Listed 54 sub titles with search on: History for wider area of: "WEST GREECE Region GREECE" .
ACHAIA (Ancient country) GREECE
Achaicun Foedus (to Achaikon), the league or confederation of a number of towns
on the north-west coast of Peloponnesus. In speaking of the Achaean league we
must distinguish between two periods, an earlier and a later one. The former,
though formed for mutual protection, was mainly of a religious character, whereas
the latter was pre-eminently a political confederation to protect the towns against
the domination of Macedonia.
1. The earlier League.
When the Herakleidae took possession of Peloponnesus, which until
then had been inhabited chiefly by the Achaean race, a portion of the latter,
under Tisamenos, turned northwards and took possession of the northern coast of
the peninsula, which was called Aigialos: the Ionians, who had hitherto occupied
that country, took refuge in Attica and on the west coast of Asia Minor. The country
thus occupied by the Achaeans, from whom it derived its name of Achaia, contained
twelve towns which had been leagued together even in the time of their Ionian
inhabitants. They were governed by the descendants of Tisamenos, until, after
the death of king Ogyges, they abolished the kingly rule and established democratic
institutions. The time when this happened is not known. In the time of Herodotus
(i. 145; comp. Strab. viii. p. 483 foll.) the twelve towns of which the league
consisted were: Pellene, Aegeira, Aegae, Bura, Helike, Aegion, Rhypes, Patrae,
Pharae, Olenos, Dyme, and Tritaea. After the time of Herodotus, Rhypes and Aegae
disappear from the number of the confederate towns, as they had decayed and become
deserted (Paus. vii. 23, 25; Strab. viii), and Leontion and Keryneia stepped into
their place (Polyb. ii. 41; comp. Paus. vii. 6). Helike appears to have been their
common place of meeting; but this town, together with Bura, was swallowed up by
the sea during an earth-quake in B.C. 373, whereupon Aegion was chosen as the
place of meeting for the confederates (Strab. viii; Diod. xv. 48 ; Pans. vii.
24). Of the constitution of this league very little is known; but it is clear
that the bond which united the different towns was very loose, and less a political
than a religious one, as is shown by the common sacrifice offered at Helike to
Poseidon. When that town was destroyed and Aegion had become the central point
of the league, the common sacrifice was offered up to the principal divinities
of Aegion, i. e. to Zeus, surnamed Homagyrios, and to Demeter Panachaea (Pans.
vii. 24). The looseness of the connexion among the towns in a political point
of view is evident from the fact that some of them acted occasionally quite independent
of the rest (Thuc. ii. 9). The confederation generally kept aloof from the troubles
of other parts of Greece, on which accordingly it exercised no particular influence
down to the time when the league was broken up by the Macedonians. But they were
nevertheless highly respected by the other Greek states on account of their honesty,
sincerity, and wise moderation. Hence after the battle of Leuktra they were chosen
to arbitrate between the Thebans and Lakedaemonians (Polyb. ii. 39). Demetrios,
Kassander, and Antigonos Gonatas placed garrisons in some of their towns, while
in others they favoured the rising of tyrants. The towns were thus separated from
one another, and the whole confederation was gradually destroyed.
2. The later League.
The ancient confederacy had thus ceased to exist for some time when
events took place which in some towns roused the ancient spirit of independence.
When in B.C. 281 Antigonos Gonatas attempted to drive Ptolemaeos Keraunos from
the throne of Macedonia, the Achaeans availed themselves of the opportunity of
shaking off the Macedonian yoke and renewing the ancient confederation. The grand
object however now was no longer a common worship, but a real political union
among the confederate towns. The places which first shook off the yoke of the
oppressors were Dyme and Patrae, and the alliance concluded between them was speedily
joined by the towns of Tritaea and Pharae (Polyb. ii. 41). One town after another
now expelled the Macedonian garrisons and tyrants; and when in B.C. 275 Aegion,
the head of the ancient league, followed the example of the other towns, the foundation
of the new confederation was complete, and the main principles of its constitution
were settled, though afterwards many changes and modifications were introduced.
The fundamental laws were that henceforth the confederacy should form one inseparable
state; that every town which should join it should have equal rights with the
others; and that all members in regard to foreign countries should be regarded
as dependent, and be bound in every respect to obey the federal government and
those officers who were entrusted with the executive (Polyb. ii. 37 foll.). No
town, therefore, was allowed to treat with any foreign power without the sanction
of the others. Aegion, for religious reasons, was at first appointed the seat
of the government, and retained this distinction until the time of Philopoemen,
who proposed a measure according to which the national meetings should be held
in rotation in any of the other towns (Liv. xxxviii. 30); but whether this plan
was adopted is uncertain. At Aegion, therefore, the citizens of the various towns
met at stated and regular times to deliberate upon the common affairs of the confederation,
and if necessary upon those of any separate town or even individuals, and to elect
the officers of the league. After having thus established a firm union among themselves,
the Achaeans zealously exerted themselves in delivering other towns also from
their tyrants and oppressors. The league however did not acquire any great strength
until B.C. 251, when Aratos united Sikyon, his native place, with it, and some
years later also gained Corinth for it. Megara, Troezen, and Epidauros soon followed
their example. Afterwards Aratos prevailed upon all the more important towns of
Peloponnesus to join the confederacy; and Megalopolis, Argos, Hermione, Phlius,
and others were added to it. In a short time the league thus reached its highest
power, for it embraced Athens, Aegina, Salamis, and the whole of Peloponnesus
with the exception of Sparta, Tegea, Orchomenos, Mantineia, and Elis. Greece seemed
to revive, and promised to become stronger and more united than ever, but it soon
showed that its new power was employed only in self-destruction and its own ruin.
We cannot here enter into the history of this new confederation, but must confine
ourselves to giving an outline of its constitution, as it existed at the time
of its full development.
Polybius (ii. 38) remarks that there was no other constitution in
the world in which all the members of the community had such a perfect equality
of rights and so much liberty, and, in short, which was so perfectly democratic
and so free from all selfish and exclusive regulations, as the Achaean league;
for all its members had equal rights, whether they had belonged to it from the
beginning or had only recently joined it, and whether they were large or small
towns. Their common affairs were regulated at general meetings by the citizens
of all the towns, and were held regularly twice every year, in the spring and
in the autumn. These meetings, which lasted three days, were held in a grove of
Zeus Homagyrios, in the neighbourhood of Aegion, and near a sanctuary of Demeter
Panachaea. (Polyb. ii. 54, iv. 37, v. 1, xix. 9; Liv. xxxii. 22, xxxviii. 32;
Strab. viii; Paus. vii. 24.) In cases of urgent necessity, however, extraordinary
meetings might be convened, either at Aegion or in any other of the confederate
towns (Liv. xxi. 25; Polyb. xxv. 1, xxix. 8; Pint. Arat. 41). Every citizen, both
rich and poor, who had attained the age of thirty, might attend the assemblies,
speak, and propose any measure, to which they were invited by a public herald
(Polyb. xxix. 9 ; Liv. xxxii. 20). Under these circumstances the assemblies were
sometimes of the most tumultuous kind, and a wise and experienced man might sometimes
find it difficult to gain a hearing among the crowds of ignorant and foolish people
(Polyb. xxviii. 4). It is, however, natural to suppose that the ordinary meetings,
unless matters of great importance were to be discussed, were attended chiefly
by the wealthier classes, who had the means of paying the expenses of their journey,
for many lived at a considerable distance from the place of meeting.
The subjects to be brought before the assembly were prepared by a
council (boule), which seems to have been permanent (Polyb. xxiii. 7, xxviii.
3, xxix. 9; Plut. Arat. 53). The principal subjects on which the assembly had
to decide were -peace and war (Polyb. iv. 15 foll.); the reception of new towns
into the confederacy (Polyb. xxv. 1); the election of the magistrates of the confederation
(Polyb. iv. 37, 82; Plut. Arat. 41); the punishment of offences committed by the
magistrates, though sometimes special judges were appointed for that purpose,
as well as the honours and distinctions to be conferred upon them (Polyb. iv.
