Department Colloquium: Maria Xanthou (Seeger Center for Hellenic Studies, Princeton University) "A tale of two resilient cities: regional interaction of population, environment, and resources in Olynthus and Potidaea"

 My study sets out to examine the potential link and affinities between two ancient Graeco-Roman resilient cities, Olynthus and Potidaea. It focuses on the impact of natural catastrophes and violence on the societies of these cities. Both cities suffered great losses or disappeared as a result of destruction, but also gained the advantage of revival. My purpose is to investigate the capacity of Olynthus and Potidaea in exhibiting successful and diverse patterns of resilience, while enduring siege, war, hunger, and seaquake. Towards this goal, I examine the interactive relation of the two resilient cities in question, aiming to introduce an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach to the crucial factors that largely defined Potidaea and Olynthus geographically, politically, and historically as two cities embracing a sustainable and resilient environment.

Keywords: Chalcidica peninsula, Olynthus, Potidaea, resilience, environment, regionality, natural and man-made disasters, natural resources, long durée.