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(Χαλάστρα; Chalástra). [German version] [1] City at the mouth of the Axius City at the mouth of the Axius (Str. 7 fr. 20; 23; cf. Hdt. 7,123), identified by Hecataeus as belonging to Thrace (Steph. Byz. s.v.). The population was recruited for the foundation of Thessalonica (Str. 7 fr. 21). Not located. Errington, Robert Malcolm (Marburg/Lahn) Bibliography F. Papazoglou, Les villes de Macédoine, 1988, 199. [German version] [2] Lake Natron-bearing lake, probably near the town of the same name (…

[German version] (Καμβούνια; Kamboúnia). Mountainous region in northern Greece west of Mt. Olympus, which separated the Macedonian region of  Elimea from the tripolis of the Perrhaebi, and forms the southern watershed of the  Haliacmon. The easiest way to cross the C. was via the pass of Volustana (918 m) (cf. Liv. 42,53,6; 44,2,10). Erring…

(Βέροια; Béroia). [German version] [1] In Macedonia This item can be found on the following maps: Christianity | Macedonia, Macedones | Macedoni…

[German version] (Λυδίας; Lydías). Navigable river in Macedon (supplied by the nowadays dried Lake Loudias), which connected Pella with the sea (Str. 7, fr. 20; 22). Mentioned already by Hecat. FGrH 1 F 147 and Scyl. 66. The mouth appears to have shifted to the north in antiquity, since Hdt. 7,127 reports a common mouth of the L. and the Haliacmon. Errington, Robert Malcolm (Marburg/Lahn) Bibliography F. Papazoglou, Les villes de Macédoine, 1988, 101f., 125 map 2.

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[German version] I. Persons (Δίων; Díōn) Meister, Klaus (Berlin) [German version] [I 1] Close friend of Plato and defender of his philosophy Son of Hipparinus, brother-in-law and son-in-law of Dionysius I of Syracuse, b. 409 BC, close friend of Plato and defender of his philosophy since Plato's first visit to Syracuse in 388. He gained prestige and wealth as Dionysius' I' trusted friend and advisor and also remained an influential person under Dionysius II. In 366, he arbitrated the peace with Carthage and called Plato to Syracuse in order to transform the despotic rule of Dionysius II according to the Platonic ideal state. This effort was a complete failure because Dionysius proved to be ill-suited personally, and because his friends and advisors opposed it, particularly Philistus. Accused of high treason, D. was banished to Greece; the immediate cause was found in D.'s letter to his Carthaginian friends not to conclude peace without his arbitration (Pl. Ep. 7,329; Plut. Dion 14f.; Mor. 53E). During his nine years of exile, D. lived as a princely gentleman in Athens, maintained a close relationship with the Academy, received Spartan citizenship, and visited Corinth amongst other places. After learning in 360 from Plato in Olympia that Dionysius II was unwilling to end his exile despite Plato's intercession, D. landed near Minoa in the Carthaginian part of Sicily in 357 with a few ships and 600 mercenaries. On his way to Syracuse he drew a lot of support from Acragas, Gela, Camarina, and the Sicilian communities, while the population in Syracuse rose up against Dionysius. D.'s triumphal entry was followed by unsuccessful negotiations and battles of varying success with the tyrant who was locked in on Ortygia. D. and his brother Megacles were elected as…

[German version] (Ξυλόπολις; Xylopolis). Settlement at Mygdonia [1] in Macedonia (Plin. HN. 4,35; Ptol. 3,13,36), not located. Errington, Robert Malcolm (Marburg/Lahn)

[German version] (Πρασιὰς λίμνη; Prasiàs límnē). Lake in the Strymon valley (modern Limni Kerkinis in Greece). The Paeones lived there in palafittes as Hdt. 5,15 f. describes them. Errington, Robert Malcolm (Marburg/Lahn)…

[German version] This item can be found on the following maps: Christianity | Diadochi and Epigoni | Macedonia, Macedones | Macedonia, Macedones | Punic Wars (Πύδνα; Pýdna). Greek seaport on the coast of Pieria in Ma…