14, viii. 14, xl. 5, 8; Paus. vii. 9). The ambassadors of foreign states had to
deliver their messages to the assembly, where they were discussed by the assembled
people (Polyb. iv. 7, xxiii. 7 foll., xxviii. 7; Liv. xxxii. 9). The assembly
further had the power to determine as to whether negotiations were to be carried
on with any foreign power or not, and no single town was allowed to send an embassy
to a foreign power on its own responsibility, even on matters of merely local
importance, although otherwise every individual town managed its own internal
affairs at its own discretion, so long as it did not interfere with the interests
of the league. No town, moreover, was allowed to accept presents from a foreign
power (Polyb. xxiii. 8; Pans. vii. 9). The votes in the assembly were given according
to towns; each town, whether large or small, having one vote (Liv. xxxviii. 22
foll.).
The principal officers of the Achaean league were:
1. At first two strategi (stratepsoi), but after the year B.C. 255 there was only
one (Strab. viii), who, in conjunction with the hipparchus (hipparchos) or commander
of the cavalry (Polyb. v. 95, xxviii. 6) and an under-strategus (hupostrategos,
Polyb. iv. 59), commanded the army furnished by the confederate towns, and was
entrusted with the whole conduct of the war.
2. A state-secretary (grammateus).
3. An apparently permanent council of ten men, called the demionrgoi (Strab. viii;
Liv. xxxii. 22, xxxviii. 30; Polyb. v. 1, xxiii. 10, where they are called archontes).
These demiurgi, whom Polybius in another passage (xxxviii. 5) calls geronsia,
appear to have presided at the great assemblies, which either they or the strategus
might convene, though it seems that the latter could do so only when the people
were convened in arms or for military purposes (Polyb. iv. 7; Liv. xxv. 25).
All the officers of the league were elected in the assembly held in
the spring, at the rising of the Pleiades (Polyb. ii. 43; iv. 6, 37; v. 1), and
legally they were invested with their several offices only for one year; but it
often happened that men of great merit, like Aratos and Philopoemen, were re-elected
for several successive years (Plut. Arat. 24, 30; Cleom. 15). If an officer died
during the period of his office, his place was filled by his predecessor, until
the time for the new elections arrived (Polyb. xl. 2). The close union subsisting
among the confederates was, according to Polybius (ii. 37), strengthened by their
adopting common weights, measures, and coins. Many Achaean coins are preserved
in various collections.
The Achaean league might at one time have become a great power, and
might have united at least the whole of Peloponnesus into one state; but the original
objects of the league were in the course of time so far forgotten that it sought
the protection of those against whom it had been formed; and the perpetual discord
among its members, the hostility of Sparta, the intrigues of the Romans, and the
folly and rashness of the [p. 10] last strategi brought about not only the dissolution
and destruction of the confederacy, but the political annihilation of the whole
of Greece in the year B.C. 146. After a time the Romans again allowed certain
national confederations to be renewed (Paus. vii. 16), but they had no political
influence, and were entirely dependent upon the Roman governor of Macedonia, until
in the reign of Augustus all Greece was constituted as a Roman province under
the name of Achaia.
This text is from: A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities (1890) (eds. William Smith, LLD, William Wayte, G. E. Marindin). Cited June 2005 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
EGHION (Ancient city) ACHAIA
(Achaicum Foedus; to Achaikon). The league or confederation
of a number of towns on the northwest coast of Peloponnesus. In speaking of it
we must distinguish between two periods. The former, though formed for mutual
protection, was mainly of a religious character, whereas the latter was a political
confederation to protect the towns against the domination of Macedonia.
(1) The Earlier League.--When the Heraclidae took possession
of Peloponnesus, a portion of the Achaeans, under Tisamenos, turned northwards
and took possession of the northern coast of the peninsula, which was called Aigialos:
the Ionians, who had hitherto occupied that country, sought refuge in Attica and
on the west coast of Asia Minor. The country thus occupied by the Achaeans, from
whom it derived its name of Achaia, contained twelve towns which had been leagued
together even in the time of their Ionian inhabitants. They were governed by the
descendants of Tisamenus, until, after the death of King Ogyges, they abolished
the kingly rule and established democratic institutions. The time when this happened
is not known. In the time of Herodotus the twelve towns of which the league consisted
were: Pellene, Aegeira, Aegae, Bura, Helice, Aegion, Rhypes, Patrae, Pharae, Olenos,
Dyme, and Tritaea. After the time of Herodotus, Rhypes and Aegae disappear from
the number of the confederate towns, as they had decayed and become deserted,
and Leontion and Cerynea stepped into their place. Helice appears to have been
their common place of meeting; but this town, together with Bura, was swallowed
up by the sea during an earthquake in B.C. 373, whereupon Aegion was chosen as
the place of meeting for the confederates (Strab. viii. p. 384). Of the constitution
of this league very little is known; but it is clear that the bond which united
the different towns was very loose, and less a political than a religious one.
The looseness of the connection among the towns in a political point of view is
evident from the fact that some of them acted occasionally quite independent of
the rest. The confederation generally kept aloof from the troubles of other parts
of Greece, on which accordingly it exercised no particular influence down to the
time when the league was broken up by the Macedonians. But they were nevertheless
highly respected by the other Greek states on account of their honesty, sincerity,
and wise moderation. Hence after the battle of Leuctra they were chosen to arbitrate
between the Thebans and Lacedaemonians. Demetrius, Cassander, and Antigonus Gonatas
placed garrisons in some of their towns, while in others they favoured the rising
of tyrants. The towns were thus separated from one another, and the whole confederation
was gradually destroyed.
(2) The Later League.--The ancient confederacy had thus ceased
to exist for some time when events took place which in some towns roused the ancient
spirit of independence. When in B.C. 281 Antigonus Gonatas attempted to drive
Ptolemaeus Ceraunus from the throne of Macedonia, the Achaeans availed themselves
of the opportunity of shaking off the Macedonian yoke, and renewing the old confederation.
The object, however, was no longer a common worship, but a real political union
among the towns. The places which first shook off the yoke of the oppressors were
Dyme and Patrae, and the alliance concluded between them was speedily joined by
the towns of Tritaea and Pharae. One town after another expelled the Macedonian
garrisons and tyrants; and when in B.C. 275, Aegion, the head of the ancient league,
followed the example of the other towns, the foundation of the new confederation
was complete, and the main principles of its constitution were settled, though
afterwards many changes and modifications were introduced. The fundamental laws
were that henceforth the confederacy should form one inseparable state; that every
town which should join it should have equal rights with the others; and that all
members in regard to foreign countries should be regarded as dependent, and be
bound in every respect to obey the federal government and those officers who were
intrusted with the executive. No town, therefore, was allowed to treat with any
foreign power without the sanction of the others. Aegion, for religious reasons,
was appointed the seat of the government. At Aegion, therefore, the citizens of
the various towns met at stated and regular times to deliberate upon the common
affairs of the confederation, and if necessary upon those of any separate town
or even of individuals, and to elect the officers of the league. After having
thus established a firm union among themselves, the Achaeans zealously exerted
themselves in delivering other towns also from their tyrants and oppressors. The
league, however, did not acquire any great strength until B.C. 251, when Aratus
united Sicyon, his native place, with it, and some years later also gained Corinth
for it. Megara, Troezen, and Epidaurus soon followed their example. Afterwards
Aratus prevailed upon all the more important towns of Peloponnesus to join the
confederacy, and Megalopolis, Argos, Hermione, Phlius, and others were added to
it. In a short time the league thus reached its highest power, for it embraced
Athens, Aegina, Salamis, and the whole of Peloponnesus, with the exception of
Sparta, Tegea, Orchomenus, Mantinea, and Elis. Greece seemed to revive, and promised
to become stronger and more united than ever, but it soon showed that its new
power was employed only in self-destruction and its own ruin. The Achaean League
might at one time have become a great power, and might have united at least the
whole of Peloponnesus into one State; but the original objects of the league were
in the course of time so far forgotten that it sought the protection of those
against whom it had been formed; and the perpetual discord among its members,
the hostility of Sparta, the intrigues of the Romans, and the folly and rashness
of the last strategy brought about not only the dissolution and destruction of
the confederacy, but the political annihilation of the whole of Greece in the
year B.C. 146.
