Newcomers: Greek "Colonies" and Emerging Citizens

Presentation of a research project as part of the "Jeudis de la Maison Suger", a residents' research seminar.

During this session, Stefania De Vido will present an aspect of her ongoing research on the social and political dynamics associated with Greek colonization during the Archaic period. Drawing on the examples of Megara Hyblaea and Himera, she highlights the mechanisms through which newcomers were integrated into the Greek cities of Sicily, long after their initial foundation.

The project

"Following a general overview of key themes related to the study of Greek "colonization" during the Archaic period, this paper will focus on the notion of "newcomers"—that is, groups who joined established cities (apoikiai) well after the initial phase of settlement (ktisis), which marked the stable installation of the first Greek colonists. Through two case studies centered on cities in Greek Sicily—Megara Hyblaea and Himera—I will examine the institutional and topographical arrangements implemented by these communities to integrate new citizens. These measures aimed to prevent social tensions and the threat of civil strife (stasis), recurrent afflictions in the political life of ancient city-states."

Speaker

Stefania De Vido is a professor of Greek history at the University Ca' Foscari Venezia. She is a member of the scientific council of the Italian Institute for Ancient History; and she directs the journals Axon and Ricerche Ellenistiche. Her research focuses on the history of Sicily, from archaic times to the Roman period; on social history and the definition of aristocracies between the archaic and classical periods; on Greek historiography (particularly Herodotus, Thucydides, and Diodorus of Sicily); and on epigraphy, with a special interest in the history of the discipline and digital applications.