(Θεσσαλονίκη/ Thessaloníkē). [German version] [1] City in Thessalia This item can be found on the following maps: Thraci, Thracia | Caesar | Christianity | | Coloniae | Diadochi and Epigoni | Commerce | Hellenistic states | Limes | Macedonia, Macedones | Macedonia, Macedones | Pilgrimage | Pompeius | Punic Wars | Rome | Rome (Latin Thessalonica, -nice; today also T.) Errington, Robert Malcolm (Marburg/Lahn) [German version] I. Location, Classical Period City on the Thermaic Gulf (…

[I] (Ἄξιος; Áxios). Largest river in  Macedonia, today Vardar; rises in Sar Planina and flows into the Aegean to the west of Thessalonica. Barely navigable owing to its gorges, the A. valley does, however, form the main overland route between the Aegean and the region around the Danube, a route which has been in use from the time of antiquity and is still used today. The A. flowed through the settlement territories of the Dardani, the Paeones and the Macedones (Amphaxitis). [II] Plebeian gentile name, mentioned in records since the 3rd cent. BC and possibly connected with th…

[German version] This item can be found on the following maps: …

[German version] (Λύγκος; Lýnkos). Upper Macedonian region north of Eordaea and Orestis whose inhabitants were called Lynkēstaí. In the 5th cent. BC, L. was not yet integrated by the Macedonian Argead kings into their region of power (Thuc. 2,99,2; 4,83,1), which probably did not occur until under Philip II, who possibly founded the important city of Heraclea [2]. The via Egnatia passed through L. [1. 14-22]. Errington, Robert Malcolm (Marburg/Lahn) Bibliography 1 L. Gounaropoulou, M. B. Hatzopoulos, Les milliaires de la voie egnatienne... , 1985. F. Papazoglou, Le…

[German version] This item can be found on the following maps: Macedonia, Macedones | Persian Wars (Θέρμη; Thérmē). City on the Thermaios Kolpos, which was named after T., near Thessalonica [1], which was founded in Hellenistic times; its location is disputed. Being a Macedonian city as early as the 6th cent. BC, T. became a r…

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(Μεθώνη/ Methṓnē, Μοθώνη/ Mothṓnē). [German version] [1] City on the west coast of Messana [2] This item can be found on the following maps: Sparta | Achaeans, Achaea | Macedonia, Macedones A city on the west coast of Messana [2]. Its indigenous name was Mothṓnē (Μοθώνη on coins), after the reef called Móthōn which rose in front of it; hence the medieval and modern name Modon, Mothoni, Methoni (Μεθώνη in Thuc. 2,25,1ff. and Strab. 8,4,3). There are few ancient remains: isolated bases of city walls under the Venetian fortress and the breakwater wa…

[German version] (Ἀλμωπία; Almōpía). Fertile landscape in  Macedonia on the upper Ludias (today Moglenitsa), occupied early on by the Argeads (Thuc. 2,99,5). None of the cities Horma, Europus or Apsalus named in Ptol. 2,13,24 have been located. Under Roman rulership, there apparently was a civitas A. (Hierocles, Synekdemos 638,10). Errington, Robert Malcolm (Marburg/Lahn) Bibliography F. Papazoglou, Les villes de Macédoine, 1988, 169-173.

(Ἀπολλωνία; Apollōnía). [German version] [1] City in southern  Illyricum This item can be found on the following maps: | Colonization | Macedonia, Macedones | Persi…

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(Ἡράκλειον; Hērákleion). [German version] [1] Town on Crete's northern coast Town on Crete's northern coast, modern Iraklion. In a legal support agreement with Miletus (259/250 BC) H. appears as a sovereign town allied with  Knossos (Stv III 482 I) [1]. H. was in the 1st cent. BC, probably in succession to Amnisus, the port town of Knossos (Str. 10,4,7f.) and probably subject to it (cf. Str.…

[German version] (Καλίνδοια; Kalíndoia). Town in Mygdonia/Macedonia near the modern Kalamoton. In the 5th cent. BC, C. was part of the  Bottice (IG I3 76) and was probably still independent in 360 BC (IG IV2 1, 94 Ib 13), but may have come into the possession of the Macedonian kings under Philip II, and, together with neighbouring settlements, passed on to Macedonian settlers as a ‘donation’ ( dōreá) by Alexander the Great (SEG 36, 626). Latest under Augustus, C. became an autonomous city with its own council, ekklesia, and politarchs (SEG 35, 744). Errington, Robert Malcolm (Marburg/Lahn)…