This text is from: Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities. Cited Dec 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
Grammateus (grammateus). The Greek word for a writer, secretary, or clerk. At Athens the officials had numerous clerks attached to them, who were paid by the State and belonged to the poorer class of citizens. But there were several higher officials who bore the title of grammateus. The Boule, or Senate, for instance, chose one of its members by show of hands to be its clerk or secretary for one year. His duty was to keep the archives of the Senate. So, too, a secretary was chosen by lot from the whole number of senators for each prytany to draft all resolutions of the Senate. His name is therefore generally given in the decrees next to that of the president and the proposer of the decree. The name of the grammateus of the first prytany was also given with that of the archon, as a means of marking the year with more accuracy. At the meetings of the Ecclesia, a clerk, elected by the people, had to read out the necessary documents. The office of the antigrapheis, or checking clerks, was of still greater importance. The antigrapheus of the Senate, elected at first by show of hands, but afterwards by lot, had to take account of all business affecting the financial administration. The antigrapheus of the administration had to make out, and lay before the public, a general statement of income and expenditure, and exercised a certain amount of control over all financial officials. In the Aetolian and Achaean leagues the grammateus was the highest officer of the league after the strategi and hipparchi.
This text is from: Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities. Cited Oct 2003 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
ETOLIA (Ancient area) ETOLOAKARNANIA
Aetolicum Foedus, (to koinon ton Aitolon). A confederation of
the Aetolian towns, afterwards joined by other towns and cantons of Greece, and
formed in B.C. 338, after the battle of Chaeronea, to counteract the influence
of Macedonia in the affairs of Greece. Its political existence was destroyed in
B.C. 189 by the treaty with Rome by which the Aetolians became Roman subjects.
This text is from: Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities. Cited Nov 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
Aetolian League : Perseus Project
ILIA (Ancient country) GREECE
(...) On the other hand, after the disaster at Leuctra, when his adversaries in league with the Mantineans were murdering his friends and acquaintances in Tegea, and a coalition of all Boeotia, Arcadia and Elis had been formed, he (Agis) took the field with the Lacedaemonian forces only, thus disappointing the general expectation that the Lacedaemonians would not even go outside their own borders for a long time to come.
THERMON (Ancient city) ETOLOAKARNANIA
Sanctuary of Apollo and meeting place of the Aetolian League
STRATOS (Ancient city) ETOLOAKARNANIA
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.
OLPES (Ancient city) ETOLOAKARNANIA
STRATOS (Ancient city) ETOLOAKARNANIA
ILIA (Ancient country) GREECE
The Athenians at once weighed anchor and continued their cruise. Touching at Pheia in Elis, they ravaged the country for two days and defeated a picked force of three hundred men that had come from the vale of Elis and the immediate neighborhood to the rescue.
ILIS (Ancient city) ILIA
In the reign of Agis the son of Archidamus the Lacedaemonians had
several grievances against the people of Elis, being especially exasperated because
they were debarred from the Olympic games and the sanctuary at Olympia. So they
dispatched a herald commanding the people of Elis to grant home-rule to Lepreum
and to any other of their neighbors that were subject to them. The people of Elis
replied that, when they saw the cities free that were neighbors of Sparta, they
would without delay set free their own subjects; whereupon the Lacedaemonians
under king Agis invaded the territory of Elis.
On this occasion there occurred an earthquake, and the army retired
home after advancing as far as Olympia and the Alpheus but in the next year Agis
devastated the country and carried off most of the booty. Xenias, a man of Elis
who was a personal friend of Agis and the state-friend (Proxenos) of the Lacedaemonians,
rose up with the rich citizens against the people but before Agis and his army
could come to their aid, Thrasydaeus, who at this time championed the interests
of the popular party at Elis, overthrew in battle Xenias and his followers and
cast them out of the city.
When Agis led back his army, he left behind Lysistratus, a Spartan,
with a portion of his forces, along with the Elean refugees, that they might help
the Lepreans to ravage the
land. In the third year of the war (398 BC) the Lacedaemonians under Agis again
prepared to invade the territory of Elis. So Thrasydaeus and the Eleans, reduced
to dire extremities, agreed to forgo their supremacy over their neighbors, to
dismantle the fortifications of their city, and to allow the Lacedaemonians to
sacrifice to the god and to compete in the games at Olympia.(Paus. 3.8.3-5)
VOURA (Ancient city) DIAKOPTO
When the god wiped off Helice from the face of the earth, Bura
too suffered a severe earthquake, so that not even the ancient images were left
in the sanctuaries. The only Burians to survive were those who chanced to be absent
at the time, either on active service or for some other reason, and these became
the second founders of Bura.
AGRINION (Ancient city) ETOLOAKARNANIA
ELIKI (Ancient city) EGIALIA
Pausanias and Strabo state that Helice was destroyed by an earthquake (Paus. 7,24,12-13, Strab. 8,7,2).
ANAKTORION (Ancient city) ETOLOAKARNANIA
The Corinthians sent by Cypselus and Gorgus took possession of this shore and also advanced as far as the Ambracian Gulf; and both Ambracia and Anactorium were colonized at this time. (Strabo 10,2,8)
ILIS (Ancient city) ILIA
Οταν ο Πραξίεργος ήταν άρχοντας στην Αθήνα, οι Ρωμαίοι εξέλεξαν ως υπάτους τον Αύλο Βεργίλιο Τρικόστο και τον Γάιο Σερβίλιο Στρούκτο. Τον ίδιο καιρό οι Ηλείοι, που κατοικούσαν σε πολλές μικρές πόλεις, συνοικίσθησαν και δημιούργησαν μία πολιτεία που είναι γνωστή ως Ήλις (Διόδ. 11.54.1).
ILIA (Ancient country) GREECE
The most ancient inhabitants of Elis appear to have been Pelasgians,
and of the same stock as the Arcadians. They were called Caucones, and their name
is said to have been originally given to the whole country; but at a later time
they were found only on the northern frontier near Dyme and in the mountains of
Triphylia. (Strab. viii. p. 345.) The accessibility of the country both by sea
and land led other tribes to settle in it even at a very early period The Phoenicians
probably had factories upon the coast; and there can be no doubt that to them
the Eleians were indebted for the introduction of the byssus, since the name is
the same as the Hebrew butz. We also find traces of Phoenician influence in the
worship of Aphrodite Urania in the city of Elis. It has even been supposed that
Elishah, whose productions reached Tyre (Ezek. xxvii. 7), is the same word as
the Greek Elis, though the name was used to indicate a large extent of country;
but it is dangerous to draw any conclusion from a similarity of names, which may
after all be only accidental.
The most ancient inhabitants of the country appear to have been Epeians
(Epeioi), who were closely connected with the Aetolians. According to the common
practice of the Greeks to derive all their tribes from eponymous ancestors, the
two brothers Epeius and Aetolus, the sons of Endymion, lived in the country afterwards
called Elis. Aetolus crossed over to Northern Greece, and became the ancestor
of the Aetolians. (Paus. v. 1; Scymn. Ch. 475.) The name of Eleians, according
to the tradition, was derived from Eleius, a son of Poseidon and Eurycyda, the
daughter of Endymion. The Epeians were more widely spread than the Eleians. We
find Epeians not only in Elis Proper, but also in Triphylia and in the islands
of the Echinades at the mouth of the Achelous; while the Eleians were confined
to Elis Proper. In Homer the name of Eleians does not occur; and though the country
is called Elis, its inhabitants are always the Epeians.
Eleius was succeeded in the kingdom by his son Augeias, against whom
Hercules made war, because he refused to give the hero the promised reward for
cleansing his stables. The kingdom of the Epeians afterwards became divided into
four states. The Epeians sailed to the Trojan War in 40 ships, led by four chiefs,
of whom Polyxenus, the grandson of Augeias, was one. (Hom. II. ii. 615, seq.)
