Books by Floris van den Eijnde
F. van den Eijnde, J. H. Blok and R. Strootman eds., Feasting and Polis Institutions. Mnemosyne Supplements 414. Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2018
Feasting and commensality formed the backbone of social life in the polis, the most characteristi... more Feasting and commensality formed the backbone of social life in the polis, the most characteristic and enduring form of political organization in the ancient Greek world. Exploring a wide array of commensal practices, Feasting and Polis Institutions reveals how feasts defined the religious and political institutions of the Greek citizen-state.
Taking the reader from the Early Iron Age to the Imperial Period, this volume launches an essential inquiry into Greek power relations. Focusing on the myriad of patronage roles at the feast and making use of a wide variety of methodologies and primary sources, including archaeology, epigraphy and literature, Feasting and Polis Institutions argues that in ancient Greece political interaction could never be complete until it was consummated in a festive context.
van den Bent, J., F. van den Eijnde and J. Weststeijn. 2018. Mohammed en de Late Oudheid. Zenobiareeks 6. Hilversum: Verloren, 2018
De wisselwerking met andere culturen die plaatsvond tijdens het ontstaan van de islam is een van ... more De wisselwerking met andere culturen die plaatsvond tijdens het ontstaan van de islam is een van de zwaarst bediscussieerde historische thema’s van het moment. Dit is het directe gevolg van twee toevallig samenkomende omstandigheden. Enerzijds is de islamologie nog een jonge discipline, zeker in vergelijking met het Bijbelonderzoek. Daarnaast is er sprake van een sterke politisering van het wetenschappelijke debat gevoed door actuele gebeurtenissen in en rondom de islamitische wereld. In de westerse publieke opinie blijkt er een grote vraag te zijn naar duiding van het ontstaan van de islam, waarbij wetenschap en politiek niet altijd van elkaar gescheiden blijven. Door de opkomst van de islam nadrukkelijk te positioneren in de context van de Late Oudheid biedt deze bundel een hernieuwde kennismaking met de vroege islam als een religie in wording die sterk verankerd was in het culturele mozaïek van haar tijd met evenzovele aanknopingspunten als breuklijnen ten opzichte van de antieke wereld.
Kelder, J., G. Uslu, Ö. F. Şerifoğlu, R. van Beek, F. van den Eijnde and G. J. Wijngaarden, eds. 2012. Troy. City. Homer. Turkey. Zwolle: WBooks., 2012
This book deals with the archaeology and 'Nachleben' of Troy. Contributions include discussions o... more This book deals with the archaeology and 'Nachleben' of Troy. Contributions include discussions of the archaeological remains at Troy, the relation between Troy and its Bronze Age neighbours (the Hittites and Mycenaeans), the language of Troy, Roman and Byzantine perceptions on the Trojan War, Ottoman interest in Troy, the Treasure of Priam, Schliemann, Attaturk and Troy, Homer and Troy in the Turkish Republic.
van den Eijnde, F. 2010. Cult and Society in Early Athens. Archaeological and Anthropological Approaches to State Formation and Group Participation in Attica. 1000-600 BCE. Phd. diss.: Utrecht University.
In this dissertation I argue that the Athenian polis, defined as the social group that held acces... more In this dissertation I argue that the Athenian polis, defined as the social group that held access to the cult of Athena on the Acropolis, led an ambivalent existence throughout the seventh century. It was not until the sixth century that strong centripetal forces elevated the cult of Athena to its preeminent position and that cultic ties were established between the center and the most important peripheral sanctuaries. In time, this process would lead to the gradual overlapping of the Athenian polis and the Attic ethnos, a development unparalleled in the Greek world. The cultic integration of Attica in the sixth century unfortunately lies beyond the scope of the present study, but remains a promising area for future investigation. From the end of the seventh century and well into the sixth century BCE, this process of cultic exchange opened the way toward social and political integration that culminated in the reforms of Cleisthenes in 508/7 BCE and the foundation of a democratic government.
