The Harbor at Pella

[ScottOden]

Hi all!I apologize for being quite the lurker, recently. Things have been hectic around here (my first book, 'Men of Bronze', was featured on the cover of the Jan. 3 issue of Publishers Weekly; the resulting 'buzz' has been interesting, to say the least). I'm researching the city of Pella, Philip's capital, and I'm having trouble finding any information on the city's harbor. I know it's on the Lydias/Loudias river where it widens into a lake. Would it have had fortifications? A mole? Would incoming ships just row up to the docks and disgorge, I wonder? If so, what kept the Athenians, say, from sailing up the Loudias and torching Philip's harbor (besides the threat of retaliation, that is)? Thanks in advance for any help!Scott Oden
http://www.scottoden.com

[a spiropoulos]

I dont know if this pertains to your question, the old greek chap book from venice,pseu-callisthenes, author states he is a critic, states prince nectanevous of egypt went into exile to the city of philipon, known as old pella of macedonia. perhaps this city was a safe haven for all,it states the palace of king philip was there as well as the entombent of nectanevous in its palace walls.as

[a spiropoulos]

i forgot to state this book is a sonnet version ,to my knowledge none exist, it states darius told alexander philip paid him tribute, and demanded same from alexander, this means pella was under darius protection,
another reason athens did not attack.

[Kit]

Philip had lake Ludias converted into a spacious harbour, by connecting it to the river Axius throught the construction of an artificial channel, and to the river Ludias. The harbour was navigable from the Thermaic Gulf in all weathers and was protected by the citadel of Phacos (situated on a small island in the lake- also the site for the royal treasury).Hammond assumes that the Harbour would be closed by a boom, and that the Axius was enterable even during flood time, when entry was not possible at the river mouth itself. Probably due to the artifical channel being managed via a series of gates.Hammond also asserts that this was the first harbour constructed on a riverine estuary in Europe, and was the basis for the harbours Alexander had constructed at the Nile, Euphrates, and the Indus!Regards,Kit.

[ruthaki]

Hi Scott, congratulations on your book! How's the second one coming along? I've been to Pella many times and have quite a lot of research about ancient Pella. I'll have a look through my files and see if there's anything else other than what is written here. If I find anything more helpful, I'll e-mail you. All the best, Ruth

[ScottOden]

Thanks Ruth, Chris, and Angelo!Ruth, the second is coming along at a snail's pace, it seems. It's what this research is for, actually As you've been to Pella, what can you tell me about where the harbor is in relation to the city proper? I've got a map of Pella from an archaeology guidebook, but it neglects the harbor area. In what direction from the harbor is the acropolis (mentioned in the guidebook as being spread across two hills)? Is the island with the Citadel of Phacos also called Phacos? Questions, questions :)Thanks again!Scott

[ruthaki]

Hi Scott, happy to help. Of course, the site is not totally excavated. The harbour would have been somewhere on the south part of the city nearest the sea coast or river delta which is now several miles away (silted in). I will dig out my research notes which includes a good article from an old Archaeology Today magazine. If you have a FAX number I could send it to you (if there's anything helpful in it). Yes, I'd say the citadel of Phacos is the same as the Phacos which was both the treasury and also used as a prison and it was in the river or lagoon by the harbour. I have written in my novel a scene taking place in this harbour so I will have some info that might help you. ruth

[ScottOden]

Thanks, Ruth! I don't have a fax number, but if you see anything of interest could you scan and send it via email? Using info from Piraeus and Alexandria, I've been piecing together what might happen as a ship puts in to the harbor -- inspections, taxes levied, that sort of thing. Now, I have to mold in my mind an idea of what the city looked like, the sights, sounds, smells. This is the fun -- and nerve-wracking -- part to novel writing. One misstep and I can find myself on the receiving end of a critical barrage from angry Pothosians :)Scott

[ruthaki]

Hi Scott, can do. I'll try to get it together s.a.p.
As for the lay of the city, most of it was on flat land but there is a rise behind the archaeological site where the palace was located. It covered quite a large area. The streets seemed to have been laid out in a grid though there's not much there in the excavated area. I have some pix and there is quite a good writeup from the Archaeology magazine.
I had hoped last trip that the palace area would have been open for viewing but it's still under excavation. As I said, all the area of the lagoon (or 'lake') where the harbour was is silted in. It's hard to imagine that it was accessible to the sea the way it is now. So I had to use a lot of my imagination, as you'll be doing, to construct the harbour scene for "Shadow". I doubt it was nearly the size of the Pireaus harbour which included ship-sheds etc. Amphipolis was much more accessible it seems and closer to the mines.
Anyway, I'll be in touch soon. ruthaki