The Epeians and the Pylians appear in Homer as the two powerful nations on the
western coast of Peloponnesus, the former extending from the Corinthian gulf southwards,
and the latter from the southern point of the peninsula northwards; but the boundaries
which separated the two cannot be determined. They were frequently engaged in
wars with one another, of which a vivid picture is given in a well-known passage
of Homer (Il. xi. 670, seq.; Strab. viii. pp. 336, 351). Polyxenus was the only
one of the four chiefs who returned from Troy. In the time of his grandson the
Dorians invaded Peloponnesus; and, according to the legend, Oxylus and his Aetolian
followers obtained Elis as their share of the conquest. (Dict. of Biogr. art.
Heraclidae).
Great changes now followed. In consequence of the affinity of the
Epeians and Aetolians, they easily coalesced into one people, who henceforth appear
under the name of Eleians, forming a powerful kingdom in the northern part of
the country in the plain of the Peneius. Some modern writers suppose that an Aetolian
colony was also settled at Pisa, which again comes into notice as an independent
state. Pisa is represented in the earliest times as the residence of Oenomaus
and Pelops, who left his name to the peninsula; but subsequently Pisa altogether
disappears, and is not mentioned in the Homeric poems. It was probably absorbed
in the great Pylian monarchy, and upon the overthrow of the latter was again enabled
to recover its independence; but whether it was peopled by Aetolian conquerors
must remain undecided. From this time Pisa appears as the head of a confederacy
of eight states. About the same time a change of population took place in Triphylia,
which had hitherto formed part of the dominions, of the Pylian monarchy. The Minyae,
who had been expelled from Laconia by the conquering Dorians, took possession
of Triphylia, driving out the original inhabitants of the country, the Paroreatae
and Caucones. (Herod. iv. 148.) Here they founded a state, consisting of six cities,
and were sufficiently strong to maintain their independence against the Messenian
Dorians. The name of Triphylia was sometimes derived from an eponymous Triphylus,
an Arcadian chief (Polyb. iv. 77; Paus. x. 9. § 5); but the name points to the
country being inhabited by three different tribes,--an explanation given by the
ancients themselves. These three tribes, according to Strabo, were the Epeians,
the Minyae, and the Eleians. (Strab. viii. p. 337.)
The territory of Elis was thus divided between the three independent
states of Elis Proper, the Pisatis, and Triphylia. How long this state of things
lasted we do not know; but even in the eighth century B.C. the Eleians had extended
their dominions as tar as the Neda, bringing under their rule the cities of the
Pisatis and Triphylia. During the historical period we read only of Eleians and
their subjects the Perioeci: the Caucones, Pisatans, and Triphylians entirely
disappear as independent races.
The celebration of the festival of Zeus at Olympia had originally
belonged to the Pisatans, in the neighbourhood of whose city Olympia was situated.
Upon the conquest of Pisa, the presidency of the festival passed over to their
conquerors; but the Pisatans never forgot their ancient privilege, and made many
attempts to recover it. In the eighth Olympiad; B.C. 747, they succeeded in depriving
the Eleians of the presidency by calling in the assistance of Pheidon, tyrant
of Argos, in conjunction with whom they celebrated the festival. But almost immediately
afterwards the power of Pheidon was destroyed by the Spartans, who not only restored
to the. Eleians the presidency, but are said even to have confirmed them in the
possession of the Pisatis and Triphylia. (Paus. vi. 22. § 2; Strab. viii. p. 354,
seq.; Herod. vi. 127.) In the Second Messenian War the Pisatans and Triphylians
revolted from Elis and assisted the Messenians, while the Eleians sided with the
Spartans. In this war the Pisatans were commanded by their king Pantaleon, who
also succeeded in making himself master of Olympia by force, during the 34th Olympiad
(B.C. 644), and in celebrating the games to the exclusion of the Eleians. (Paus.
vi. 21. § 1, vi. 22. § 2; Strab. viii. p. 362; respecting the conflicting statements
in the ancient authorities as to this period, see Grote, Hist. of Greece, vol.
ii. p. 574.) The conquest of the Messenians by the Spartans must also have been
attended by the submission of the Pisatans to their former masters. In the 48th
Olympiad (B.C. 588) the Eleians, suspecting the fidelity of Damophon, the son
of Pantaleon, invaded the Pisatis, but were persuaded by Damophon to return home
without committing any further acts of hostility. But in the 52nd Olympiad (B.C.
572), Pyrrhus, who had succeeded his brother Damophon in the sovereignty of Pisa,
invaded Elis, assisted by the Dyspontii in the Pisatis, and by the Macistii and
Scilluntii in Triphylia. This attempt ended in the ruin of these towns, which
were razed to the ground by the Eleians. (Paus. vi. 22. § 3, seq.) From this time
Pisa disappears from history; and so complete was its destruction that the fact
of its ever having existed was disputed in later times. (Strab. viii. p. 356.)
After the destruction of these cities we read of no further attempt at revolt
till the time of the Peloponnesian War. The Eleians now enjoyed a long period
of peace and prosperity.
The Eleians remained faithful allies of Sparta in the Peloponnesian
War down to the peace of Nicias, B.C. 421; but in this year a serious quarrel
arose between them. It was a settled policy of the Spartans to prevent the growth
of any power in Peloponnesus, which might prove formidable to themselves; and
accordingly they were always ready to support the independence of the smaller
states in the peninsula [p. 819] against the-greater. Accordingly, when Lepreum
in Triphylia revolted from the Eleians and craved the assistance of the Spartans,
the latter not only recognised its independence, but sent an armed force to protect
it. The Eleians in consequence renounced the alliance of Sparta, and formed a
new league with Argos, Corinth, and Mantineia. (Thuc. v. 31.) The following year
(B.C. 420) was the period for the celebration of the Olympic festival; and the
Eleians, under the pretext that the Spartans had sent some additional troops to
Lepreum after the proclamation of the Sacred Truce, fined the Spartans 2000 minae,
and, upon their refusing to pay the fine, excluded them from the festival. (Thuc.
v. 49, 50.) The Eleians fought with the other allies against the Spartans at the
battle of Mantineia (B.C. 418); and though the victory of the Spartans broke up
this league, the ill-feeling between Elis and Sparta still continued. Accordingly,
when the fall of Athens gave the Spartans the undisputed supremacy of Greece,
they resolved to take vengeance upon the Eleians. They required them to renounce
their authority over their dependent towns, and to pay up the arrears due from
them as Spartan allies for carrying on the war against Athens. Upon their refusal
to comply with these demands, king Agis invaded their territory (B.C. 402). The
war lasted nearly three years; and the Eleians were at length compelled to purchase
peace by relinquishing their authority not only over the Triphylian towns, but
also over Lasion, which was claimed by the Arcadians, and over the other towns
of the hilly district of Acroreia (B.C. 400). They also had to surrender their
harbour of Cyllene with their ships of war. (Xen. Hell. iii. 2. 21-30; Diod. xiv.
34; Paus. iii. 8. § 3, seq.) By this treaty the Eleians were in reality stripped
of all their political power; and the Pisatans availed themselves of their weakness
to beg the Lacedaemonians to grant to them the management of the Olympic festival;
but as they were now only villagers, and would probably have been unable to conduct
the festival with becoming splendour, the Spartans refused their request, and
left the presidency in the hands of the Eleians. (Xen. Hell. iii. 2. 30)
Soon after the battle of Leuctra (B.C. 371), by which the Spartan
power had been destroyed, the Eleians attempted to regain their supremacy over
the Triphylian towns; but the latter, pleading their Arcadian origin, sought to
be admitted into the Arcadian confederacy, which had been recently organised by
Epaminondas. The Arcadians complied with their request (B.C. 368), much to the
displeasure of the Eleians, who became in consequence bitter enemies of the Arcadians.
(Xen. Hell. vi. 5. 2, vii. 1. § 26.) In order to recover their lost dominions
the Eleians entered into alliance with the Spartans, who were equally anxious
to gain possession of Messenia. In B.C. 366 hostilities commenced between the
Eleians and Arcadians. The Eleians seized by force Lasion and the other towns
in the Acroreia, which also formed part of the Arcadian confederacy, and of which
they themselves had been deprived by the Spartans in B.C. 400, as already related.