Papers by Floris van den Eijnde
Late Antique Responses to the Arab Conquests, 2022
Late Antique Responses to the Arab Conquests showcases new discoveries in an exciting and rapidly... more Late Antique Responses to the Arab Conquests showcases new discoveries in an exciting and rapidly developing field: the study of the transition from Late Antiquity to Early Islam. The contributors to this volume engage with previously neglected sources, such as Arabic rock inscriptions, papyri and Byzantine archaeological remains. They also apply new interpretative methods to the literary tradition, reading the Qurʾān as a late antique text, using Arabic poetry as a source to study the gestation of an Arab identity, and exploring the settlement patterns of the Arabian colonizers in order to explain regional processes of Arabicization and Islamization. Taken together, this volume shows how the Arab conquests changed both the Arabian conquerors and the conquered. Edited by Josephine van den Bent, Floris van den Eijnde and Johan Weststeijn. See https://brill.com/view/title/61267.
F. van den Eijnde, J. H. Blok and R. Strootman eds., Feasting and Polis Institutions. Mnemosyne Supplements 414. Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2018
F. van den Eijnde, J. H. Blok and R. Strootman eds., Feasting and Polis Institutions. Mnemosyne Supplements 414 Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2018
van den Eijnde, F. and M. Laughy. 2017. “The Areopagus Oval Building Reconsidered.” In Regional Stories: Towards a new Perception of the Early Greek World, edited by A. Mazarakis Ainian, Volos: University of Thessaly, 2017
Based partly on a re-examination of the pottery lots, the excavation notebooks, and excavation su... more Based partly on a re-examination of the pottery lots, the excavation notebooks, and excavation summary reports, this paper offers a fresh analysis of the Areopagus Oval Buildings material remains. We have two
main objectives. The first is to offer a fruitful contribution to the debate over the chronology and architecture of the AOB. To this end, we incorporate into our discussion an analysis of nearby graves, wells, and other architecture, which, we feel, provides crucial insights into the building’s history and the people who used it. Our second objective is to place the building in the context of similar contemporary buildings throughout Attica. Doing so, the unwarranted notion that a black and white distinction between ritual and domestic use of many of these buildings is reinforced; the two functions were, in fact, closely related.
Archaeological excavation is a destructive process, making accurate, fast and efficient 3D docume... more Archaeological excavation is a destructive process, making accurate, fast and efficient 3D documentation of information essential. With this in mind, our research uses an integrated workflow of topographic measurements and image-based 3D modelling to generate highly accurate reconstructions of archaeological features at the site of Thorikos, Greece. Topographic ground control points and images are acquired using a total station and consumer digital camera respectively, and processed in a highly automated workflow using Structure from Motion and Multiview Stereo reconstruction software. These models were generated on a daily basis in order to map the on-going of a field campaign at this archaeological site in 2012. Moreover, a management system is presented as a consultation and analysis application, enabling the interaction with the 3D models, accompanied with attribute data and metadata. For the efficiency of the management system it was essential to integrate the 3D models in a Harris matrix. This matrix functions as an intermediate between a graphical user interface and the database system. Additionally, two applications of these 3D models are presented, focussing on capacity calculations and in situ mapping (orthophoto mapping) of stone wall remains. The presented management system, the linking of 3D models with excavation data, and the use of 3D models as a scientific tool demonstrate the huge potential of 3D data for archaeological research.
"The peak sanctuary of Zeus on Mount Parnes ranks among the earliest cult sites of post-Helladic ... more "The peak sanctuary of Zeus on Mount Parnes ranks among the earliest cult sites of post-Helladic Attica. With the exception of a small article by the excavator (Mastrokostas, 1983), summarizing the staggering number finds, nothing has been attempted in the way of a full publication. While the earliest finds date to Late Protogeometric, the site’s acme lies in the seventh century and is represented by a large assortment of high quality Corinthian vessels as well as an equally impressive amount of iron weapons. These are significant finds that deserve closer examination, as they are unparalleled by material found at any of the other cult sites in Attica during this period.
In this paper it is proposed that both the Corinthian wares and the weapons should be understood as the result of cross-cultural rivalry between the inhabitants of Attica and Boeotia, mediated by the display of relatively expensive votives. Attention has been drawn to the aristocratic value of orientalizing pottery in general, the use of which can be attributed to elite and liminal contexts (Whitley, 1994). At Mount Parnes, the shared offering of deadly weapons is best explained as a means to solidify the border and ease potential conflicts on either side of it. The special significance thus conferred on the sanctuary suggests that we are dealing with a typical frontier shrine. While many sanctuaries throughout Greece have been so labeled (cf. Morgan 1997), this would represent a unique feature of the Attic sacral landscape.