[German version] (Ἐλίμεια; Elímeia). Region, originally belonging to Epirus (Str. 9,5,11), east of the Pindus range on the upper course of the Haliacmon south of Orestis and Eordaea; from the 5th. cent. BC, the people of the Elimiotaea in upper Macedonia took their name from E. (Thuc. 2,99). The location of the eponymous town is uncertain (Kozani, Palaiogratsiano?). Cities of the Hellenistic and Roman e…

(Ἡράκλεια; Hērákleia). [German version] [1] H. Trachinia This item can be found on the following maps: Aetolians, Aetolia | Peloponnesian War | Education / Culture (Ἡράκλεια ἡ Τραχινία; H. hē Trachinía). City on a rock to the left of and above the exit of the gorge of the  Asopus [1] into the Spercheus plain, separated from Oete ( Oetaei, Oete) on the southern and western flanks by deep streambeds, where the Trachinian rocks rise up with their numerous tomb caves. The lower city has vanished without trace. H. was founded in …

(Πέλλα; Pélla). [German version] [1] City near modern Palea {{?}}Pella This item can be found on the following maps: | Coloniae | Diadochi and Epigoni | Alexander | Hellenistic states | Macedonia, Macedones | Macedonia, Macedones | Peloponnesian War | Persian Wars | Punic Wars | Balkans, languages | Education / Culture From c. 400 BC under Archelaus [1] the residence of Macedonian kings near modern Palea P., in Antiquity reachable from the sea by ship on the Lydias. By the 4th cent. BC the largest Macedonian city (Xen. Hell. 5,2,13), with a system…

[German version] (ᾈανή; Aianḗ). Macedonian town in  Elimea, 23 km south of the modern Kozani on the left bank of the  Haliacmon. Excavations have pointed to a prosperous settlement of the late Bronze Age to the 1st cent. BC, still verifiable for AD 100 [4. 15]. It was an important town in the classical and Hellenistic periods (myth of its foundation: Steph. Byz. s. v. A.), probably a royal seat with two stoas, and columned buildings with finds of imported Attic ceramics of the 5th cent. BC. Probably seat of the   koinon of the Elimiotae [1. 35, 36]. Resettled and re…

(Πέτρα/ Pétra, 'rock') [German version] [1] Capital of the Nabataean Empire This item can be found on the following maps: Syria | Theatre | | Commerce | Hellenistic states | India, trade with | Limes | Rome | Rome | Egypt Capital of the Nabataean kingdom (Nabataei) in Edom, about 80 km to the south of the Dead Sea in the Wādı̄ Mūsā (in modern Jordan). The city is first mentioned by Diodorus [18] under the name Pétra (Diod. Sic. 19, 95-98) as the Nabataei's place of refuge and assembly ('High place, rock'). The inscriptionally documented Semitic name of P. is …

[German version] (Ἐορδαία, Ἐορδία; Eordaía, Eordía). Macedonian landscape east of Lyncus, west of Bermion, northeast of the watershed of the Haliacmon. Cities of E. were Arnisa, Cellis, Boceria. In 167 BC E. was annexed to Macedonia IV (Liv. 45,30,6). The via Egnatia led through E., in the Roman Imperial period apparently a civitas. Errington, Robert Malcolm (Marburg/Lahn) Bibliography N. G. L. Hammond, A History of Macedonia I, 1972, 106-110 …

[German version] (Ἁλιάκμων; Haliákmōn). Largest southern Macedonian river, flows through the lands of Orestis, Elimea and Pieria and empties into the Thermaic Gulf. An important route to Thessaly ran through the lower H. valley. Errington, Robert Malcolm (Marburg/Lahn) Bibliography E. Meyer, s.v. H. (2), RE Suppl. 11, 674f.