But the Arcadians not only recovered these towns almost immediately afterwards,
but established a garrison on the hill of Cronion at Olympia, and advancing against
the town of Elis, which was unfortified, nearly made themselves masters of the
place. The democratical party in the city rose against the ruling oligarchy, and
seized the acropolis: but they were overcome, and fled from the city. Thereupon,
assisted by the Arcadians, they seized Pylus, a place on the Peneius, at the distance
of about 9 miles from Elis, and there established themselves with a view of carrying,
on hostilities against the ruling party in the city. (Xen. Hell. vii. 4. 13-18;
Diod. xv. 77.) In the following year (B.C. 365) the Arcadians again invaded Elis,
and being attacked by the Eleians between their city and Cyllene, gained a victory
over them. The Eleians, in distress, applied to the Spartans, who created a diversion
in their favour by invading the south-western part of Arcadia. The Arcadians in
Elis now returned home in order to defend their own country; whereupon the Eleians
recovered Pylus, and put to death all of the democratical party whom they found
there. (Xen. Hell. vi. 4. 19-26.) In the next year (B.C. 364) the 104th celebration
of the Olympic festival occurred. The Arcadians, who had now expelled the Spartans
from their country, and who had meantime retained their garrison at Olympia, resolved
to restore the presidency of the festival to the Pisatans, and to celebrate it
in conjunction with the latter. The Eleians, however, did not tamely submit to
this exclusion, and, while the games were going on, marched with an armed force
into the consecrated ground. Here a battle was fought; and though the Eleians
showed great bravery, they were finally driven back by the Arcadians. The Eleians
subsequently took revenge by striking out of the register this Olympiad, as well
as the 8th and 34th, as not entitled to be regarded as Olympiads. (Xen. Hell.
vii. 4. 28-32; Diod. xv. 78.) The Arcadians now seized the treasures in the temples
at Olympia; but this act of sacrilege was received with so much reprobation by
several of the Arcadian towns, and especially by Mantineia, that the Arcadian
assembly not only denounced the crime, but even concluded a peace with the Eleians,
and restored to them Olympia and the presidency of the festival (B.C. 362). (Xen.
Hell. vii. 4. 33, 34.)
Pausanias relates that when Philip, the father of Alexander the Great,
obtained the supremacy in Greece, the Eleians, who had suffered much from civil
dissensions, joined the Macedonian alliance, but at the same time would not fight
against the Athenians and Thebans at the battle of Chaeroneia. After the death
of Alexander the Great, they renounced the Macedonian alliance, and fought along
with the other Greeks against Antipater, in the Lamian War. (Paus. v. 4. § 9.)
In B.C. 312 Telesphorus, one of the generals of Antigonus, seized Elis and fortified
the citadel, with the view of establishing an independent principality in the
Peloponnesus; but the town was shortly afterwards recovered by Ptolemaeus, the
principal general of Antigonus in Greece, who razed the new fortifications. (Diod.
xix. 87.)
The Eleians subsequently formed a close alliance with their kinsmen
the Aetolians, and became members of the Aetolic League, of which they were the
firmest supporters in the Peloponnesus. They always steadily refused to renounce
this alliance and join the Achaeans, and their country was in consequence frequently
ravaged by the latter. (Polyb. iv. 5, 9, 59, seq.) The Triphylians, who exhibit
throughout their entire history a rooted repugnance to the Eleian supremacy, joined
the Achaeans as a matter of course. (Comp. Liv. xxxiii. 34.) The Eleians are not
mentioned in the final war between the Romans and the Achaean League; but after
the capture of Corinth, their country, together with the rest of Peloponnesus,
became subject to Rome. The Olympic games, however, still secured to the Eleians
a measure of prosperity; and, in consequence of them, the emperor Julian exempted
the whole country from the payment of taxes. (Julian, Ep. 35.) In A.D. 394 the
festival was abolished by Theodosius, and two years afterwards the country was
laid waste with fire and sword by Alaric.
In the middle ages Elis again became a country of some importance.
The French knights at Patras invaded the valley of the Peneius, where they established
themselves with hardly any resistance. Like Oxylus and his Aetolian followers,
William of Champlitte took up his residence at Andrabida, in a fertile district
on the right bank of the Peneius. Gottfried of Villehardouin built Glarenza, which
became the most important sea-port upon the western coast of Greece; under his
successors Castro Tornese was built as the citadel of Glarenza. Gastuni and Santameri
were also founded about the same period. Elis afterwards passed into the hands
of the Venetians, under whom it continued to flourish, and who gave to the western
province of the Morea the name of Belvedere, from the citadel of Elis. It was
owing to the fertility of the plain of the Peneius that the Venetians called the
province of Belvedere the milk-cow of the Morea. But the country has now lost
all its former prosperity. Pyrgos is the only place of any importance; and in
consequence of the malaria, the coast is becoming almost uninhabited. (Curtius,
Peloponnesos, vol. ii. p. 16, seq.)
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
AKTION (Ancient port) ETOLOAKARNANIA
ASTAKOS (Small town) ETOLOAKARNANIA
Mythology
In ancient times western Greece was a land of two great nations -
Etolon and Akarnanon. The disputed boundary between them was the Acheloos
River.
Akarnania was comprised of the western part from the Ionian
sea till the Acheloos and from the Amvrakiko
Gulf till the Gulf of Astakos
and the estuaries of the Acheloos.
There is a legend that the area of Astakos was the land of the Cyclops,
more specifically, on the rugged slope of Veloutsas over Kasteli is located the
cave of the Cyclops who blinded Odysseas, while some impressively large boulders
in the valley are believed to be those which the angry Cyclops threw at Odysseas
and his companions in order to sink their ship.
According to mythology, and what Thoukidides tells us, the first colonizer
of the area of Astakos was Alkmeon, son of the king of the Argos, Amphiarao Alkmeon,
was thrown out by the Furies after having killed his mother. He reached the estuaries
of Acheloos and settled there. He became the head of the area and had a son, Akarnana,
whose name was later given to this area.
Antiquity
The most ancient trace of inhabitants in Etoloakarnania were found
in caves near Astakos and at the foot of Varsovas (Kryoneri) while the ruins at
St: Elias can be dated back to the Neolithic era. Settlements from this era were
not saved. However, we have important remnants of facilities and mansions of the
early age of copper at Platygiali near Astakos, (St. Pantelemonas) at Palaia Plevron
and at Palaiomanina (Savria).
During the Mycean years, the influence of the centers of Eastern Greece
becomes noticeable in many sectors of Etolia and Akarnania in the towns Koronta
and Pelasgiko, Astakos and Palero.
In the 5th century B.C. in Akarnania there were centres which were highly developed,
minting their own money and having their own armies.
From 500-300 B.C. many wars were fought in this area and many alliances
were made, according to the needs of each period of time.
During the years of the Peloponesian war, Astakos was mentioned by
Thucydides twice.
The first time was during the first year of the war when 100 Athenian
triremes attacked Astakos and overthrew Evarcho who soon asked the Corinthians
and Lakedemonians for help. They arrived at Astakos with forty ships and reinstated
the tyrant (431 B.C.). The rule of Corinth over Astakos lasted about 2 years.
The second reference takes us to the third year of the war when the Athenian fleet
approached Astakos for the second time with Phormiona as commander. A landing
force of 800 men pouched their way into the interior of Akarnania and for a rather
long period of time conducted various undertakings with the intention of strengthening
the Athenian rule over the whole land.
Thucydides also mentions another stronghold, Koronta.
Around 218-206 B.C. the decline of Etolia and Akarnania began with the attack
of Phillip 5 th. Around 30 B.C. with the founding of Nicopolis
and the Roman settlement of Patra in the 14th century B.C. The depopulation of
the area started with the population moving towards Amvrakiko and Nicopolis. From
various sources we gather that the towns Anaktorio,
Thyrrei, Livia and Metropolis
existed until the 2nd century B.C. Today they are known as Palaia manina, Astakos
and Koronta.
Byzantine Era
From the Roman era until the revolution of 1821, the area of Akarnania
and Etolia went through a period in which developments were rapid and they show
in the archeological findings and in the ruins of ancient Christian churches.
A blossoming of artistic expression from the centers of Byzantium, most especially
Constantinople and Thessaloniki, is noticed.
