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51-547: Ancient sources describe it as being near a small coastal village or town which straddled the stream. The river was said to run red with blood after Alexander the Great, leading his elite Companion cavalry turned the right flank of the Persians, smashed the center, and routed the Persian forces personally led by Darius III of Persia, who subsequently fled the field in a panic. Speculation on

102-510: A large round aspis cavalry shield unlike the Companions of Phillip and Alexander. 'Companions' was a title not used by the Seleucids in its original sense. It was replaced with different and various grades of 'King's Friends'. However, the title 'Companions' was kept as a regimental one. There was only one regiment or unit that held the title of Companions in the entire Hellenistic world though;

153-437: A necropolis, the city wall (see photograph), the basilicas, and the acropolis. Further excavations have since uncovered the river bridge, the gymnasium, Greek and Roman villas and numerous tombs etc. Parts of the lion monument and tombs were discovered during World War I by Bulgarian and British troops whilst digging trenches in the area. In 1934, M. Feyel, of the École française d'Athènes (EfA), led an epigraphical mission to

204-521: A new Athenian force under the general Cleon failed once more during the Battle of Amphipolis at which both Kleon and Brasidas lost their lives. Brasidas survived long enough to hear of the defeat of the Athenians and was buried at Amphipolis with impressive pomp. From then on he was regarded as the founder of the city and honoured with yearly games and sacrifices. The Athenian population remained very much in

255-459: A small town. One possible explanation provided by the historian André Boulanger is that an increasing ‘willingness’ on the part of the wealthy upper classes in the late Roman period to spend money on local gentrification projects (which he terms euergetism , from the Greek verb εὐεργετέω ; meaning 'I do good') was exploited by the local church to its advantage, which led to a mass gentrification of

306-494: Is drawn by two white horses and led to the underworld by Hermes . The mosaic verifies the Macedonian character of the tomb. As the head of one of the sphinxes was found inside the tomb behind the broken door, it is clear that there were intruders, probably in antiquity. Fragments of bones from 5 individuals were found in the cist tomb, the most complete of which is a 60+ year old woman in the deepest layer. Dr. Katerina Peristeri ,

357-429: Is evidenced by the large number of Christian churches that were built. Significantly however, these churches were built within a restricted area of the town, sheltered by the walls of the acropolis . This has been taken as evidence that the large fortified perimeter of the ancient town was no longer defendable, and that the population of the city had considerably diminished. Nevertheless, the number, size and quality of

408-684: Is most likely marked by the famous lion of Amphipolis. The importance of the city in this period is shown by Alexander the Great's decision that it was one of the six cities at which large luxurious temples costing 1,500 talents were built. Alexander prepared for campaigns here against Thrace in 335 BC and his army and fleet assembled near the port before the invasion of Asia. The port was also used as naval base during his campaigns in Asia. After Alexander's death, his wife Roxana and their young son Alexander IV were exiled by Cassander and later murdered here. Throughout Macedonian sovereignty Amphipolis

459-600: Is named after. The river starts in the hills and flows approx. 40 miles (64 km) due west to the coast. 36°45′09″N 36°11′32″E  /  36.7525°N 36.1923°E  / 36.7525; 36.1923 This article related to a river in Turkey is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Middle Eastern history –related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Companion cavalry The Companions ( Greek : ἑταῖροι , Greek: [heˈtairoi̯] , hetairoi ) were

510-547: The stratopedarches Alexios to protect the land that they had given to the monastery of Pantokrator on Mount Athos . The site was discovered and described by many travellers and archaeologists during the 19th century, including E. Cousinéry (1831) (engraver), Leon Heuzey (1861), and P. Perdrizet (1894–1899). However, excavations did not truly begin until after the Second World War. The Greek Archaeological Society under D. Lazaridis excavated in 1972 and 1985, uncovering

561-743: The Battle of Pydna in 168 BC, Amphipolis became the capital of one of the four mini-republics, or merides , which were created by the Romans out of the kingdom of the Antigonids which succeeded Alexander's empire in Macedon. These merides were gradually incorporated into the Roman client state, and later province, of Thracia . According to the Acts of the Apostles , the apostles Paul and Silas passed through Amphipolis in

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612-582: The Kasta Hill , the biggest burial mound in Greece, northeast of Amphipolis. The large size and quality of the tumulus indicates the prominence of the burials made there, and its dating and the connections of the city with Alexander the Great suggest important occupants. The perimeter wall of the tumulus is 497 m (544 yd) long, and is made of limestone covered with marble. The tomb comprises three chambers separated by walls. There are two sphinxes just outside

663-575: The Pangaion hills and the dense forests that provided timber for naval construction), and the sea routes vital for Athens' supply of grain from Scythia . A first unsuccessful attempt at colonisation was in 497 BC by the Milesian Tyrant Histiaeus . After the defeat of the Persians at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC, the Athenian general Kimon managed to occupy Eion a few km south on

