Periodically, archaeologists make extraordinary discoveries that help us understand what our ancestors' lives were like. The necropolis or cemeteries they shed numerous data on the life and death of our ancestors, but sometimes they present enigmas that are difficult to solve. This is the case of the chained skeletons that were found in a necropolis near Athens. Who were they? Why were they chained? Download it!
These skeletons are not the only ones that have been found chained in ancient European tombs. In 2014, in the south-west of France, in Gallo-Roman tombs in Saintes, the remains of 4 adults and a child with shackles were found. However, in this case the archaeologists have no doubt that they belonged to a group of slaves who died and were buried without being removed the irons symbol of their situation.
The Skeletons chained near Athens
In 2016, in excavations carried out in an old Greek middle class cemetery, dated between the VIII and V a.C. and located between the center of Athens and Piraeus, a surprising discovery was made: 80 skeletons, 36 of them chained, buried in perfect order. Surprised, the archaeologists tried to find out who obeyed this strange burial.
The chained skeletons , according to a study of his teeth, would correspond to young men who were in good health at the time of his death. Thanks to some ceramic remains from two small vases found next to the chained skeletons , the find has been dated to the beginning of the 7th century BC With these data, historians believe they know who these remains belong to and why they died.
In particular, the tomb was dated between 650 and 625 BC. These dates correspond to a politically troubled time in Athens. The chained skeletons it is believed that they are the remains of political rebels who tried to seize Athens in 632 a.C. In particular they would correspond to the supporters of Cylon, a former athlete who attempted a coup on that date.
Cylon was an athlete who emerged victorious in Olympic Games of the year 640 a.C. Thanks to this victory he married the daughter of the Tyrant of Megara. Taking advantage of the bad harvests in Athens and supported by his father-in-law's soldiers, he attempted a coup in Athens. The coup failed and Cylon fled the city. However, his supporters took refuge in the Acropolis where they were besieged and defeated by hunger. Finally, the governor of Athens, Megacles, invited them to leave the fight promising them that he would let them out safely. When they left, he broke his promise, seized them and executed them.
This seems to be the explanation of why they were buried in a second-rate cemetery, but with some respect and orderly. Did you know the finding of these chained skeletons ? Do you know other similar cases? If you have been interested in this post, we invite you to read: Chauchilla cemetery in Peru | The terrifying outdoor mummies