Lecture 2: Problems of Chronology
The absolute chronological framework for the material culture of Athens in the sixth and fifth centuries BC is fixed by only a handful of monuments and artefacts. Some of these main points of reference are illustrated below. A more detailed exposition of the absolute dating accorded to the archaeological evidence can be found in R. Cook Greek Painted Pottery (1972), 261-79 and R. Cook "The Francis-Vickers chronology", JHS 109 (1989), 164-70.
Panathenaic amphora of circa 560 BC by the Burgon Group. Now in the British Museum. Pherekydes & Eusebius report that the Panathenaic Games were instituted in 566 BC. The earliest surviving Panathenaic amphorae, such as that by the Burgon Group, should be roughly contemporary. These were prize amphorae containing olive oil, and were decorated on one side with the figure of Athena Promachos and the inscription "ton athenethen athlon" (one of the prizes from Athens). The other side carried a picture of the sporting event in which the prize was won: here chariot racing.
Gigantomachy (Battle of Gods & Giants) from the frieze of the Siphnian Treasury at Delphi, circa 525 BC. Herodotos III.57-8 says that this treasury building was being constructed shortly before exiles from Samos attacked Siphnos in 525 BC.
Kore from the east pediment of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, 510-500 BC. Herodotos v.62 tells that after they had been defeated at Leipsydrion in 513 BC, the Athenian Alcmaeonids proceeded to complete the building of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, decorating the east front in marble.
Marathon, Burial Mound of the Athenian Warriors killed in the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. When the mound was excavated it was found to contain late Attic black-figure pottery and one early red-figure piece.
The Kritios Boy, Athens Acropolis Museum, 485-480 BC. In 480 BC the Persian invasion of Athens resulted in the destruction of many Athenian monuments. On the subsequent return of the Athenians to their city many of the votive dedications on the Acropolis, such as the so-called Kritios Boy, were ritually buried thus providing modern archaeologists with a sealed deposit which must predate 480 BC.
The Tyrannicides, copy in Naples, National Museum of a lost work of 477/6 BC by Kritios & Nesiotes. The Marmor Parium records for 477/6 BC that statues of the tyrant slayers Harmodios & Aristogeiton were set up at Athens.
The Delphi Charioteer, a figure from a bronze sculptural group which was set up as a victory monument at Delphi in either 478 or 474 BC. An inscription records the dedication of the group by the tyrant Polyzalos of Gela in Sicily.
Figures decorating the west pediment of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia: the central figure of Apollo stands amid the swirling figures of a centauromachy (battle of Greeks & centaurs). Since the Temple of Zeus was complete by 456 BC, these sculptures must have been created between circa 470-456 BC.
The Temple of Athena Parthenos on the acropolis at Athens constructed, together with all its sculptural decoration, between 447-432 BC.
The Erechtheion, or Temple of Athena & Poseidon Erechtheus, on the Athenian Acropolis. Building inscriptions tell us that construction was resumed after a break in 409/8 BC.
Grave relief of Dexileos from the Kerameikos at Athens. The inscription below the sculptural relief reads: "Dexileos, son of Lysanias of Thorikos, born in the archonship of Teisander; one of the five knights who fell at Corinth in the archonship of Euboulides". Since we can conclude from the archon lists that Euboulides held office in 394/393 BC, we thus know the date both of the battle and of the death of the young man.