EXECUTION BY STYRAX IN ANCIENT THASOS
Abstract
Execution by Styrax in Ancient Thasos records the outcome of the excavation at the extensive
necropolis of ancient Thasos. The author, Anagnostis P. Agelarakis, is a professor of Anthropological
Archaeology and Physical Anthropology at Adelphi University and has worked at archaeological sites
throughout the world.
Archaeo-anthropological studies can readily contribute to encompass major questions about past
cultural practices, such as diet (Hill, Price, & Rowan, 2016), treatment of the dead (Croucher, 2012), and
the prevalence and severity of violence (Garfinkel, 2001). Agelarakis' book, which expounds the findings
of the archaeological excavations at Myroni site, provides equivalent information.
The book begins with the demographic analysis of the population, providing data on life expectancy.
However, it focuses primarily on one human skeleton of particular forensic/bioarchaeological interest. It
is a male individual, who displays a foramen at the sternum caused by mechanical forces. A thorough
analysis, which is well described in the book, reveals that the foramen is a perforating injury caused by a
sharply projecting weapon tip component, more precisely a spear. According to the indications, the
Thasian was executed and Agelarakis' book provides information regarding the manner in which the
execution was carried out, the possible reasons leading thereto and a comprehensive evaluation of the
cause of death.
Agelarakis' book is well documented. He describes in detail the anthropological approach to the study
of past populations as well as the methodology used in this research. Readers, especially historians and
archaeologists, will be interested in Agelarakis' book, as he gives some insight into the population of
ancient Thasos and provides valuable information about the handling and interpretation of the findings
from an archaeological excavation. Execution by Styrax in Ancient Thasos may not answer all the
questions regarding the death of the Thasian but advances our knowledge of this ancient population.
