The Defense of Attica : The Dema Wall and The Boiotian War of 378-375 B.C.

Though Theban and Athenian plans were almost thwarted by the Spartans, the Athenians secured their ascendancy through a boldly innovative defense strategy, the heart of which was the Dema wall. For those who have seen it, the Dema wall demands an explanation. A monumental work, the barrier wall closed a key pass into the plain of Athens against an invader from the west. Since no ancient reference to it survives, scholars have contested the date and purpose of the wall's construction, placing it anywhere between the Geometric Age and Hellenistic eras, as part of the general defense perimeter around Athens.