[German version] Fortress in Dassaretia near Antigonea (modern Berat); captured in 200 BC by L. Apustius (Liv. 31,27,2). Probably identical to Gerus (Γεροῦς; Geroûs), that was conquered by Philip V in 217 BC (Pol. 5,108,8). Errington, Robert Malcolm (Marburg/Lahn) Bibliography N. G. L. Hammond, Illyris, R…

[German version] (Δάτον, Δάτος; Dáton, Dátos). Thracian region north-east of the Pangaeum mountains; here we find the Thasian mining colony of Crenides which was conquered c. 356 BC by Philip II and was absorbed into the newly founded Philippi. Errington, Robert Malcolm (Marburg/Lahn)

[German version] (Βαφύρας; Baphýras). River in Pieria, rising at Mount Olympus, then named Helicon, and discharging into the Aegean east of Dion. After an underground run of about 5 km, it continued above ground, and was navigable from Dion (Paus. 9,30,8). Errington, Robert Malcolm (Marburg/Lahn) …

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This item can be found on the following maps: Sassanids | Syria | Christianity | Zenobia | | Coloniae | Commerce | Asia Minor | Limes | Pilgrimage | Pompeius | Rome (Ἔδεσσα; Édessa). [German version] [1] City in central Macedonia This item can be found on the following maps: | Macedonia, Macedones City in central Macedonia at the eastern entrance to the Kara-Burun pass from Lower to Upper Macedonia, today known as Edessa, formerly as Vodena. In previous times, E. was wrongly regarded as the old Macedonian royal seat of  Aegae [1]. E. was first men…

[German version] (Ἐριγών; Erigṓn). Largest tributary of the  Axius, flows through the Macedonian regions of Lyncestis, Pelagonia and Derriopus, mouth near Stobi; today's Crna Reka. Errington, Robert Malcolm (Marburg/Lahn) Bibliography F. Papazoglou, Les villes de Macédoine, 1988, 292.

[German version] (Λείβεθρα; Leíbethra). Macedonian city between Dion [II 2] and Heracleon [2] near modern Leptokarya (cf. Str. 7, fr. 18); its territorium bordered on Gonni [1. no. 2]. In the 3rd cent. BC, L. was considered to be autonomous as it received Delphian theōroí (‘envoys’) [2. 17 l. 52], but it obviously became merged with the Roman colony of Dion [II 2] (CIL III 591). According to Str. 9,2,25, L. was sacred to the Muses; Pausanias heard in Larisa the story that Orpheus had been buried in L. but after a severe flood his bones h…

[German version] This item can be found on the following maps: Macedonia, Macedones (Δράβησκος; Drábēskos). City of the Edones near Zdravik c. 12 km north of  Amphipolis, where the Athenians were defeated by the Thracians in c. 465 BC (Thuc. 1,100,4). Traces of settlement are existing up into the Roman Imperial period, when D. was a station on the via Egnatia (Tab. Peut.: Daravescos). Errington, Robert Malcolm (Marburg/Lahn) Bibliography F. Papazoglou, Les villes de Macédoine, 1988, 391f. TIR K 35,1, 25.

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[German version] (Μόρρυλος/ Mόrrylos). City in Macedonian Crestonia (Macedonia) near modern Ano Apostoloi, known from inscriptions no earlier than the Hellenistic period, later also mentioned in Plin. HN 4,35 and Ptol. 3,13,38. M. had city status in the 3rd cent. BC and received theoroí (‘festival envoys’) from Delphi [1. 18 Z. 84]. M. sustained a significant cult of Asclepius.…

[German version] (Παίονες/ Paíones, Παιονία/ Paionía). Large tribe under its own king, inhabiting the north of the area later known as Macedonia, particularly in the valley of the Axius and the surrounding mountain regions as far as the Strymon (Thuc. 2,98,2; Str. 7,5,1). Hom. Il. 848-50 knew of the P. as friends of the Trojans; in c. 500 BC, the P. around Lake Prasias were temporarily deported to Phrygia by the…

[German version] (Γόννος; Gónnos, Γόννοι; Gónnoi). Town of the  Perrhaebi, located on three hills to the north of the Peneius at the western entry to the Tempe valley. Evidence of settlement dates back to the Neolithic. In historical times, after initial domination by Larissa, the town gained in strategic importance in the course of the 4th cent. BC, following Philip II's conquest …

[German version] (Λητή; Lētḗ). Strategically located city in Macedonia/Mygdonia near modern Liti, minted coins already before the city became Macedonian in the 5th cent. BC [1. 67-72]. In the 4th cent. BC recognized as a city within Macedonia (SEG 36,331 l. 19), L. kept a cult site for Demeter [2. 44 no. 123]. As an autonomous Macedonian city L. received Delphian …

