Nebeski grad na Atosu

Abstract

U istoriografiji je dobro poznata uloga Kasandra, Antipatrovog sina, kao osnivača i obnovitelja gradova. On je obnovio beotsku Tebu i osnovao važne centre Tesaloniku (Solun) i Kasandreju na Halkidiku. Ali, izuzev nekih krajnje specijalističkih radova, u modernoj literaturi se retko konstatuje (ili, uopšte, spominje) da je za vreme njegove vladavine sagrađen grad neobičnog imena, Uranopolis (Οὐρανόπολις, „Nebeski grad“), negde na poluostrvu Atos, ili u neposrednoj blizini. Izvorni podaci koje imamo o ovom gradu su malobrojni i šturi, ponekad i protivrečni, ali svejedno vrlo interesantni. Kao osnivača grada izvori navode Kasandrovog brata Aleksarha, ekscentričnog učenjaka zainteresovanog za pitanja mitologije i kulta. Između ostalog, Aleksarh je sebe nazivao Suncem i izmislio neobičan jezik, koji je koristio u zvaničnoj korespondenciji. U radu se brani stav da podaci o osnivanju Uranopolisa, skromni kakvi jesu, ipak pružaju izvestan uvid u motive i procese koji stoje iza osnivanja gradova, te da se osnivanje ovog grada sasvim uklapa u njegov istorijski kontekst i državnu politiku Kasandra.

The historical role of Cassander, son of Antipater, is well known and frequently discussed by the historians of the early Hellenistic age. He was a usurper of the Macedonian throne, who brutally eliminated the family of Alexander the Great (marrying a sister of his nonetheless) and established a strong though unpopular and oppressive regime. In spite of his abilities, successes and cruelty, his dynasty barely survived his death, being just a brief episode linking the longer lasting rules of the houses of Argeads and Antigonids. This, however, is only one of many aspects of his reign, for this capable usurper-king is also credited as a city-builder on a grand scale. He was known as the restorer of the Boeotian Thebes, and the founder of large and successful cities of Thessalonica and Cassandrea, as well as the small town of Antipatrea in Illyria. But, it is rarely commented upon (or even mentioned) that during his reign another significant settlement was founded, a city of a strange name – Uranopolis (Οὐρανόπολις, “The Heavenly City”).