ACARNANIA, Argos Amphilochikon. Circa 340-300 BC. AR Stater. NGC VF 4/5,3/5 Rare

Description: AKARNANIA, Argos Amphilochikon.Circa 340-300 BC. AR Stater (19mm, 8.24 g, 2h). Pegasos flying left; A below / Helmeted head of Athena left; octopus to right. Pegasi 13; Imhoof-Blumer,Akarnaniens14; BCD Akarnania 131; HGC 4, 783. Herodotus first recorded the myth of the traditional story of Argos being the origin of theancient Macedonianroyal house of theArgead dynasty(Greek: , Argedai) ofPhilip IIandAlexander the Great.As a strategic location on the fertile plain of Argolis, Argos was a major stronghold during the Mycenaean era. Inclassical times, Argos was a powerful rival ofSpartafor dominance over the Peloponnese, but was eventually shunned by other Greek city-states after remaining neutral during theGreco-Persian Wars. The Heraion of ArgosView of theancient theatreAncient PeloponneseAncient regions of Peloponnese (southern mainland Greece). There is evidence of continuous settlement in the area starting with a village about 7,000 years ago in the lateNeolithic, located on the foot of Aspida hill. Since that time, Argos has been continually inhabited at the same geographical location. And while the nameArgosis generally accepted to have aHellenicIndo-Europeanetymology,Larissais generally held to derive from aPre-Greek substrate. The city is located at a rather propitious area, amongNemea,CorinthandArcadia. It also benefitted from its proximity to lakeLerna, which, at the time, was at a distance of one kilometre from the south end of Argos. Argos was a major stronghold ofMycenaeantimes, and along with the neighbouring acropolis ofMycenaeandTirynsbecame a very early settlement because of its commanding positions in the midst of the fertile plain of Argolis. Archaic Argos Argos experienced its greatest period of expansion and power under the energetic 7th century BC ruler KingPheidon. Under Pheidon, Argos regained sway over the cities of theArgolidand challengedSparta's dominance of the Peloponnese. Spartan dominance is thought to have been interrupted following theBattle of Hyssiaein 669668 BC, in which Argive troops defeated the Spartans in a hoplite battle.During the time of its greatest power, the city boasted a pottery and bronze sculpturing school, pottery workshops, tanneries and clothes producers. Moreover, at least 25 celebrations took place in the city, in addition to a regular local products exhibition.A sanctuary dedicated to Hera was also found at the same spot where the monastery of Panagia Katekrymeni is located today. Pheidon also extended Argive influence throughout Greece, taking control of the Olympic Games away from the citizens of Elis and appointing himself organizer during his reign. Pheidon is also thought to have introduced reforms for standard weight and measures in Argos, a theory further reinforced with the unearthing of six "spits" of iron in an Argive Heraion, possibly remainders of a dedication from Pheidon.[citation needed] Classical Argos In 494 BC, Argos suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of its regional rival, Sparta, at theBattle of Sepeia. Following this defeat,Herodotustells us the city suffered a form ofstasis. The political chaos is thought to have resulted in a democratic transition in the city.Argos did not participate in the Hellenic Alliance against thePersian Invasionof 480 BC. This resulted in a period of diplomatic isolation, although there is evidence of an Argive alliance withTegeaprior to 462 BC. In 462 BC, Argos joined a tripartite alliance with Athens and Thessaly. This alliance was somewhat dysfunctional, however, and the Argives are only thought to have provided marginal contributions to the alliance at the Battle ofOenoeandTanagra.For example, only 1,000 Argive hoplites are thought to have fought alongside the Athenians at theBattle of Tanagra. Following the allies' defeat at Tanagra in 457 BC, the alliance began to fall apart, resulting in its dissolution in 451 BC. Argos remained neutral or the ineffective ally ofAthensduring theArchidamian Warbetween Sparta and Athens. Argos' neutrality resulted in a rise of its prestige among other Greek cities, and Argos used this political capital to organize and lead an alliance against Sparta and Athens in 421 BC.This alliance includedMantinea,Corinth,Elis,Thebes, Argos, and eventually Athens. This alliance fell apart, however, after the allied loss at theBattle of Mantineain 418 BC.This defeat, combined with the raiding of the Argolid by the Epidaurians, resulted in political instability and an eventual oligarchic coup in 417 BC.Although democracy was restored within a year, Argos was left permanently weakened by this coup. This weakening led to a loss of power, which in turn led to the shift of commercial focus from the Ancient Agora to the eastern side of the city, delimited by Danaou and Agiou Konstadinou streets. Argos played a minor role in theCorinthian Warsagainst Sparta, and for a short period of time considered uniting with Corinth to form an expanded Argolid state. For a brief period of time, the two poleis combined, but Corinth quickly rebelled against Argive domination, and Argos returned to its traditional boundaries. After this, Argos continued to remain a minor power in Greek affairs. Argos escaped