The fortification wall of Chaleion

Abstract

Picturesque Galaxidi, with its good harbor (eulimenos politeia) and rich nautical tradition, was constructed on the site of ancient Chaleion. The continuous habitation of the site as well as the fact that ancient stone blocks were used to build the modern harbor facilities have contributed to the extensive destruction of the ancient structures, and in particular of the fortifications. These last, which were likely founded in the late 4th century BC, are preserved in fragments among the modern city. This paper gathers the results of previous and more recent studies, mainly of a rescue nature. Its aim is to graphically reconstruct, with the greatest possible degree of accuracy, the course of the walls, and to understand the defensive function of the fortification in the context of contemporary siege operations.