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In this exhibition, we have looked at several possibilities of how to trace the success of a city in the archaeological record. We can see the 'triumph' of these cities in their many developments over time. Athens, Ephesus, Tarsus, Butrint and Shivta show the various ways in which they have changed over time and yet preserved their identities. They exhibit not only change and development with regard to the function and location, but also continuity. This is shown by the example of Athens, where the Agora remained the centre of life for such a long period of time.

 

In Athens and Ephesus we have looked at daily life, entertainment and religion. In Butrint, we observe the architecture, pottery and fishing activities, and in Shivta at everyday movements in the town. It is clear that cities as these, which have withstood the test of time, can certainly be called successful. If there is anything we can learn from them, it is that a dynamic nature and a capability of change are instrumental to the survival of a city. However, while cities change, the people that live in them often adhere to traditions and things that are familiar to them. It is this interplay of large and small scale, continuity and change, that defines the success of a city.