Universität zu Köln

Voett, Andreas, Brueckner, Helmut and Kraft, John C. (2017). Do mythological traditions reflect past geographies? The Acheloos delta (Greece) and the Artemision (Turkey) case studies. Z. Geomorphol., 61. S. 203 - 222. STUTTGART: GEBRUDER BORNTRAEGER. ISSN 0372-8854

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Abstract

This paper presents results from palaeogeographical studies carried out in the southeastern Acheloos River delta, northwestern Greece, and in the vicinity of the Artemision, western Turkey, and focuses on the question to what extent mythological traditions may document past palaeoenvironmental settings. The landscape reconstructions are based on the study of near-coast sediments recovered by terrestrial vibracoring or lake coring from a universal sampling platform. Sediment cores underwent sedimentological, geochemical, microfaunal and micromorphological analyses. C-14-AMS ages and diagnostic ceramic fragments were used to establish local geochronologies. Geophysical studies helped to set up palaeogeographical maps for different points in time. Palaeogeographical scenarios were then compared with mythological traditions as documented by ancient accounts and archaeological evidence. Our results show that the famous battle between Heracles and the ancient river god Acheloos may symbolize a major diversion of the Acheloos River dating to the late 2(nd) millennium BC. The Artemision, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, today lies some 9 km inland. Our study revealed thick littoral deposits below its foundation; this is consistent with the legend that the Artemision was erected at a place where once a tree trunk in the form of a female body had been stranded on the beach. Further possible relations between landscape evolution and mythological traditions are discussed for both case studies. It remains, however, impossible to provide a definite scientific basis for the mentioned myths.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Voett, Andreas UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Brueckner, Helmut UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Kraft, John C. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-246447
DOI:	10.1127/zfg_suppl/2017/0352
Journal or Publication Title:	Z. Geomorphol.
Volume:	61
Page Range:	S. 203 - 222
Date:	2017
Publisher:	GEBRUDER BORNTRAEGER
Place of Publication:	STUTTGART
ISSN:	0372-8854
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language SEA-LEVEL CHANGES; LATE HOLOCENE; NW GREECE; GEOARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS; PALEOENVIRONMENTAL EVOLUTION; DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENT; SOUTHERN PELOPONNESE; TSUNAMI DEPOSITS; COASTAL-PLAIN; RIVER DELTA Multiple languages Geography, Physical; Geosciences, Multidisciplinary Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/24644