Real space vs. Perceived Space: the Representation of Arcadia and the Synoecism of its Cities in Strabo’s Book VIII

• Autores: Mariachiara Angelucci
• Localización: Urban Space in Historical Geography: Collective Perception and Territoriality / Mariachiara Angelucci (ed. lit.), 2022, ISBN 9788418979361, págs. 3-36
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • The city plays a key role in understanding Strabo’s Geography, asit controls and influences the territory where it is located. In this paper I intend to deal in particular with Strabo’s view of Arcadia from the way herepresents cities and their origins, focusing on those for which he remembers the foundation by synoecism, namely Megalopolis, Mantinea, Tegeaand Heraia, in order to highlight what information he provides and for whatreasons the treatment of certain cities, whose birth is due to the fusion ofseveral settlements, is approached in a certain way. The fact that the description of the urban centers in Arcadia does not do justice to the complexityand relevance of their foundation and development does not seem a merecoincidence. On the contrary it is the result of his negative opinion of theArcadian Confederacy and of the Theban hegemony, two political realitiesunited by the desire to weaken Sparta, which Strabo held in high regard forthe stability and duration of its hegemony, creating a parallelism with Rome.