deme.[8]
Araphen (Ancient Greek:Ἀραφήν,romanized: Araphén) situated on the eastern coast to the north ofBrauron andHalae Araphenides, on the west of the current village ofRafina,[9] located near the mouth of the river of the same name.[10] The area was already inhabited in theArchaic Period and was flourishing due to the port which gave access to theCyclades islands. Two settlements of that period were found on a hill two kilometers south of the port; now there remain a few archaeological finds, which were buried by modern constructions. An individual named Hagnias II had an estate within the deme Araphen.[11]
Bate (Ancient Greek:Βατή) housed a large part of theEteobutadae family, a religious clan claiming descent from the heroBute and named the priests ofPoseidon and the priestess ofAthena. Its site is tentatively located at modernAmpelokipoi, Athens, northeast of theAcropolis.[12][13] At the time of the publication of a source published during 1851, the location of Bate was unknown.[14]
Diomeia orDiomea (Ancient Greek:Διόμεια) was located in the city ofAthens, both within and outside the walls ofThemistocles, in interior portion included the eastern sector of the city, and the external portion contained theCynosarges.[15][16] It was located south of theIlisus, betweenAlopece to the south andAncyle to the east. A gate of Athens was called theDiomean Gate. Originally in thephyle Aigeis, it was later in thephyleDemetrias. The deme, whose external part developed outside the walls of Athens, was not of a large extent, being bordered by Alopece which was 11 or 12stadia from the city .[17][18]
According to the legend the deme was founded by some citizens ofCollytus andMelite, whose head wasDiomus, worshiper and perhaps lover ofHeracles. The first killing of a bull and the consummation of the sacred grain is attributed to Diomus. After the death of the demigod, Diomus offered him a sacrifice but a white dog disturbed the event, stealing the sacrificial meats and leaving them far away. At that point Diomus decided to found the Cynosarges sanctuary. Every five years a famous feast in honor of Heracles was held in Diomea.[19][20] This shrine was associated with a gymnasium in which the illegitimate youth or those with only one Athenian citizen parent studied. The cynical school founded byAntisthenes also gathered here at the beginning of 4th century BCE. At the Heracleion,Callimedon's dinner club of "the Sixty" met.
The inhabitants of Diomeia were known as arrogant and rude, so thatAristophanes, for them, coined a new word, translatable with "Diomean arrogance."[21] Known inhabitants include:
Erchia orErkhia (Ancient Greek:Ἐρχία;[a][22] also spelled Ἔρχεια[23] and Ἑρχιά[24]) was one of the larger demes of the tribe,[2] sending six or seven delegates to theAthenian Boule, but eleven delegates after 307/6 BCE.[25] According toStephanus of Byzantium, inGreek mythology, the name comes from an inhabitant of the deme who hostedDemeter.[26] Much of what is known about Erchia comes from alex sacra (sacred law) of the deme.[27] In it are listed 59 annual sacrifices to 46 divinities (gods, nymphs and heroes), for a total cost of 547drachmae; 21 of these sacrifices were made in the deme itself, the other 38 in the neighboring demoi or inAthens. From its central location within Attica, and the wealth and positions held by many of its inhabitants (whose peak period, judging by the information available, seems to be between approximately 450 BCE and 200 BCE) and from the number of its delegates to the Athenian Boule, more than any other deme of the phyle Aegeis, it can be assumed that Erchia was one of the most important demoi.[28] In Erchia there was a shrine ofHecate.[29] Its position is known thanks to the discovery of thelex sacra, and the construction of the modern Athenian airport, which was built over the deme.[30]
Known inhabitants include:
Erikeia orEricea (Ancient Greek:Ἐρίκεια) was located near the modernKypseli.[32][33] The name of the deme probably derives from theerica plant, which grew abundantly in the hilly territory of the area.
