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Sikyon was a major industrial city from the very old
times, especially in metallurgy. We hear of Telchines,
these most ancient artisans of metal, working here around the 19th
century BC.
Sikyon was not a metal producing city (with the exception of copper that
could be found around the mountains of Asopos valley), tin and other
metals were imported from Cyprus, in which had her colony Golgoi.
A wide variety of artifacts from bronze was produced here such as bronze
statues, prize giving phialai, brass pottery, strigils,
bracelets, etc.
Another industry, for which Sikyon was famous was her shoes.
The so-called Sikyonion was a type of shoe mainly for women. A
luxurious item resembling soft sleepers. The woman's version was
made of white felt.
The excellent surroundings of Sikyon helped the breeding of fine horses.
In great demand were her "Samphorai" (from
the letter san = M + phero = bring). The archaic letter "M"
being marked upon them. It was only around 450 BC that Sikyonians
replaced "M" with the "S"
(sigma).
It is without doubt that Sikyonians proud for their horses, claimed that
they were descending from the famous Sikyonian mare Aither (Flash)
and the great Podagros (Fleetfoot), which as we know from Homer, raced
at the funeral games of Patroklos and won.
The excellent building stone Poros, used in a
variety of constructions, easy to work with and when exposed hardened,
was ambutant in Sikyon.
Sikyon exported mainly refined and expensive products but also minor
ones, as for example strigils and a type of bracelet called Sikyonion.
Among her industries was garment and industrial products. She was also
exporting her fine oil and wine, timber, fish and vegetables for which
was famous. Her eels were in great demand in Athens. |
