Piraeus: Ports & Harbors
General Information
The Port of Piraeus has been a key port for Athens throughout its existence. Located just 7km from Athens, Piraeus was a peninsula that provided ideal locations for harbors and grew to become the largest port in Ancient Greece and the most important port of Athens.
The Peninsula consisted of 3 separate harbors; Kantharos, Zea, and Munichia. Kantharos was the largest of the 3 harbors, and was the primary site for Athenian trade in commerce, whereas part of Kantharos and all of Zea and Munichia served as military bases to house the powerful Athenian navy.
Trade
Athens, like other Greek polis, actively traded with the greater Mediterranean region. Greek cities mainly traded amphoras and other forms of pottery, gold, ivory, copper, wine, and other goods with various Mediterranean civilizations that existed during the Bronze Age. By the 5th century, Piraeus grew to become the most important trade center in the Mediterranean, known for selling any type of good in the market.
Piraeus Walls
The long walls that connected Athens to Piraeus were constructed from 465 - 446 B.C.E. These walls were 6km long and fortified the port from land. Another wall exists that connected Athens to its former main port, Phalerum, which blocked access further south. The two walls to Piraeus also secured valuable farmland that served as living space for nearby citizens during times of war.
Neosoikoi
The ancient port housed many ship sheds known as Neosoikoi, which housed Athens' renowned trireme warships. The triremes were an integral and iconic part of Athenian naval influence throughout the Mediterranean and cemented Athens' power in the greater region. They were used in many naval engagements, most notably the Battle of Salamis in the Peloponnesian War.
Trireme Warships
The Athenian Trireme consisted of 170 oarsmen arranged in 3 rows along the side of the ship. Each row of oarsmen had its own name, the top row was known as the Thranitai, the middle known as the Zygitai, and the bottom was known as the Thalamitai. 31 in the top row, 27 in the middle row, and 27 in the bottom row. The bronze ram, known as the envelon, was located at or below water level, attached to the Rostrum, and was used to breach the hulls of enemy ships in battle.
History of the Harbor
493 B.C.E. Relocation to Piraeus
Phaleron was used as the primary port for trade by Athens, as the path to Piraeus had marshes that were unsuitable for travel. Under Themistokles, the polis relocated the port to Piraeus due to its more suitable geography allowing for the use of 3 natural harbors. During the relocation, Themistokles also called for the fortification of the city and removal of the marshlands for better access to Athens.
480 B.C.E. Battle of Salamis
The port of Piraeus housed the Athenian Navy, and its deployment was crucial for Athenian victory in the Battle of Salamis. Ultimately, the battle was the focal point that stopped the second invasion of Persia into Greece.
465-446 B.C.E Formation of the Long Walls
The walls that connect Piraeus to Athens are constructed under Themistokles in order to secure the port from attacks from inland.
393 B.C.E The Spartan Raid/Reconstruction
The Spartans capture Piraeus and the port near the end of the Peloponnesian War, the city was raided and its fortifications as well as portions of the long walls were destroyed. After the raid, the city, its ports, and the long walls were rebuilt under Conon.
322-229 B.C.E Macedonian Occupation
Reconstruction continued under the rule of Alexander the Great, however, the port decreased in significance as a Mediterranean trade center.
86 B.C.E Destruction of the Port City
Under the command of general Lucius Cornelius Sulla, the Roman Empire sacked Piraeus, destroying the port. The city and port would remain insignificant until its revival in the 19th century with the newly independent Greek nation.
Archaeological Remains/Records
Piraeus is a large source of archaeological relics due to its complicated history and occupation under the polis of Athens, the Macedonians, and the Roman Empire. Ruins of the port and infrastructure built around the navy dot the modern city.
The supposed tomb of Themistokles.
The Arsenal of Philon, used for the storage of oars and equipment for the navy, constructed under Conon after the Peloponnesian war.
Ruins of the Port Gates
Significance in Ancient Athens
Piraeus was instrumental not only in the preservation of Athenian society but in the spread of Athenian influence in the greater Mediterranean, which cemented Athens' place in world history. Athenian power in the region was centered around its naval influence both militarily and economically, and without the port's ideal location and geography Athenian society would not have been as enduring and persistent in the hands of adversity. The spread of ideas and culture through trade and expansion of Athens ensured its legacy remain centuries after its decline.
Miscellaneous, Fun Links, & such
Video of a virtual depiction of the port in the video game Assassin's Creed Odyssey. The video is a guided tour of this virtual depiction with commentary from Professor Daniel Faas about the history of the ancient Athenian trireme navy.
Video that provides an in-depth explanation of the use of triremes by not just Athens, but by other Greek polis at the time.
Sources:
Articles:
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2015, December 23). Trireme. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/technology/trireme
Armies and Tactics: Ancient Greek Navies. (2018). YouTube. https://youtu.be/yMfe9SI99j0.
Invicta. (2019). Let's Visit Port Piraeus, Home of the Athenian Navy - History Tour in Ac: Odyssey Discovery Mode. YouTube. https://youtu.be/i1ffApDWSVY.
Cartwright, M. (2021, April 24). Piraeus. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/Piraeus/#:~:text=Piraeus%20(or%20Peiraieus)%20was%20the,Kantharos%2C%20Zea%2C%20and%20Munichia.
Cartwright, M. (2021, April 23). Trade in Ancient Greece. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/115/trade-in-ancient-greece/.
Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Piraeus. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Piraeus.
Written by GreekBoston.com in About Piraeus. (2019, April 5). About the Ancient Port of Piraeus. iCal. https://www.greekboston.com/culture/ancient-history/about-piraeus/.
Exploring the Pocket Ruins of Piraeus (Map Included). Greece Is. (2020, December 9). https://www.greece-is.com/exploring-the-pocket-ruins-of-piraeus-map-included/.
Images:
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