THE MYTH OF THE BATTLE BETWEEN POSEIDON AND POLYBOTES: WAS THE INSPIRATION FROM A LATE HOLOCENE ROCK AVALANCHE AT ZINI, KOS ISLAND?

paper-28851.pdf
Published: Mar 13, 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/bgsg.28851
Keywords:
Poseidon-Polybotes myth ceramics earthquake rock avalanche tsunami
Jelle Zeilinga de Boer
DECEASED, his wife still uses his email address formerly Wesleyan University
Georgia Pe-Piper
Department of Geology Saint Mary's University 933 Robie Street Halifax, NS B3H 3C3
David J.W. PIPER
Natural Resources Canada Geological Survey of Canada Atlantic Bedford Institute of Oceanography Dartmouth NS B2Y 4A2
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6276-7560
Abstract
Scenes of the legendary battle between Poseidon and the giant Polybotes, which occurred on the Greek island of Kos, are depicted on dozens of surviving ceramic objects. Poseidon is shown killing his opponent with his trident, while carrying a huge rock that he had ripped off the island of Kos to bury Polybotes. The legend is interpreted to represent a strong earthquake that caused a large coastal rock fall or rock avalanche. The oldest ceramics representing this disaster date from ca. 540 BCE. The disaster is interpreted to date from this time and was a major event that reverberated throughout the Greek world, triggering the imagination of its artists for several generations. Legend and ancient literary sources suggest that the event took place in southeastern Kos, near the then capital city of Astypalaia, located NW of Zini mountain. Geological studies show a large, relatively recent, rock avalanche on the steep coast on the SE side of Zini mountain. Possible tsunami sand deposits with reworked marsh foraminifera are found 7 m above sea level on NE Zini, only 1 km from the archeological site of the old city of Astypalaia and large boulders are stranded on the opposite rocky coastline up to 6 m above sea level. Noise and dust from a rock avalanche would have been terrifying for the inhabitants of Astypalaia and any tsunami would have overwashed the port at Kamari. In the absence of suitable geological dating methods, ceramics provide the best chronology for the event.
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  • Geoarchaeology
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Author Biographies
Jelle Zeilinga de Boer, DECEASED, his wife still uses his email address formerly Wesleyan University
formerly Professor of Geology
Georgia Pe-Piper, Department of Geology Saint Mary's University 933 Robie Street Halifax, NS B3H 3C3

Professor Emerita
Department of Geology
Saint Mary's University

David J.W. PIPER, Natural Resources Canada Geological Survey of Canada Atlantic Bedford Institute of Oceanography Dartmouth NS B2Y 4A2

Emeritus Scientist

Geological Survey of Canada Atlantic

 

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