Figure 1.--Archaeologists digging in the Faliron Delta, a coastal area which served as a port for ancient Athens, have discovered an ancient mass grave containing 80 bodies, mostly men of military age. They were laid out side by side, some of whom are shackled, They are believed to be related to the political changes sweeping Greece at the time, possibly even the infamous Cyclonia Affair (632 BC).

For a long period of about 400-500 years, Greeks society was based on tribal groups. Some but not all of the tribes shifted to a nomadic lifestyle. Some historians call this era the Greek Dark Age--a term lifted from medieval European history. It is seen as a collapse of civilization between the Mycenean and Classical eras. The pace of Greek civilization began to quicken (about 700 BC). Greek tribal groups began to coalese into larger political groupings. Trade linkiages between these groups increased in importance. To accomodate the growing trade, marketplaces began to appear in villages and the evolving political structures came to be called a polis or city state which were composed of neighboing villages which comined to from a defensable unit that could support military forces and build fortifications. Political systems were also in a flux leading to tumult (late-7th century BC). Attica (the region including Athens) had been ruled by kings but the region had become dominated by land-owning powerful aristocrats. New political structures were emerging as tyrants (single rulers) arose. he result was politcal violence. Excavations at the Phaleron Delta, a coastal area in southern Athens which served as a port, have uncovered the remains of 80 males, mostly military age mem. There were also 4 boys. Many were shackled together at the wrist and killed with a blow to the head. Clearly a political execution, probably connecte with the struggle among aristocrats or between the aristocrats and would be tyrants (mid-late 7th century BC). Some suggest the execution was related to the infamous Cyclonia Affair (632 BC).

Created: 5:09 PM 12/14/2016
Last updated: 5:09 PM 12/14/2016