DET NORSKE INSTITUTT I ATHEN
ΝΟΡΒΗΓΙΚΟ ΙΝΣΤΙΤΟΥΤΟ ΑΘΗΝΩΝ
NORWEGIAN INSTITUTE AT ATHENS
TSAMI KARATASOU 5, GR-117 42, ATHENS, GREECE
TEL: 210 92 31 351, 210 92 41 420. FAX: 210 92 15 993, E-MAIL: [email protected]
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Invitation to Lecture
THE POLITICAL SYSTEM IN ANCIENT TEGEA
Ingvar Mæhle
Associate Professor
Department of Archeology, History, Cultural and Religious Studies
University of Bergen, Norway
Tegea emerges from the pages of the historian Herodotus in a struggle of epic
proportions with its powerful neighbour Sparta. After having subdued Messenia,
Sparta turned to Arcadia sometime in the middle of the sixth century, bringing chains
for the unfortunate Tegeans. The adventure ended very differently; the Spartan army
lost convincingly and the chains hung for centuries in the monumental Athena Alea
temple as a symbol of Tegan martial prowess and independence.
Clearly the hoplite tactical reform had successfully penetrated Tegean society, but
what more do we know about the social and political system of this powerful
Arcadian polis? Using the meagre literary and epigraphic sources, and arguing from
the economic possibilities, the geopolitical setting and comparative history, Dr.
Mæhle tries to formulate a plausible model for what Tegean society and government
was like. The popular notion that Tegea’s defection from the Spartan military alliance
meant democratic revolution at home, is criticised and a case is made for a very
stable, moderate oligarchy. In this respect Tegea was probably more typical than
either of the two more well-known systems of Athens and Sparta.
Friday, October 11 at 19:00
at the premises of the Norwegian Institute at Athens
Refreshments will be served following the lecture