Rhamnus

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For the genus of plants called Rhamnus, see Buckthorn.

Rhamnus (Greek Ραμνоυς — Ramnous) is an archaeological site in Greece. It is located at the northeastern part of Attica, next to the Euboean Gulf.

[edit] History

There is an ancient legend that, before the Battle of Marathon, the Persians brought with them a huge piece of marble, from which to make a memorial to their victory, which they believed certain. However, Nemesis, or divine retribution, willed it otherwise. The Greeks won the famous battle in 490 BC: Agoracritos, a pupil of Phidias, wrought the statue of Nemesis herself from that very piece of marble, and it was erected at Rhamnus.

The deme of Rhamnus took its name from the buckthorn bushes (genus Rhamnus) which grew in abundance in the area. The settlement consisted of a fortress, public buildings, sanctuaries, houses, and burial grounds.

An Athenian garrison was permanently stationed at Rhamnus, in the small enclosure at the top of the hill, to watch over navigation. The extension of the fortification further down embraced the little theatre, the gymnasium, a small sanctuary of Dionysos, a number of other public buildings, and dwellings. The ancient road passed between some colossal grave monuments and ended at the gate of the fortress.

Early in the fifth century, the sanctuary of Nemesis was built to the south. The huge fifth-century temple was a Doric hexastyle. Inside, the statue of Nemesis stood on a base decorated with reliefs, with tha altar in front of it.

Themis, the personification of justice and equity, was worshipped in a small temple nearby: her statue, the work of the local sculptor Chaerestratos, survives intact. Another, smaller, sanctuary was originally dedicated to the local hero and physician Aristomachos, but his cult was gradually supplanted in the fourth century BC by that of the better known Amphiaraos, who was worshipped at Oropos and shared the same attributes.

Christianity having prevailed, the order went out in AD 399 that the temple should be demolished. But the remains of the sanctuary and the fortress were never entirely buried under the earth, and have remained visible to travellers and local people ever since.

Source: Taken from the touristic poster of Rhamnus