Emporions Colony

**General Appo** · 03-11-2008, 22:39

Hi, a quick question for the cunning members of this forum.
In the building description of the uniqe temple (can´t remember it´s name right now) placed in Emporion a colony founded by Emporion further down the Spanish coast is mentioned, but its name is not. I have also been unable to find its name in any other sources, both EB and other ones, so my question is what is the name of this colony, and if any one is aware of it, what is this colony´s history.
For those who wonder, this is just out of idle curiosity, and a slight fascination of Greek colonies in the western Mediterranean.
Anyway, all answers are appreciated, even spammy ones.

**PenguinLobster** · 03-11-2008, 22:41

Arse *hehe* is a greek city farther down the coast.

**General Appo** · 03-11-2008, 22:43

I thought so to, but doesn´t the Massilians Hoplites description mention Arse being founded by Massilia and Phoacea? If not, I am truly an idiot.

**Centurio Nixalsverdrus** · 03-12-2008, 21:41

Arsé is Saguntum afaik. I dunno though, but it's certainly not Barcelona, Barcelona is a Punic foundation.

**Sarcasm** · 03-12-2008, 23:13

Arsé was NOT a greek city, it is was an Edetani oppida. However, the port town that served it (much like Portus and Ostia for Rome, or Piraeus and Phaleron for Athens) was essentially populated by Greek and Hellenised traders, and was probably their main source of revenue. These guys probably had enough political influence to convince the oppida's leadership to act much like Emporion and other Greek colonists elsewhere, and side with Rome against Carthaginian hegemony.

The fact that it was a major fortification controlling the main coastal road, that would conceivably side with the enemy once hostilities commenced, meant the city would inevitably be subjected to an 8-month siege. There's actually still enough evidence on the extensive punic circumvalation works and even Hannibal's main camp that allows us to reconstruct them with some degree of certainty.

When Hannibal finally destroys the fortified city in 219, killing, enslaving or dispersing its population, the port takes it's place as the major settlement in the area. It's only quite a bit after the Romans take over that the name Saguntum comes into play.

BTW, other Greek settlements include Portus Menusios, Portus Menesthei, Mainake, Heraklia, Alonis, Akra Leuke, Artemision, Hemeroskopeion and Rhode, just north of Emporion.

**keravnos** · 03-13-2008, 08:50

Sarcasm is absolutely right. The westernmost Hellenic colony was near what is now known as Gibraltar, surrounded by Punic colonies, of course.

**keravnos** · 03-13-2008, 09:13

Originally Posted by PenguinLobster

Arse *hehe* is a greek city farther down the coast.

As ever Arse wasn't just greek but the greeks took the blame for whatever happened to it...

General Hooker anyone?

**General Appo** · 03-13-2008, 15:20

Very interesting, but I´m still wondering which one of these colonies were founded by Emporion.

**Jolt** · 03-13-2008, 17:23

Originally Posted by General Appo

Very interesting, but I´m still wondering which one of these colonies were founded by Emporion.

I believe that would be "Hemeroskopeion".

**Sarcasm** · 03-13-2008, 19:39

My sources tell me that Hemeroskopeion was in fact a Massiliote colony founded along with two other smaller towns between the Sucro river (probably the Júcar) and New Carthage. Artemision was a very small settlement at the edge of a promontory that had a very respected temple of the Ephesian Artemis. So you're probably right, it's this colony, but it wasn't Emporiate.

**Jolt** · 03-14-2008, 14:32

Originally Posted by Sarcasm

My sources tell me that Hemeroskopeion was in fact a Massiliote colony founded along with two other smaller towns between the Sucro river (probably the Júcar) and New Carthage. Artemision was a very small settlement at the edge of a promontory that had a very respected temple of the Ephesian Artemis. So you're probably right, it's this colony, but it wasn't Emporiate.

I recall reading in a Spanish thesis some months ago that Hemeroskopeion had been founded by both Emporion and Massilia. I could be wrong though, since it was a simple name. Or was it Herakleia? Bleh, don't really remember.

**Disciple of Tacitus** · 03-14-2008, 16:44

I think I know what town you are speaking of and it is on the tip of my tongue, but I can not remember it right now. I will check my sources and get back to here.