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Document Details : Title: Zur vorgriechischen Geschichte von Imbros aus philologischer Sicht Author(s): SIMON, Zsolt Journal: Ancient West & East Volume: 14 Date: 2015 Pages: 1-21 DOI: 10.2143/AWE.14.0.3108186 Abstract : The pre-Greek history of Imbros, i.e. the period before the arrival of the Athenians, is still unclear, despite renewed archaeological activities. Thus, the early history of the island can still be written only with the help of philology, which, however, provides only fragmentary data. Early investigation identified the first inhabitants of the island with Carians, who were followed by Thracians and, between 700 and 550 BC, by Tyrrhenians/Pelasgians. The crucial difference between early and current research is that the linguistic reality of these terms and the historical-ethnic landscape of Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age western Anatolia are much better understood nowadays. The starting point of this investigation is a new interpretation of the classical sources, the name of Imbros itself and the remaining onomastic data (including an assumed local god called Imbrasos). The analysis leads to the following sketch: the first identifiable inhabitants spoke a so-called Luwic language and were followed by the Tyrrhenians after 1200 BC. The arriving Greeks found therefore a mixed Luwic-Tyrrhenian population. However, since Imbros was treated as a Tyrrhenian island by Greek authors, it can be surmised that the Tyrrhenians have assimilated the local, Luwic-speaking population and only Tyrrhenians dwelled in the island during the Greek period. Finally, it will be argued that Imbramos is in fact a Carian and not an Imbrian deity. |
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