"
Mohammed en de Late Oudheid, 2018
De wisselwerking met andere culturen die plaatsvond tijdens het ontstaan van de islam is een van ... more De wisselwerking met andere culturen die plaatsvond tijdens het ontstaan van de islam is een van de zwaarst bediscussieerde historische thema’s van het moment. Dit is het directe gevolg van twee toevallig samenkomende omstandigheden. Enerzijds is de islamologie nog een jonge discipline, zeker in vergelijking met het Bijbelonderzoek. Daarnaast is er sprake van een sterke politisering van het wetenschappelijke debat gevoed door actuele gebeurtenissen in en rondom de islamitische wereld. In de westerse publieke opinie blijkt er een grote vraag te zijn naar duiding van het ontstaan van de islam, waarbij wetenschap en politiek niet altijd van elkaar gescheiden blijven. Door de opkomst van de islam nadrukkelijk te positioneren in de context van de Late Oudheid biedt deze bundel een hernieuwde kennismaking met de vroege islam als een religie in wording die sterk verankerd was in het culturele mozaïek van haar tijd met evenzovele aanknopingspunten als breuklijnen ten opzichte van de antieke wereld.
van den Eijnde, F. and A. Kant 2019. “De archeologische collectie van de Universiteit Utrecht.” Tijdschrift voor Mediterrane Archeologie 60: 1–7., 2019
Abstract. Mediterranean archaeology has been a focus of study at the University of Utrecht for ov... more Abstract. Mediterranean archaeology has been a focus of study at the University of Utrecht for over a century. Previously, archaeology had been a part of the department of Greek and Latin Language and Literature. After WWII, an independent Archaeological Institute was founded and housed at Domplein. During this period a substantial educational collection was created of some 1000 objects, most of which now resides in the University Museum of Utrecht, while parts are on loan at the universities of Amsterdam and Groningen. The collection includes a variety of cultic and funerary objects as well as various utensils. The majority consists of (Greek) pottery. After the dissolution of the Archaeological Institute in 1983 the expansion of the collection halted and it was largely forgotten. In 2015, a team of the department of Ancient History at Utrecht University resumed research into the collection and has taken up a twofold strategy: disclosing the collection to the general public and publishing a large part of it in Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum.
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Books by Floris van den Eijnde
Taking the reader from the Early Iron Age to the Imperial Period, this volume launches an essential inquiry into Greek power relations. Focusing on the myriad of patronage roles at the feast and making use of a wide variety of methodologies and primary sources, including archaeology, epigraphy and literature, Feasting and Polis Institutions argues that in ancient Greece political interaction could never be complete until it was consummated in a festive context.
Papers by Floris van den Eijnde
main objectives. The first is to offer a fruitful contribution to the debate over the chronology and architecture of the AOB. To this end, we incorporate into our discussion an analysis of nearby graves, wells, and other architecture, which, we feel, provides crucial insights into the building’s history and the people who used it. Our second objective is to place the building in the context of similar contemporary buildings throughout Attica. Doing so, the unwarranted notion that a black and white distinction between ritual and domestic use of many of these buildings is reinforced; the two functions were, in fact, closely related.
In this paper it is proposed that both the Corinthian wares and the weapons should be understood as the result of cross-cultural rivalry between the inhabitants of Attica and Boeotia, mediated by the display of relatively expensive votives. Attention has been drawn to the aristocratic value of orientalizing pottery in general, the use of which can be attributed to elite and liminal contexts (Whitley, 1994). At Mount Parnes, the shared offering of deadly weapons is best explained as a means to solidify the border and ease potential conflicts on either side of it. The special significance thus conferred on the sanctuary suggests that we are dealing with a typical frontier shrine. While many sanctuaries throughout Greece have been so labeled (cf. Morgan 1997), this would represent a unique feature of the Attic sacral landscape.
