The earliest "limenes kleistoi". A Comparison between archaeological-geological data and the Periplus of Pseudo-Skylax

Abstract

In modern scholarship on ancient Graeco-Roman harbours, the phrase λιμὴν κλειστός has come under much discussion, being rendered differently in English as «closed/closable/enclosed harbour». However, there is no agreement on its meaning so far. Therefore, this paper is aimed at understanding the possible meaning of the expression when it first appeared in textual sources, that is during the Archaic or Classical period. In particular, we will look at the mentions of “closed harbours” within the Periplus of Pseudo-Skylax (IVth century BC), the most ancient source where the term is found, and compare them with the available archaeological-geological and historical data, to establish whether previous interpretations can still be considered valid or if a re-definition is needed.