Location information

The History of Argos

  Argos, the most ancient Greek city, built almost 5.000 years ago under the shadow of the hill of Larisa, showed its presence on all periods of Greek history. With a plethora of ancient monuments, it remains a live album of historic memory. The founder of the Argeans, according to the mythology is Inahos, who set up the first cities at the exact location that Argos is nowadays, next to the torrent that has his name.
   According to the Archaeological science, the first organized inhabitants of Argolida appear at about 2800 b.C. at the same time that copper starts being used. These cities are Argos, Lerna, Tirintha, Asini and Mikines. From these, only Argos was inhabited continually and at the same location since then. From 1600 b.C. and on, Mycenae gains power and its presence becomes intense in the area of Argolida. When Mycenae starts to decay, Argos growing quietly under the hill of Larisa, becomes the sovereign force in Argolida.
   At the end of the copper era, Argos didn't depopulate but on the contrary became the heir of the tradition of Argolida, assisting the integration of the old population with the Doric tribes that arrived at the area. During the Geometric era, Argos becomes the most ancient organized Doric city-state of Peloponnese taking over its old leading role on the culture of Argolida and Peloponnese, which it holds until the end of the Historic years, despite the hard competition with Sparta. During the 7th century b.C. Pheidon -a well known king of Argos- sets for the very first time in Greece, weights and measures. On the 5th and 4th b.C. century the sculptural art thrives in Argos, with Poliklitos, the most famous sculptor at the time. Many masterpieces are being made, with most well known, the unique - sculpted on the rock- ancient theater of Argos.
   The superiority of Argos, to which Mycenae, Nafplion, Tirinth and Asini submit in turn, works as a starting point of the juxtaposition between Argos and Sparta. After many long wars the later predominates in thePeloponnese.
   During the Roman era Argos remains a live and active city and many monuments of the time survive till now. Christianity was probably preached by the Apostle Andreas. After the predominance of the religion (5th century) Argos took on a bishop. Churches are being built, often on top of ancient devotional centers. At the end of the 9th century, Saint Peter becomes the bishop (the patron saint of the city today).
   During the Byzantine years Argos becomes insignificant. It is being conquered by the Franks, the Venetians and the Turks and follows the fate of the rest of the cities, to arouse during the 1821 revolution. .

This text is cited Oct 2002 from the Municipality of Argos URL below, which contains images.

• http://www.argos.gr/istoriae.htm (2 img.)