Gargettos orGargettus (Ancient Greek:Γαργηττός) was ademe ofancient Attica. From the mythical story of the war of thePallantidae againstTheseus, we learn that the demoi ofPallene, Gargettus, andAgnus were adjacent. WhenPallas was marching fromSphettus in theMesogaea againstAthens, he placed a body of his troops in ambush at Gargettus, under the command of his two sons, who were ordered, as soon as he was engaged with the army of Theseus, to march rapidly upon Athens and take the city by surprise, But the stratagem was revealed to Theseus byLeos of Agnus, the herald of Pallas; whereupon Theseus cut to pieces the troops at Gargettus. In consequence of this a lasting enmity followed between the inhabitants of Pallene and Agnus.[34] The road from Sphettus to Athens passed through the opening betweenMount Pentelicus andMount Hymettus. A monastery there by the name ofIeraka (or Hieraka) is the site of Gargettus.[35][36] The proximity of Pallene and Gargettus is indicated by another legend. Pallene was celebrated for its temple ofAthena Pallenis, in front of which was the tomb ofEurystheus.[37][38][39] Between the monastery of Ieraka and the small village ofCharvati (part of modernPallini), a celebrated inscription respecting money due to temples was discovered, and which was probably placed in the temple of Athena Pallenis.[40] In Ieraka there was also found theboustrophedon inscription ofAristocles, which probably also came from the same temple.[41] TheHellenistic philosopherEpicurus resided in Gargettus in the 3rd century BCE.
Halae Araphenides orHalai Araphenides (Ancient Greek:Ἁλαὶ Ἀραφηνίδες,romanized: Halái Araphenídes) was ademe ofancient Attica, situated on its eastern coast betweenBrauron andAraphen, and was the harbour of Brauron, whence persons crossed over toMarmarium inEuboea. The deme draws the first part of its name from the saltiness along the coast, while the second part was introduced to distinguish it from the deme ofHalae Aexonides. Halae was mentioned byEuripides[42] as close to the chain ofKarystia. In this place was conserved a statue ofArtemis Tauria brought fromTauris byIphigenia andOrestes. In the deme, expiatory rites were held which consisted of withdrawing drops of blood from the throat of a man by means of a knife; furthermore, they had midnight feasts andPyrrhic dances. Its port was also used by citizens of a Brauron and for the marble quarries ofKarystos, near the island ofEuboea, being the closest port of Attica.[43] The site of Halae Araphenides is located near modernArtemida, Attica (formerly, Loutsa).[44][45]
Hestiaea orHestiaia (Ancient Greek:Ἑστιαία), also known asHistiaea orHistiaia (Ἱστίαια), was located northeast ofAthens, near the modernTsako, nearCholargos.[46] Very little is known of Hestiaea. According toStrabo its citizens originally founded the homonymous city in the north of the islandEuboea;[47] this theory, however, could have arisen in the late period and therefore would be unfounded.
Ikarion (Ἰκάριον) orIcarium, also known asIcaria orIkaria (Ancient Greek:Ἰκαρία), was of the larger demes of the tribe.[2] on the northeastern slopes of Mount Pentelikon. It holds pride of place due to its prominence inGreek mythology as the place whereIcarius, or Ikarios (Ικάριος) received the godDionysus, who taught him the art of making wine. Nearby wasMount Icarius.[48] In historical times, the most famous inhabitant of Ikarion was Thespis, credited with the creation of tragedy according to ancient Greek tradition. A festival of Dionysos which included tragic plays was held here every winter, the Rural Dionysia (Τα Κατ´ Αγρούς η Μικρά Διονυσία). During excavations by the American School of Classical Studies in 1888-89, many inscriptions and sculptures in Pentelic marble were found here which referred to the winners in the dramatic contests of the Rural Dionysia. The site of Icaria is located near modernDionysos, Greece.[49][50]Milanezi, Silvia (2007). "Les Icariens et le dème des Icariens (IG II2 1178): à propos de l'identité politique dans un dème attique". In Couvenhes, Jean-Christophe; Milanezi, Silvia (eds.).Individus, groupes et politique à Athènes de Solon à Mithridate. Presses universitaires François-Rabelais. pp. 241–272.ISBN 9782869062269.