Akarnania, with the founding of the state of Epirus which was called
a domain (1204) suffered from barbarian raids such as Slavs, Arabs and Bulgarians
who plundered, destroyed and ruined. The whole area was later destroyed again
during the Venetian-Turkish wars. We ascertain that the area was continually under
the clouds of war during that time.
Later Years
Many conflicts of the then strong nations continued during the following
years for the domination of the area, due to the importance of its location.
In 1358 all the fortresses which belonged to the domain of Epirus
were taken over by the Albanians until 1405 when Charles I, count of Cephalonia
and Lefkada, become victorious.
In 1430 the whole area passed into the hands of Sinan Pasa, and the
long-lasting rule of the Turks in the area was strengthened. On October 7, 1571,
in the area of Astakos, near the Echinades
Islands, with 25,000 soldiers. One of the biggest naval battles of the Middle
Ages - the battle of Lepante - took place. The united Christian fleet, with 285
ships of the Venetians, Spaniards and Pope Pious and with 8,000 Greeks under Don
Juan of Austria, confronted and crushed the Turkish fleet of Kapoudan Pasa.
This naval battle was the beginning of the collapse of the myth that
Ottoman Empire was unbeatable on land and sea. The reconstruction of the nation
owes a great deal to the institution of communities which was the basic nuclear
social organization. The Akarnanians of Xiromero
were forerunners in the freedom fight and in many revolutionary movements.
The battles which took place during this period were numerous and
bloody. In the Akarnanian mountains the klephts flourished. In the area of Dragamestov,
George Karaiskakis deployed his encampment. For this reason, the old village Dragamestov,
in its new location, is now called Karaiskaki.
In Dragamesto General George also deployed an encampment in 1827. On May 25th,
1921 the revolution in Xiromero was declared with the publication and circulation
of the revolutionary proclamation written by George Varnakioti.
In August 1824, Karaiskakis lay in ambush for a Turkish convoy at
the location "Manina". On July 10, 1827, Dimos Tselios made a landing
at Dragamesto.
His units joined the forces of Rangou and together they attacked the
Turks and took possession of Mytikas
and Kandila. On November 17,
1827, Greek forces carry out a landing at Dragamesto and continue on to seize
Chrysovitsa and Ligovitsi.
Later, during the period 1940-1944, the offering and participation of the people
of the area was important. A significant battle against the occupation forces
took place at Tsapournia.
This text is cited December 2004 from the West Greece Region General Secretariat URL below.
ETOLIKO (Town) IERA POLIS MESSOLONGIOU
The first residents must have been fishermen. In 1204 this island
was given to the Venetians. Then, from 1370 to 1821, it belonged successively
to lord Boua, lord Spata, lord Griva, the Venetians, the Turks, Morozini and to
the Turks.
This text is cited December 2004 from the West Greece Region General Secretariat URL below, which contains images.
MESSOLONGI (Town) ETOLOAKARNANIA
Messolongi it is the sacred town of the immortal heroes, a town of
freedom and it is very picturesque.
It becomes known in history in the 16th century just before the sea
battle of Nafpaktos on 7 October 1571. During the pre-Christian period in this
area of Messolongi there were 3 ancient towns. They were Kalidona,
which is now Evinohori, Plevrona,
now called Castle of Kira-Rini and Alikirna which is now Hilia
Spitia built just below the historical Monastery
of St. Simeon.
The inhabitants were fishermen and Dalmatian pirates living in straw
huts positioned in the lakes of the gulf
of Patra. Later on the area was called Mezzo Langhi by the Italians which
means "between the lakes".
Messolongi played a very important role during the Greek uprising.
In 1822 the Turks tried to take it but were unsuccessful. Four years later the
inhabitants of Messolongi unfortunately succumbed to the Turks, who surrounded
the Town and on 10 April 1826 they decided on the mass Exodus of Messolongi. Unfortunately
their plan was betrayed to the Turks by someone and the consequences were tragic
.
Messolongi fell but its history stands high and illuminates hearts
throughout the ages.
In 1829 Messolongi was liberated from the Turks and started again
to flourish. In 1835 they appointed a mayor and in 1937 the government decided
unanimously to name it the Sacred Town of Greece .
This text is cited December 2004 from the West Greece Region General Secretariat URL below, which contains images.
NAFPAKTOS (Town) ETOLOAKARNANIA
Brief Description of Ancient Nafpaktos
The picturesque, mainly Venetian castle, from which ramparts descend
to enclose the little harbour, reminds us of its medieval past when it was known
in the West as Lepanto. The square, shaded by jacaranda trees, looks across the
Gulf to Mt. Panakhaikon in
Peloponnesus. Ancient Nafpaktos
was taken during the arrival of the Doric Clans in 1104 BC. The town was destroyed
by earthquakes in 583 BC. Later the town was occupied by the Ozolian Locrians,
and was taken in 454 BC. by the Athenians.Here they established a colony of Messenians,
who had been dispossessed by their Spartan conquerors. The place played an important
part in the Peloponnesian War; it was successfully defended in 429 BC. by Phormion
and in 426 BC. by Demosthenes against the Spartans. In 338 BC., Philip the 2nd
of Macedonia occupies Nafpaktos from the Achaians and delivers it to the Aetolians.
In 218 BC., Nafpaktos becomes the capital of the Aetolic Confederation. Nafpaktos
is classified in Dominant of Epirus in 1205-1295 AD. The town becomes a Venetian
Colony in the year 1407-1499 AD. Occupied by the Turks in 1499, Lepanto is chiefly
celebrated for the victory which the combined popal, Spanish, Venetian, and Genoese
fleets, under Don Juan of Austria, gained over the Turkish fleet on Oct. 7, 1571.
At last, Nafpaktos was liberated from the Turks, in 1821-1829 A.D. Saint Dimitrios,
protector of the city of Nafpaktos, was martyred in 305 A.D. defending Christianity.
He is also regarded as the Patron Saint of Thessaloniki
and its saviour during difficult moments. Nafpaktos is one of the few Greek towns
that managed to survive and to pass from prehistorical age to nowadays. The town
for more than 3.200 years of turbulent life, appeared under various names, such
as, Nafpaktos from its founding Lepanto by the Venetians, Epahtos by the Byzantines,
Enevahte and Nepahtos by the Turks. Its primary name came from the fact that the
area is located historically as naval colony, where ships were manufactured, by
Loric races and later by Doric ones. Nafs (ship) + pignimi (manufacture) = Nafpaktos.
Naval Victory-La Victore De Lepante, Le Rosaire
On October 7, 1571, Selim II, Sultan of the Turks, was utterly destroyed
in a disastrous naval defeat near the harbor of Lepanto. This great victory is
always ascribed to Pope Pius V and is mentioned in his canonization in 1712. At
the hour of the battle, a procession of the Rosary began its march to the church
of Minerva. The pope was present, and, quite unexpectedly walked to a window,
threw open its doors and stood in a trance for a considerable time. Returning
to the cardinals, he remarked, "It is now time to give thanks for the great
victory which has been granted us." Officials later compared the time of
the pope's words with the records of the battle and found them in precise accord.
But the real reason for crediting the pope with the victory came from the mouths
of the prisoners taken in battle. They attested, with unquestionable conviction,
that they had seen Jesus Christ, Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Santa Maria Di Lepanto
and a multitude of angels, sword in hand, fighting against Selim and the Turks,
blinding them with smoke.
This text is cited December 2004 from the West Greece Region General Secretariat URL below, which contains images.
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.
