Listed 4 sub titles with search on: History for destination: "LARISSO Municipality PATRA".
DYMI (Ancient city) PATRA
Cleomenes, the son of Leonidas, the son of Cleonymus, king of the other royal house, won a decisive victory at Dyme over the Sicyonians under Aratus, who attacked him, and afterwards concluded a peace with the Achaeans and Antigonus.
Eight small towns co-settled to create Dyme in 750 BC.
PATRA (Town) ACHAIA
Patras' history according to written tradition
Patras' history was known until recently only by written tradition.
According to it, Patras was founded by the Achaeans of Sparta who, headed by Preugenes
and his son Patreus, came here after being forced out by the Dorians. But similarly
the Achaeans of Argos, also forced out by the Dorians, headed by Tisamenos, occupied
the eastern Achaia, after besieging Eliki.
Up to then, the whole of Achaia was named after the Ions and was called Ionia
but was also called Aegialos, either because it was named after the king of Sikyona,
Aegialus, either because the whole region spread all along the coast (aegialos).
The Ions first reached Athens
and from there went to Asia Minor
where they founded twelve cities, the Ionian Dodecapolis, in remembrance of the
twelve cities they had left behind.
Preugenes and Patreus made three Ionian market towns into one. Those
three were Aroe, Mesati
and Antheia and having as
center Aroe they founded a new city that they called Patres, after Patreus. The
city' s name was in the plural because of the unification of many settlements.
The oldest of these three market towns was Aroe. Its founder was Eumelos who,
helped by Triptolemos of Eleusina, introduced the cultivation of grains. Eumelos
and Triptolemos later founded Antheia, which was named after Eumelos' son, Antheias.
Finally, at the market town of Mesati, they worshiped god Dionysus.
According to another tradition, Eurepelus, Euemonos' son, king of
the Thessalie, heading the Thessales after the Trojan War, he founded a colony
at Aroe.
After the Mycenean period and as Patras geographical position was
at the periphery of Greece and quite far from the big urban centers of that period,
such as Athens, Sparta, Corinth,
Chalkide etc., this city does not play an important role in the significant events
and the political evolutions that occur in the rest of the country. It does not
found colonies, neither is it active in the Persian wars, the Peloponnesian war
and the conflicts of the 4th century BC. The initiative of all movements of that
era belongs exclusively to Eastern Achaia. On the contrary, after 280 BC, Patras
plays a significant role in the foundation of the second Achaian League together
with the cities Dyme, Triteia
and Pharai and the initiative
of the political movements is transferred for the first time at the western Achaia.
Later on and after the roman occupation of Greece, in 146 BC, Patras plays the
main role and Augustus founds here a roman colony.
Patras' inactivity in the political field up to 146 BC seems to be
the cause for which only those events linked to other big cities are referred
by great ancient historians and not those events of local importance. So, we know
that even Patras did not take part in the Peloponnesian war (431-404 BC), Alkibiades
proposed to the inhabitants of this city to construct the Long Wall to link the
city around the acropolis to the port.
Patras' history after the excavations
By means of excavations, mainly the redeeming ones in building grounds,
many gaps of the city's history are now filled and many of the elements referred
to by ancient writers are now refuted.
From the elements known so far, it is obvious that Patras is firstly
inhabited in the 3rd millenium BC and not at the end of the 2nd, as we used to
believe. These very ancient traces of the city are located at the region where
Aroe is situated today. During the next middle-Hellenistic period, in the first
half of the 2nd millenium BC, another settlement is founded at the region. But
Patras starts flourishing for its first time during the post-Hellenistic or Mycenean
period (1580-1100 BC). The plethora of mycenean graves that were found at the
city (street Germanou) as well as at the surroundings, Voudeni, Aroe, Samakia,
Girokomio, Petroto (Achaia
Clauss), Krini, Saravali,
Kallithea and elsewhere, prove
not only that the population is significantly risen by then but that there are
also relations developed among the regions.
At the end of the Mycenean period, Patras' synoecism is nothing more
than a religious unification and a foundation of a common worship of goddess Artemis
and it was called Triklaria after the three settlements (klaros) that initially
existed in the area and participated in the festivities. The temple of Artemis
is located at Velvitsi where three precious sculptures from a gable of a classic
temple were found. Recent discovery of an inscription gives signs that Mesati
was situated at the region of Sichena and Voudeni. If we consider true the testimony
of ancient sources that Patras was founded at Aroe, then we have to look for it
at the place where the mediaeval fortress and today's Aroe are. The identification
of Antheia remains to be found but most probably it was at the hill of Mygdalia
at Petroto. Patras' acropolis, both mycanean and classic, is located under the
medieval fortress, at a depth of at least 20 meters and its excavation presents
various problems.
From the two periods that followed, Geometric and Archaic, only few
elements have seen the light and it seems that Patras had gradually started to
decline. On the contrary, during the classic period (5th and 4th century BC),
it seems that the political settlement of Patras gets organized and becomes a
city, because at some point in the middle of 5th century the most ancient cemetery
of the city, known as the Northern cemetery, is founded. Consequently, it seems
that the tradition about Patreus is possibly a more recent creation, maybe of
the Hellenistic period, when most of the cities in Greece invented settlers in
order to interpret the origin of their names.