occupation byMacedonduring the reigns ofPhilip IIandAlexander the Greatand remained unscathed during theWars of the Diadochi, however in 272 it was attacked byPyrrhus of Epirusat theBattle of Argos, in which Pyrrhus was killed. Democracy in Classical Argos Argos was a democracy for most of the classical period, with only a brief hiatus between 418 and 416.Democracy was first established after a disastrous defeat by the Spartans at theBattle of Sepeiain 494. So many Argives were killed in the battle that a revolution ensued, in which previously disenfranchised outsiders were included in the state for the first time. Argive democracy included an Assembly (called thealiaia), a Council (thebola), and another body called 'The Eighty,' whose precise responsibilities are obscure. Magistrates served six-month terms of office, with few exceptions, and were audited at the end of their terms. There is some evidence thatostracismwas practiced. Roman and Byzantine period Thecastleon Larissa Hill. Under Roman rule, Argos was part of the province ofAchaea. While prosperous during the early principate, Argos along with much of Greece and the Balkans experienced disasters during the Crisis of the 3rd Century when external threats and internal revolts left the Empire in turmoil. During Gallienus' reign, marauding bands of Goths andHerulisailed down from the Black Sea in 267 A.D. and devastated the Greek coastline and interior. Athens, Sparta, Corinth, Thebes and Argos were all sacked. Gallienus finally cut off their retreat north and destroyed them with great slaughter at Naissus in Moesia. With the death of the last emperor over a unified Empire,Theodosius I, theVisigothsunder their leaderAlaric Idescended into Greece in 396397 A.D., sacking and pillaging as they went. Neither the eastern or western Roman warlords,Rufinus (consul)orStilicho, made an effective stand against them due to the political situation between them. Athens and Corinth were both sacked. While the exact level of destruction for Argos is disputed due to the conflicting nature of the ancient sources, the level of damage to the city and people was considerable. Stilicho finally landed in western Greece and forced the Visigoths north of Epirus.Sites said to have been destroyed in Argos include the Hypostyle hall, parts of the agora, the odeion, and the Aphrodision.In the late 7th century, it became part of theTheme of Hellas, and later of theTheme of the Peloponnese. Mythology Themythological kingsof Argos are (in order):Inachus,Phoroneus,Apis,Argus,Criasus, (Phorbas,Triopasis sometimes between Criasus and Iasus in some sources),Iasus,Agenor, (CrotopusandStheneluswas between Agenor and Gelanor in some sources),GelanorAKAPelasgus,Danaus,Lynceus,Abas,Proetus,Acrisius,Perseus,Megapenthes, (ArgeusandAnaxagorascomes after in some sources).An alternative version supplied byTatianof the original 17 consecutive kings of Argos includesApis, Argios, Kriasos andPhorbasbetween Argus and Triopas, explaining the apparent unrelation of Triopas to Argus. The city of Argos was believed to be the birthplace of the mythological characterPerseus, the son of the godZeusandDana, who was the daughter of the king of Argos,Acrisius. After the original 17 kings of Argos, there were three kings ruling Argos at the same time (seeAnaxagoras),one descended fromBias, one fromMelampus, and one fromAnaxagoras. Melampus was succeeded by his sonMantius, thenOicles, andAmphiaraus, and his house of Melampus lasted down to the brothersAlcmaeonandAmphilochus. Anaxagoraswas succeeded by his sonAlector, and thenIphis. Iphis left his kingdom to his nephewSthenelus, the son of his brotherCapaneus. Biaswas succeeded by his sonTalaus, and then by his sonAdrastuswho, with Amphiaraus, commanded the disastrous war of theSeven against Thebes.Adrastusbequeathed the kingdom to his son,Aegialeus, who was subsequently killed in the war of theEpigoni.Diomedes, grandson of Adrastus through his son-in-law Tydeus and daughterDeipyle, replaced Aegialeus and was King of Argos during the Trojan war. This house lasted longer than those ofAnaxagorasandMelampus, and eventually the kingdom was reunited under its last member, Cyanippus, son of Aegialeus, soon after the exile of Diomedes. Ecclesiastical history After Christianity became established in Argos, the first bishop documented in extant written records is Genethlius, who in 448 AD took part in the synod called byArchbishop Flavian of Constantinoplethat deposedEutychesfrom his priestly office andexcommunicatedhim. The next bishop of Argos, Onesimus, was at the 451Council of Chalcedon. His successor, Thales, was a signatory of the letter that the bishops of theRoman provinceofHellassent in 458 toByzantine EmperorLeo I the Thracianto protest the killing ofProterius of Alexandria. Bishop Ioannes was at theThird Council of Constantinoplein 680, and Theotimus at thePhotianCouncil of Constantinople (879).The local see is today theGreek OrthodoxMetropolis of Argolis. Under'Frankish' Crusader rule, Argos became aLatin Church bishopricin 1212, which lasted as a residential see until Argos was taken by theOttoman Empirein 1463but would be revived under the second Venetian rule in 1686. Today the diocese is a Catholictitular see.

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