ANAKTORION (Ancient city) ETOLOAKARNANIA
. . . next again, five hundred Ampraciots. After these stood eight hundred Leucadians and Anactorians, and next to them two hundred from Pale in Cephallenia
CHALKIS (Ancient city) NAFPAKTOS
LEPREON (Ancient city) ILIA
. . . one thousand Troezenians were posted, and after them two hundred men of Lepreum, then four hundred from Mycenae and Tiryns
FIGALIA (Ancient city) ILIA
When the Lacedaemonians attacked the Arcadians and invaded Phigalia,
they overcame the inhabitants in battle and sat down to besiege the city. When
the walls were in danger of capture the Phigalians ran away, or perhaps the Lacedaemonians
let them come out under a truce.The Phigalians who escaped resolved to go to Delphi
and ask the god about their return. The Pythian priestess said that if they took
with them one hundred picked men from Oresthasium, these would die in the battle,
but through them the Phigalians would be restored to their city. When the Oresthasians
heard of the oracle delivered to the Phigalians, all vied with one another in
their eagerness to be one of the picked hundred and take part in the expedition
to Phigalia. They advanced against the Lacedaemonian garrison and fulfilled the
oracle in all respects. For they fought and met their end gloriously; expelling
the Spartans they enabled the Phigalians to recover their native land.
PSOFIS (Ancient city) ACHAIA
I heard in Psophis a statement about one Aglaus, a Psophidian contemporary with Croesus the Lydian. The statement was that the whole of his life was happy, but I could not believe it. The truth is that one man may receive fewer ills than his contemporaries, just as one ship may be less tossed by storms than another ship. But we shall not be able to find a man never touched by misfortune or a ship never met by an unfavorable breeze. For Homer too says in his poetry that by the side of Zeus is set a jar of good things, and another jar of evil things, taught by the god at Delphi, who once declared that Homer himself was both unhappy and blessed, being destined by birth to both states alike.
Men Whom The Gods Have Pronounced To Be The Most Happy
In reference to this point, two oracles of Delphi may come under our consideration, which would appear to have been pronounced as though in order to chastise the vanity of man. These oracles were the following: by the first, Pedius was pronounced to be the most happy of men, who had just before fallen in defence of his country. On the second occasion, when it had been consulted by Gyges, at that time the most powerful king in the world, it declared that Aglaiis of Psophis was a more happy man than himself. This Aglaiis was an old man, who lived in a poor petty nook of Arcadia, and cultivated a small farm, though quite sufficient for the supply of his yearly wants; he had never so much as left it, and, as was quite evident from his mode of living, his desires being of the most limited kind, he had experienced but an extremely small share of the miseries of life.
Aglaus (Aglaos), a poor citizen of Psophis in Arcadia, whom the Delphic oracle pronounced to be happier than Gyges, king of Lydia, on account of his contentedness, when the king asked the oracle, if any man was happier than he. (Val. Max. vii. 1.2; Plin. H. N. vii. 47.) Pausanias (viii. 24.7) places Aglaus in the time of Croesus.
EGHION (Ancient city) ACHAIA
Caulonia was a colony in Italy founded by Achaeans, and its founder was Typhon of Aegium. When Pyrrhus son of Aeacides and the Tarentines were at war with the Romans, several cities in Italy were destroyed, either by the Romans or by the Epeirots, and these included Caulonia, whose fate it was to be utterly laid waste, having been taken by the Campanians, who formed the largest contingent of allies on the Roman side. (Puas. 6.3.12)
RYPES (Ancient city) EGIALIA
Myscellus (Muskellos, or Muskelos), a native of Rhypes, one of the twelve divisions
of Achaia, and, according to Ovid (Metam. xv. 15) a Heraclide, and the son of
an Argive named Alemon. He led the colony which founded Crotona, B. C. 710. They
were assisted in founding the city by Archias, who was on his way to Sicily. The
colony was led forth under the sanction of the Delphic oracle, Myscellus having
previously been to survey the locality. He was so much better pleased with the
site of Sybaris, that on his return he made an unsuccessful attempt to persuade
the Delphic god to allow the colonists to select Sybaris as their place of settlement.
Respecting the choice offered to Archias and Myscellus by the oracle, and the
selection which each made, see Archia.
(Strab. vi., viii.; Dionys. ii.; Schol. ad Arist. Equit. 1089; Suidas s. v. Muskelos)
This text is from: A dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, 1873 (ed. William Smith). Cited July 2005 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
ALIFIRA (Ancient city) ILIA
After the co-settlement of Megalopolis Aliphera was still a
town that belonged to Arcadia until 244 BC, when Lydiades, tyrant of Megalopolis,
gave it to the Eleans. So, when the war among the allies started, Aliphera was
considered an enemy by the Achaeans. It is possible that Philip would not have
attacked the town, had it remained neutral. The Eleans, however, had asked the
Aetolians to help them and the Aetolian Phillidas sent mercenaries to Aliphera.
This fact made Philip attack first the walls of Aliphera and then the town, setting
its acropolis in fire. The Alipherans surrendered in order to save themselves
and the Macedonians established a garrison in Aliphera. It was a man named Cleonymus
that freed Aliphera from that garrison, as well as from the pirates that had reached
it (Ekd. Athinon, Pausaniou Periegissis, vol. 4, pp.282-288, note4).
ILIS (Ancient city) ILIA
...in the Peloponnese he (Philip) occupies the important city of Elis (Dem. 9,27)
PSOFIS (Ancient city) ACHAIA
Philip Captures Psophis
The sight of these things caused Philip much anxious thought. Sometimes he was
for giving up his plan of attacking and besieging the place: at others the excellence
of its situation made him eager to accomplish this. For just as it was then a
source of danger to the Achaeans and Arcadians, and a safe place of arms for the
Eleans; so would it on the other hand, if captured, become a source of safety
to the Arcadians, and a most convenient base of operations for the allies against
the Eleans. These considerations finally decided him to make the attempt: and
he therefore issued orders to the Macedonians to get their breakfasts at daybreak,
and be ready for service with all preparations completed. Everything being done
as he ordered, the king led his army over the bridge across the Erymanthus; and
no one having offered him resistance, owing to the unexpectedness of the movement,
he arrived under the walls of the town in gallant style and with formidable show.
Euripidas and the garrison were overpowered with astonishment; because they had
felt certain that the enemy would not venture on an assault, or try to carry a
town of such strength; and that a siege could not last long either, owing to the
severity of the season. This calculation of chances made them begin to entertain
suspicions of each other, from a misgiving that Philip must have established a
secret intrigue with some persons in the town against it. But finding that nothing
of the sort existed among themselves, the greater number hurried to the walls
to defend them, while the mercenary Elean soldiers sallied out of a gate in the
upper part of the town to attack the enemy. The king stationed his men who had
ladders at three different spots, and divided the other Macedonians among these
three parties; this being arranged, he gave the signal by the sound of trumpet,
and began the assault on the walls at once. At first the garrison offered a spirited
resistance and hurled many of the enemy from their ladders; but when the supply
of weapons inside the town, as well as other necessary materials, began to run
short,--as was to be expected from the hasty nature of the preparations for defence,--and
the Macedonians showed no sign of terror, the next man filling up the place of
each who was hurled from the scaling-ladder, the garrison at length turned to
flight, and made their escape one and all into the citadel. In the king's army
the Macedonians then made good their footing on the wall, while the Cretans went
against the party of mercenaries who had sallied from the upper gate, and forced
them to throw away their shields and fly in disorder. Following the fugitives
with slaughter, they forced their way along with them through the gate: so that
the town was captured at all points at once. The Psophidians with their wives
and children retreated into the citadel, and Euripidas with them, as well as all
the soldiers who had escaped destruction.
The People of Psophis Surrender
Having thus carried the place, the Macedonians at once plundered all the furniture
of the houses; and then, setting up their quarters in the houses, took regular
possession of the town. But the people who had taken refuge in a body in the citadel,
having no provisions with them, and well foreseeing what must happen, made up
their minds to give themselves up to Philip. They accordingly sent a herald to
the king; and having received a safe-conduct for an embassy, they despatched their
magistrates and Euripidas with them on this mission, who made terms with the king
by which the lives and liberties of all who were on the citadel, whether citizens
or foreigners, were secured. The ambassadors then returned whence they came, carrying
an order to the people to remain where they were until the army had marched out,
for fear any of the soldiers should disobey orders and plunder them. A fall of
snow however compelled the king to remain where he was for some days; in the course
of which he summoned a meeting of such Achaeans as were in the army, and after
pointing out to them the strength and excellent position of the town for the purposes
of the present war, he spoke also of his own friendly disposition towards their
nation: and ended by saying, "We hereby yield up and present this town to
the Achaeans; for it is our purpose to show them all the favour in our power,
and to omit nothing that may testify to our zeal." After receiving the thanks
of Aratus and the meeting, Philip dismissed the assembly, and getting his army
in motion, marched towards Lasion. The Psophidians descending from the citadel
received back the possession of the town, each man recovering his own house; while
Euripidas departed to Corinth, and thence to Aetolia. Those of the Achaean magistrates
who were present put Prolaus of Sicyon in command of the citadel, with an adequate
garrison; and Pythias of Pallene in command of the town. Such was the end of the
incident of Psophis.