The tradition that refers to Alcebiades' Long Wall seems to be based
on a real event as traces of the wall have been found during remedying excavations.
During the Hellenistic period, 323-146 BC, the town is extended to
the sea and a second cemetery, the South, is established. However, Patras reaches
its highest peak during the roman period when its port, because of the destruction
of Corinth's port, it plays the first role in the communication of Greece with
Italy. Moreover, the foundation of a roman colony in 14 BC by August promotes
Patras even more. A cadastral map is drawn up, privileges are given, crafts are
created, and the most important was that of earthen oil lamps which were exported
almost to the whole world of that time, two industrial zones are created, temples
are built, roads that render Patras a communication center are opened, streets
are paved with flagstones, foreign worships are introduced etc. The city is extended
up to the sea and the population rises to the point that another two cemeteries
are founded, the Eastern and the Southeastern. The land is reorganized and its
exploitation is now done through the farmhouses. Roman Emperors gave to Patras
the privilege to mint its own coins on which are inscribed the initials CAAP,
previously transcript as Colonia Augusta Aroe Patrensis, meaning Colony of August
at Aroe of Patras. Recently though, a coin with fully written the abbreviation
was found and so we read: Colonia Augusta Aroe Patrensis, meaning Colony of August
at Patras of Achaia.
But the roman emperors also created public buildings and offered other
benefactions such as the roman amphitheater, the roman aqueduct, the roman Odeon.
All these are proved by the dedicatory inscriptions found at those places where
emperors are characterized as benefactors. Patras is by then a cosmopolitan city.
But at the end of the 3rd century AD it falls into decline, most possibly because
of a strong earthquake that hit the whole of NE Peloponnese in 300 AD.
Medieval and Modern period
Nonetheless, there are still some little flashes, like in the old-Christian
and the first Byzantine period (4th-6th century AD), when new crafts are created.
It is assumed that during this period, the Byzantine castle that exists until
nowadays with some reparations and other accretions done by the Franks and the
Turks, is built by Justinian at the place of the ancient acropolis. The city is
extended around the fortress. In the middle of the 9th century AD, as we learn
from the tradition of the rich lady Daniilida, Patras flourishes. Then, it starts
following the track of the Byzantine State. Since the 13th century, it belongs
sometimes to the Franks, sometimes to the Byzantine, sometimes to the Venetians
and some other times to the Turks. The most important points of this track are:
the period from 1266 to 1430 with the occupation of the Franks, then the Byzantium
and in 1458 the occupation from the Turks. From 1687 to 1715, Patras was once
more occupied by the Venetians and then again from the Turks up the Liberation
in 1821.
After the liberation from the Turks, Patras develops fast thanks to
its port and the commerce that takes place through it. Beautiful neo-classic buildings
embellish the city whose roads all end up to the sea so that its bracing force
is not cut. Artistic and spiritual life is very intense. Gradually the heavy industry
develops, which has as a result the rise of the population. Today, Patras is one
of the most significant cities in Greece and its port is still playing the important
role that it had during all its long history.
Text by Michalis Petropoulos, archaeologist, ST' EPKA
This text is cited December 2004 from the West Greece Region General Secretariat URL below, which contains image.
PATRAI (Ancient city) ACHAIA
Patras' history according to written tradition
Patras' history was known until recently only by written tradition.
According to it, Patras was founded by the Achaeans of Sparta who, headed by Preugenes
and his son Patreus, came here after being forced out by the Dorians. But similarly
the Achaeans of Argos, also
forced out by the Dorians, headed by Tisamenos, occupied the eastern Achaia, after
besieging Eliki. Up to then,
the whole of Achaia was named after the Ions and was called Ionia but was also
called Aegialos, either because it was named after the king of Sikyona,
Aegialus, either because the whole region spreaded all along the coast (aegialos).
The Ions firstly took to Athens and from there to Asia
Minor where they founded twelve cities, the Ionian Dodecapolis, in remembrance
of the twelve cities they had left behind.
Preugenes and Patreus made three Ionian market towns into one. Those
three were Aroe, Mesati
and Antheia and having as
center Aroe they founded a new city that they called Patres after Patreus. The
city's name was in the plural because of the unification of many settlements.
The oldest of these three market towns was Aroe. Its founder was Eumelos who,
helped by Triptolemos of Eleusina,
introduces the cultivation of grains. Eumelos and Triptolemos later founded Antheia,
which was named after Eumelos' son, Antheias. Finally, at the market town of Mesati,
they worshiped god Dionysus.
According to another tradition, Eurepelus, Euemonos' son, king of
the Thessalie, heading the
Thessales after the Trojan War, he founded a colony at Aroe.