Ionidai orIonidae (Ancient Greek:Ἰωνίδαι) sent two delegates to theAthenian Boule.[51] This deme, along with that ofCydantidae, venerated thekolokratai; these two demoi are the only known ones to venerate deities together.[52] Its site is tentatively located nearDraphi.[53][54]
Kollytos orCollytus (Ancient Greek:Κολλυτός) was located in the city ofAthens. It was located within the walls ofThemistocles, south of theAreopagus and southwest ofAcropolis. It was famed due to its association withPlato, whose family was from this deme. According to legend the name of the deme comes fromCollytus, the father ofDiomus, the favourite ofHeracles and eponym of the demeDiomeia. For this reason it was believed that Collytus's deme was part ofMelite.[55] Collytus was one of the richest demoi in the city of Athens and there were many aristocratic residences; thePeisistratids owned a house from which they often governed the city. The rural Dionysias (festival ofDionysus) took place there, which shows that the deme was also an important agricultural center.Aeschines recited in the theater of Dionysus in the deme, and was so embarrassed of his role that he renounced the theater and gave himself to politics. In the narrow main street of the deme there was a very popular market.[56]
Known inhabitants include:
Kolonos orColonus (/kəˈloʊnəs/;Ancient Greek:Κολωνός,translit.Kolōnós) was celebrated as the deme ofSophocles, and the scene of one of the poet's tragedies, was situated tenstadia from the gate of the city, called Dipylum, nearPlato's Academy and the riverCephissus.[57][58] It derived its name from two small but conspicuous heights, which rise from the plain a little to the north of the Academy. Hence it is called by Sophocles "the white Colonus".[59] It was under the especial care ofPoseidon, and is called by Thucydides the ἱερόν of this god.[57] It is frequently calledColonus Hippius orKolonos Hippeios (Κολωνός Ἵππειος) orHippius Colonus orHippeios Kolonos (Ἵππειος Κολωνός), both meaning "Colonus of the Horses", to distinguish it from the "Colonus Agoraeus" inAthens. Besides the temple of Poseidon, it possessed asacred grove of theEumenides, altars ofAthena Hippia,Demeter,Zeus, andPrometheus, together with sanctuaries ofPeirithous,Theseus,Oedipus, andAdrastus.[60] According toGreek mythology,Oedipus was buried there, as described bySophocles, who was born there, in hisOedipus at Colonus. The natural beauties of the spot are described by Sophocles in the magnificent chorus: "Here the nightingale, a constant guest, trills her clear note under the trees of green glades, dwelling amid the wine-dark ivy and the god's inviolate foliage, rich in berries and fruit, unvisited by sun, unvexed by the wind of any storm. Here the reveller Dionysus ever walks the ground, companion of the nymphs that nursed him."[61] In the Athenian oligarchic revolution of 411 BCE, the oligarchs convened at the sanctuary of Poseidon Hippios at Colonus to frame their new constitution.[62] The site of Colonus is at Agia Eleousa in the modern neighborhood ofKolonos, which is named after the site.[63][64]
At the beginning ofOedipus at Colonus by the playwrightSophocles, a character named Xenos describes the area to the blind outcastOedipus. He claims that the area is sacred to the sea-godPoseidon and toPrometheus, the Titan who brought fire to mankind. It is also sacred to a former ruler and charioteer named Colonus, for whom the region was named and who is now venerated as a hero-god. Later, Oedipus prays to theEumenides to allow him to take refuge there. At the end of the play, Oedipus' death and burial are described, but his gravesite is to be kept secret to avoid desecration.The Gospel at Colonus byLee Breuer is a modern adaptation of Sophocles' play employing gospel music.
Kydantidai orCydantidae (Ancient Greek:Κυδαντίδαι) was originally of thephyle of Aegeis, after 224/3 BCE of thephyle ofPtolemais, sending one or two delegates to theAthenian Boule.[65] This deme, along with that ofIonidae, venerated thekolokratai; these two demoi were the only ones, as far as we know, to venerate deities together.[66] Its site is located nearMendeli Monastery.[67][68] A known inhabitant wasNicias, Athenian politician and general.
Myrrhinoutta orMyrrhinutta (Ancient Greek:Μυρρινοῦττα) sent one delegate to theAthenian Boule.[69] Its site is located near modernNea Makri.[70][71]
Otryne (Ancient Greek:Ὀτρύνη) sent one delegate to theAthenian Boule.[72] Its site is unlocated.[73]
Phegaea orPhegaia (Ancient Greek:Φηγαία) was one of the larger demes of the tribe.[2] TheSuda places Phegaea in thephyle ofAeantis.[74] Phegaea's site is tentatively located near modernIerotsakouli.[75][76]
Philaidai orPhilaidae (Ancient Greek:Φιλαΐδαι) appears to have been nearBrauron, since it is said to have derived its name fromPhilaeus, the son of theTelamonian Ajax, who dwelt in Brauron. Philaïdae was the deme ofPeisistratus.[77][78] Its site is located about 0.25 miles (0.40 km) west of the basilica at Brauron.[79][80]
Plotheia (Ancient Greek:Πλώθεια) appears to have belonged to the district ofEpacria, and to have been not far fromHalae Araphenides.[81][82] It was noted for its festival celebrating the heroPandion.[83] Its site is located south of modernStamata.[84][85]
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857)."Attica – 93 (Araphen)".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray. This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Attica".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.