This extract is from: Histories. Polybius. Evelyn S. Shuckburgh (1889). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains comments & interesting hyperlinks.
SKILLOUS (Ancient city) ILIA
The Lacedaemonians afterwards separated Scillus from Elis and gave it to Xenophon, the son of Grylus, when he had been exiled from Athens.
NAFPAKTOS (Ancient city) ETOLOAKARNANIA
1104 B.C. Descent of Doric races.
553 B.C. Earthquakes destroy the large and rich town of Nafpactos, totally.
454-396 B.C. Nafpactos takes part in the Peloponnesian War.
338 B.C. Philip the 2nd of Macedonia, occupies Nafpactos from Achaians
and delivers it to Aetolians.
218 B.C. Nafpactos becomes the capital of Aetolic Confederation.
146 B.C. Nafpactos, the entire Greece too, is occupied by Romans.
197 A.D. Nafpactos becomes head quarters of Christian Bishopric and the
first Exarhus of the entire Aetolia was Kallikrates.
1204-1294 A.D. Nafpactos is classified in Dominant of Epirus.
1407-1499 A.D. The town becomes a Venetian colony. The Venetians reinforce
the fortification and Nafpactos is a powerful, commercial center now.
1499 A.D. Nafpactos is occupied by Turks.
1571 A.D. The famous Naval Battle of Nafpactos, where the Western Christian
Navy knocked against the Ottoman one. The Ottoman Navy was defeated and the march
of Turks against Europe has been stopped.
1571-1687 A.D. Nafpactos becomes Algerian pirates fortress, who plunder
the whole area.
1700 A.D. The town is surrendered to Turks according to Carlovicz Convention.
1821 A.D. Ineffective effort for liberation of the town.
1829 A.D. Liberation of Nafpactos from Turks.
This text (extract) is cited August 2003 from the Municipality
of Nafpaktos tourist pamphlet.
ACHAIA (Ancient country) GREECE
Acratus a freedman of Nero, who was sent by Nero A. D. 64, into Asia and Achaia to plunder the temples and take away the statues of the gods. (Tac. Ann. xv. 45, xvi. 23; comp. Dion Chrys. Rhod.)
ILIA (Ancient country) GREECE
At the foot of Mount Cronius, on the north...(at Olympia), between
the treasuries and the mountain, is a sanctuary of Eileithyia, and in it Sosipolis,
a native Elean deity, is worshipped. Now they surname Eileithyia Olympian, and
choose a priestess for the goddess every year. The old woman who tends Sosipolis
herself too by an Elean custom lives in chastity, bringing water for the god's
bath and setting before him barley cakes kneaded with honey.
In the front part of the temple, for it is built in two parts, is
an altar of Eileithyia and an entrance for the public; in the inner Part Sosipolis
is worshipped, and no one may enter it except the woman who tends the god, and
she must wrap her head and face in a white veil. Maidens and matrons wait in the
sanctuary of Eileithyia chanting a hymn; they burn all manner of incense to the
god, but it is not the custom to pour libations of wine. An oath is taken by Sosipolis
on the most important occasions
The story is that when the Arcadians had invaded the land of Elis,
and the Eleans were set in array against them, a woman came to the Elean generals,
holding a baby to her breast, who said that she was the mother of the child but
that she gave him, because of dreams, to fight for the Eleans. The Elean officers
believed that the woman was to be trusted, and placed the child before the army
naked.
When the Arcadians came on, the child turned at once into a snake.
Thrown into disorder at the sight, the Arcadians turned and fled, and were attacked
by the Eleans, who won a very famous victory, and so call the god Sosipolis. On
the spot where after the battle the snake seemed to them to go into the ground
they made the sanctuary. With him the Eleans resolved to worship Eileithyia also,
because this goddess to help them brought her son forth unto men.
The tomb of the Arcadians who were killed in the battle is (at Olympia)
on the hill across the Cladeus to the west. Near to the sanctuary of Eileithyia
are the remains of the sanctuary of Heavenly Aphrodite, and there too they sacrifice
upon the altars. (Paus. 6.20.2-6)
This extract is from: Pausanias. Description of Greece (ed. W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., & H.A. Ormerod, 1918). Cited November 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains comments & interesting hyperlinks.
The Eleans played their part in the Trojan war, and also in the battles
of the Persian invasion of Greece. I pass over their struggles with the Pisans
and Arcadians for the management of the Olympian games. Against their will they
joined the Lacedaemonians in their invasion of Athenian territory, and shortly
afterwards they rose up with the Mantineans and Argives against the Lacedaemonians,
inducing Athens too to join the alliance (420 BC)
When Agis invaded the land, and Xenias turned traitor, the Eleans
won a battle near Olympia, routed the Lacedaemonians and drove them out of the
sacred enclosure; but shortly afterwards the war was concluded by the treaty I
have already spoken of in my account of the Lacedaemonians (401-399 BC) (see Paus.
3.8)
When Philip the son of Amyntas would not let Greece alone, the Eleans,
weakened by civil strife, joined the Macedonian alliance, but they could not bring
themselves to fight against the Greeks at Chaeroneia. They joined Philip's attack
on the Lacedaemonians because of their old hatred of that people, but on the death
of Alexander they fought on the side of the Greeks against Antipater and the Macedonians
Later on Aristotimus, the son of Damaretus, the son of Etymon, became
despot of Elis, being aided in his attempt by Antigonus, the son of Demetrius,
who was king in Macedonia. After a despotism of six months Aristotimus was deposed,
a rising against him having been organized by Chilon, Hellanicus, Lampis and Cylon;
Cylon it was who with his own hand killed the despot when he had sought sanctuary
at the altar of Zeus the Saviour.
Such were the wars of the Eleans, of which my present enumeration must serve as
a summary.(Paus. 5.4.7-5.5.1)
This extract is from: Pausanias. Description of Greece (ed. W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., & H.A. Ormerod, 1918). Cited November 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains comments & interesting hyperlinks.
PISSA (Ancient city) ANCIENT OLYMPIA
The people of Pisa brought of themselves disaster on their own heads
by their hostility to the Eleans, and by their keenness to preside over the Olympic
games instead of them. At the eighth Festival (748 BC) they brought in Pheidon
of Argos, the most overbearing of the Greek tyrants, and held the games along
with him, while at the thirty-fourth Festival (644 BC) the people of Pisa, with
their king Pantaleon the son of Omphalion, collected an army from the neighborhood,
and held the Olympic games instead of the Eleans.
These Festivals, as well as the hundred and fourth (364 BC), which
was held by the Arcadians, are called "Non-Olympiads" by the Eleans,
who do not include them in a list of Olympiads. At the forty-eighth Festival (588
BC) , Damophon the son of Pantaleon gave the Eleans reasons for suspecting that
he was intriguing against them, but when they invaded the land of Pisa with an
army he persuaded them by prayers and oaths to return quietly home again
When Pyrrhus, the son of Pantaleon, succeeded his brother Damophon
as king, the people of Pisa of their own accord made war against Elis, and were
joined in their revolt from the Eleans by the people of Macistus and Scillus,
which are in Triphylia, and by the people of Dyspontium, another vassal community.
The list were closely related to the people of Pisa, and it was a tradition of
theirs that their founder had been Dysponteus the son of Oenomaus. It was the
fate of Pisa, and of all her allies, to be destroyed by the Eleans.
(Paus. 6.22.2-6.22.4)
This extract is from: Pausanias. Description of Greece (ed. W.H.S. Jones, Litt.D., & H.A. Ormerod, 1918). Cited November 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains comments & interesting hyperlinks.
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