‘Bridging the Gulf’: Religion, Identity, and Cross-border Interactions in the Gulf of Corinth (On the Earthquake of Helike in Polyaenus, Strat. 8.46)
Abstract
This paper re-examines the story of Themisto transmitted by Polyainos, showing how a seemingly late and marginal tradition can reveal unexpected historical potential. While embedded in a fictional framework, the narrative functions as an aition for the earthquake that destroyed Helike in 373. Its stereotypical elements situate the account within broader images of tyrants, ethne, and the cross-cultural dynamics of the Corinthian Gulf. The stratagem highlights the symbolic centrality of Helike’s sanctuary of Poseidon, shedding light on forms of religious, commercial, and diplomatic interaction across the Gulf.
open access | peer reviewed
Submitted: Sept. 9, 2025 | Language: en
Keywords Cross-border interaction • Earthquake of Helike • Polyainos • Gulf of Corinth • Greek religion
Copyright © 2026 Claudio Biagetti. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Permalink http://doi.org/10.30687/979-12-5742-078-9/006