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[German version] [1] Residence and burial place of the Macedonian Argead kings This item can be found on the following maps: Achaemenids | Dark Ages | Macedonia, Macedones | Macedonia, Macedones | Persian Wars | Education / Culture (Aegeae, Αἰγαί, Αἰγέαι [ Aigaí, Aigéai]). Residence and burial place of the Macedonian Argead kings near present-day Vergina. Starting point for the Macedonian conquering of Pieria and  Bottiaea and main seat of the king until  Pella was expanded for this purpose in the 4th cent. BC. From then onwards the site…

[German version] (Βόλβη; Bólbē). Marshy lake in the Mygdonian depression (Macedonia) on the land route running, on a west-east axis, from Thessalonica to Amphipolis that was also used by the via Egnatia to the south.  Apollonia [3] and Arethusa [8] were among the larger cities on the shoreline of the lake. Steph. Byz. (s.v. B.) mentions a city B.; a fortress named Bolbus was restored under Justinian (Procop. Aed. 4,4,43). Errington, Robert Malcolm (Marburg/Lahn)

[German version] (Πίμπλεια; Pímpleia). Village on the Macedonian coast in the territory of Dion [II 2], also Pipleia (cf. Hesych. s.v. Πίπλειαι; Varro Ling. 7,20), c. 3 km to the south of modern Dion. Orpheus is supposed to have lived in P. (Str. 7a,1,17f.), the place is supposed to have been dedicated to the Muses (Str. 9,2,25). Errington, Robert Malcolm (Marburg/Lahn) Bibliography F. Papazoglou, Les villes de Macédoine, 1988, 112.

[German version] (Μίεζα; Míeza). An ancient Macedonian town between Beroea [1] and Edessa [1], probably near modern Naoussa, its exact location is unknown. Aristotle [6] taught the young Alexander the Great at the Nymphaeum of M. (Plut. Alexander 7). Peucestas, the triērárchēs of Alexander, came from M. (Arr. Ind. 18,6; [2. 318f. no. 634]). In the 3rd cent. BC, M. had the status of a polis, and received theōroí from Delphi [1. 17 l. 59]. Cf. also Plin. HN 4,34; Ptol. 3,12,36. Errington, Robert Malcolm (Marburg/Lahn) Bibliography 1 A. Plassart, Inscriptions de Delphes. La liste des T…

This item can be found on the following maps: Theatre | Christianity | Coloniae | Macedonia, Macedones | Macedonia, Macedones | Natural catastrophes | Education / Culture | Mineral Resources (Φ…

(Κύρρος; Kýrrhos). [German version] [1] Macedonian city Macedonian city near the modern Aravissos between Pella and Edessa, existed already in the 5th cent. BC (Thuc. 2,100,1); was to be the site of one of the gigantic temples supposedly planned by Alexander the Great (Diod. Sic. 18,4,5); half-finished partial structures in an ancient quarry near C. could be connected with this intended construction project [1]…

(Μακεδονία/ Makedonía, Μακεδόνες/ Makedónes, Lat. Macedonia, Macedones). [German version] I. Geography, economy, ethnogenesis The core territory of the ancient Macedonian state was in the plains immediately to the east and north of the Olympus mountain range. Beginning with the 7th cent. BC, the Macedones conquered from their capital Aegae [1] step by step Pieria (south of the lower Haliacmon), Bottiaea (between Haliacmon and Axius), Almopia, Mygdonia (located in lowlands of lake Bolbe), Crestonia (to the no…

[German version] This item can be found on the following maps: Delian League (Ἄργιλος; Árgilos). Founded by settlers from Andros, c. 3 km inland from the mouth of the Strymon. Member of the  Delian League, seceded from Athens in 424/23 BC (Thuc. 4,103,4), remained autonomous until the capture of Amphipolis by Philip II. A settlement still existed in Roman imperial times. Errington, Robert Malcolm (Marburg/Lahn) Bibliography M. Zahrnt, Olynth und die Chalkidier, 1971, 158-160 F. Papazoglou, Les villes de Macédoine, 1988, 363.