L'arte della guerra e la nascita della città occidentale

The construction of urban walls involves the whole city organization, including its economic, social, political and cultural resources. From late Classical age, the new architectural structures turn out to be the most visible monument of the city and a crucial element for strengthening civic identity. During Hellenistic age, this symbolic value of urban walls increases and relevant events, marked by propaganda aspects and reflecting political behaviors, take place around them, starting from the destruction of the Long Walls. Nevertheless, in Hellenistic age the Greek polis seems to face difficulties in preserving its urban organization and in maintaining the efficiency of its defensive apparatus against royal armies. At the same time, walls develop into an indispensable element of the new urban model, thereby radically modifying the architectural image of the Greek polis. However, the way this transformation occurs is not always clear and largely depends on choices made by each polis, as well as general cultural and political stances deriving from the comparison with Hellenistic monarchies.