After the Mycenean period and as Patras geographical position was
at the periphery of Greece and quite far from the big urban centers of that period,
such as Athens, Sparta,
Corinth, Chalkide
etc., this city does not play an important role in the significant events and
the political evolutions that occur in the rest of the country. It does not found
colonies, neither is it active in the Persian wars, the Peloponnesian war and
the conflicts of the 4th century BC. The initiative of all movements of that era
belongs exclusively to Eastern Achaia. On the contrary, after 280 BC, Patras plays
a significant role in the foundation of the second Achaian League together with
the cities Dyme, Triteia
and Pharai and the initiative
of the political movements is transferred for the first time at the western Achaia.
Later on and after the roman occupation of Greece, in 146 BC, Patras plays the
main role and Augustus founds here a roman colony.
Patras' inactivity in the political field up to 146 BC seems to be
the cause for which only those events linked to other big cities are referred
by great ancient historians and not those events of local importance. So, we know
that even Patras did not take part in the Peloponnesian war (431-404 BC), Alkibiades
proposed to the inhabitants of this city to construct the Long Wall to link the
city around the acropolis to the port. Patras history after the excavations.
By means of excavations, mainly the redeeming ones in builing grounds,
many gaps of the city's history are now filled and many of the elements referred
by ancient writers are now refuted.
From the elements known so far, it is obvious that Patras is firstly
inhabited in the 3rd millenium BC and not at the end of the 2nd as we used to
believe. These very ancient traces of the city are located at the region where
Aroe is situated today. During the next Middle-Hellenistic period, in the first
half of the 2nd millenium BC, another settlement is founded at the region. But
Patras starts flourishing for its first time during the Post-Hellenistic or Mycenean
period (1580 - 1100 BC). The plenty of mycenean graves that were found at the
city (street Germanou) as well as at the surroundings, Voudeni, Aroe, Samakia,
Girokomio, Petroto (Achaia
Clauss), Krini, Saravali,
Kallithea and elsewhere, prove
not only that the population is significantly risen by then but that there are
also relations developed among the regions.
At the end of the Mycenean period, Patras' synoecism is nothing more
than a religious unification and a foundation of a common worship of goddess Artemis
and it was called Triklaria after the three settlements (klaros) that initially
existed in the area and participated in the festivities. The temple of Artemis
is located at Velvitsi where three precious sculptures from a gable of a classic
temple were found. Recent discovery of an inscription gives signs that Mesati
was situated at the region of Sichena and Voudeni. If we consider true the testimony
of ancient sources that Patras was founded at Aroe, then we have to look for it
at the place where the mediaeval fortress and today's Aroe are. The identification
of Antheia remains to be found but most probably it was at the hill of Mygdalia
at Petroto. Patras' acropolis, both mycanean and classic, is located under the
mediaeval fortress, at a depth of at least 20 meters and its excavation presents
various problems.
From the two periods that followed, Geometric and Archaic, only few
elements have seen the light and it seems that Patras had gradually started to
decline. On the contrary, during the classic period (5th and 4th century BC),
it seems that the politic settlement of Patras gets organized and becomes a city,
because at some point of the middle of 5th century the most ancient cemetery of
the city, known as the Northern cemetery, is founded. Consequently, it seems that
the tradition about Patreus is possibly a more recent creation, maybe of the Hellenistic
period, when most of the cities in Greece invented settlers in order to interpret
the origin of their names.
The tradition that refers to Alcebiades' Long Wall seems to be based
on a real event as traces of the wall have been found during remedying excavations.
During the Hellenistic period, 323-146 BC, the town is extended to
the sea and a second cemetery, the South, is established. Though, Patras reaches
its highest peak during the roman period when its port, because of the destruction
of Corinth's port, it plays the first role in the communication of Greece with
Italy. Moreover, the foundation of a roman colony in 14 BC by August promotes
Patras even more. A cadastral map in drawn up, privileges are given, crafts are
created, and the most important was that of earthen oil lamps which were exported
almost to the whole world of that time, two industrial zones are created, temples
are built, roads that render Patras a communication center are opened, streets
are paved with flagstones, foreign worships are introduced etc. The city is extended
up to the sea and the population rises to the point that another two cemeteries
are founded, the Eastern and the Southeastern. The land is reorganized and its
exploitation is now done through the farmhouses. Roman Emperors gave to Patras
the privilege to mint its own coins on which are inscribed the initials CAAP,
previously transcript as Colonia Augusta Aroe Patrensis, meaning Colony of August
at Aroe of Patras. Recently though, a coin with fully written the abbreviation
was found and so we read : Colonia Augusta Aroe Patrensis, meaning Colony of August
at Patras of Achaia.
But the roman emperors also created public buildings and offered other
benefactions such as the roman amphitheater, the roman aqueduct, the roman Odeon.
All these are proved by the dedicatory inscriptions found at those places where
emperors are characterized as benefactors.
Patras is by then a cosmopolitan city. But at the end of the 3rd century
AD it falls into decline, most possibly because of a strong earthquake that stroke
the whole of NE Peloponnese in 300 AD.
This extract is cited Apr 2003 from the Municipality of Patra URL below, which contains images.
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