"
Taking the reader from the Early Iron Age to the Imperial Period, this volume launches an essential inquiry into Greek power relations. Focusing on the myriad of patronage roles at the feast and making use of a wide variety of methodologies and primary sources, including archaeology, epigraphy and literature, Feasting and Polis Institutions argues that in ancient Greece political interaction could never be complete until it was consummated in a festive context.
main objectives. The first is to offer a fruitful contribution to the debate over the chronology and architecture of the AOB. To this end, we incorporate into our discussion an analysis of nearby graves, wells, and other architecture, which, we feel, provides crucial insights into the building’s history and the people who used it. Our second objective is to place the building in the context of similar contemporary buildings throughout Attica. Doing so, the unwarranted notion that a black and white distinction between ritual and domestic use of many of these buildings is reinforced; the two functions were, in fact, closely related.
In this paper it is proposed that both the Corinthian wares and the weapons should be understood as the result of cross-cultural rivalry between the inhabitants of Attica and Boeotia, mediated by the display of relatively expensive votives. Attention has been drawn to the aristocratic value of orientalizing pottery in general, the use of which can be attributed to elite and liminal contexts (Whitley, 1994). At Mount Parnes, the shared offering of deadly weapons is best explained as a means to solidify the border and ease potential conflicts on either side of it. The special significance thus conferred on the sanctuary suggests that we are dealing with a typical frontier shrine. While many sanctuaries throughout Greece have been so labeled (cf. Morgan 1997), this would represent a unique feature of the Attic sacral landscape.
"
From the decrees it is clear that the Salaminioi played a key role in the ideological integration of Salamis within the Athenian state: through their control of a number of cults directly connected with Salamis (i.e. Eurysakes, Athena Skiras), Athenian domination of Salamis was implicitly sanctioned. The cult of Pandrosos, Aglauros and Ge Kourotrophos, however, cannot be explained along the same lines as it functionally differs from the other cults tended to by the Salaminioi. There is no symbolic connection with the island to help us understand why the Salaminioi controlled this cult. The connection is rather with Athenian mythology, in which Athena entrusted Pandrosos and Aglauros, the daughters of king Kekrops, with the care of earth-born Erichthonios. This myth figured prominently in the projected image of the Athenian past and, as Shapiro (1998) has shown, it was already an established element within the repertoire of Athenian vase painters by the early sixth century BC.
The fact that the Salaminioi came to tend to the cult of such important mythological personae ties them to the very heart of Athenian myth. Furthermore, the location of this cult on the Acropolis, within the realm of Athena, is to be understood as an important religious statement concerning the position of Salamis within the polis. The establishment of Brauronian Artemis and the Eleusinian goddesses on (the slopes of) the Acropolis seems to have been instigated by similar concerns about the religious integrity of Athenian territory. Thus, the cult of Pandrosos, Aglauros and Kourotrophos fits in a broader sixth century program linking peripheral areas with the old believes and cultic institutions centered on the Acropolis. In the case of Salamis it was left to the Salaminioi to bridge the Salaminian and Athenian religious traditions, thereby accomplishing an increased sense of social and territorial cohesion, which proved to be an essential element in the formation of the Athenian polis.
In this paper it is proposed that both the Corinthian wares and the weapons should be understood as the result of cross-cultural rivalry between the inhabitants of Attica and Boeotia, mediated by the display of relatively expensive votives. Attention has been drawn to the aristocratic value of orientalizing pottery in general, the use of which can be attributed to elite and liminal contexts (Whitley, 1994). At Mount Parnes, the shared offering of deadly weapons is best explained as a means to solidify the border and ease potential conflicts on either side of it. The special significance thus conferred on the sanctuary suggests that we are dealing with a typical frontier shrine. While many sanctuaries throughout Greece have been so labeled (cf. Morgan 1997), this would represent a unique feature of the Attic sacral landscape.
Between 2015 and 2017, a team of Ghent and Utrecht Universities conducted an intensive survey of the southern part of the Velatouri Hill at Thorikos, including the summit or acropolis. Among the 56.898 inventoried finds, few remarkable votives of hitherto unattested types were encountered: two terracotta's (red stars) and a tridacna shell (yellow star). They concentrated on the acropolis and in this way complement the Iron Age offerings that have been found in the Bronze Age tombs farther to the north of the Velatouri.