714-444: The archaeological museum of Amphipolis . At the nearby vast Kasta burial mound , an ancient Macedonian tomb has recently been revealed. The Lion of Amphipolis monument nearby is a popular destination for visitors. It was located within the region of Edonis . Throughout the 5th century BC, Athens sought to consolidate its control over Thrace , which was strategically important because of its raw materials (the gold and silver of

765-441: The gymnasium and a set of well-preserved frescoes from a wealthy villa are the only artifacts from this period that remain visible. Though little is known of the layout of the town, modern knowledge of its institutions is in considerably better shape thanks to a rich epigraphic documentation, including a military ordinance of Philip V and an ephebarchic law from the gymnasium. After the final victory of Rome over Macedonia in

816-797: The Antigonids and Ptolemies had different names for their elite cavalry regiments. The Hetaireia or Hetaeria was a corps of bodyguards during the Byzantine Empire . Its name means "the Company", echoing the ancient Macedonian Companion cavalry. The imperial Hetaireia was composed chiefly of foreigners. They acted as part of the Byzantine imperial guard alongside the tagmata in the 9th–12th centuries. Amphipolis Amphipolis ( Greek : Αμφίπολη , romanized :  Amfipoli ; Ancient Greek : Ἀμφίπολις , romanized :  Amphipolis )

867-527: The Companions' role was decisive in most of his battles in Asia . The Companion cavalry of the Diadochoi (Alexandrian successor-states), were even more heavily equipped. Seleucid Companions were noted to have worn lighter, but not otherwise dissimilar, equipment to the cataphracts at the Battle of Magnesia in 190 BC, which may have included partial horse armour and leg and arm protection. Ptolemaic Companions and Antigonid Companions were also equipped with

918-462: The Companions, probably of around the mid 4th century BC, as being made of "no more than 800 at this time" and mustered "some from Macedonia, some from Thessaly and still others from the rest of Greece". By 338 BC, Alexander is reported to have had around 2600 in his Companion Cavalry. As Alexander's force campaigned towards India, barbarians played an increasing role in the Companion Cavalry and

969-485: The Great personally led the charge at the head of the royal squadron of the Companion cavalry, usually in a wedge formation . In a pitched battle, the Companions usually fought on the right wing of the Macedonian army, next to the shield-bearing guards, the hypaspists , who would guard the right flank of the phalanx. Other cavalry troops would protect the flanks of the Macedonian line during battle. Under Alexander's command,

1020-476: The Great prepared for campaigns leading to his invasion of Asia in 335 BC. Alexander's three finest admirals, Nearchus , Androsthenes and Laomedon , resided in Amphipolis. After Alexander's death, his wife Roxana and their son Alexander IV were imprisoned and murdered there in 311 BC. Excavations in and around the city have revealed important buildings, ancient walls and tombs. The finds are displayed at

1071-528: The Great, but following his execution would see the leadership split between two men, Cleitus the Black and Hephaestion . Arrian claims this would be because, Alexander "did not want anyone, not even his intimate friend, to be the centre of attention". After receiving reinforcements in Susa, Alexander established two companies in each squadron. They were referred to by the name of the territory they were mustered in or by

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1122-456: The Macedonian aristocracy or commoners of any origin who enjoyed the trust and friendship of the Macedonian regent. The Hetairideia , a festival pertaining to the sacred relationship which bound the king and his companions together was celebrated and even Euripides , the famed Athenian playwright, was honoured as an hetairos of the king Archelaus . The Royal friends ( Philoi ) or the king's Companions (basilikoi hetairoi) were named for life by

1173-407: The Macedonian king betrayed the accord, refusing to cede Amphipolis and laying siege to Pydna as well. The city was not immediately incorporated into the Macedonian kingdom, and for some time preserved its institutions and a certain degree of autonomy. The border of Macedonia was not moved further east; however, Philip sent a number of Macedonian governors to Amphipolis, and in many respects the city

1224-495: The Macedonian mutiny at Opis may have been partially caused by this. At one point, there were four hipparchies made up of entirely oriental forces and one that was a mix of Macedonians and orientals. The Companions constituted one of the first shock cavalry in history, able to conduct charges against massed infantry. Many contemporary cavalry, even when heavily armored, would most usually be equipped with javelins and would avoid melee . In this respect, Companions were similar to

1275-532: The archaeologist heading the excavation of the tomb, dates the tomb to the late 4th century BC, the period after the death of Alexander the Great (323 BC). One theory is that the tomb was built for the mother of Alexander the Great, Olympias. Restoration of the tomb is due for completion in 2023 in the course of which building materials of the grave site which were later used by the Romans elsewhere will be rebuilt in their original location. The original 7.5 km long walls are generally visible, particularly

1326-406: The central Macedonian plain and Amphipolis . During the advance on Granicus, a squadron commanded by Socrates of Macedon (not to be confused with the philosopher) hailed from Apollonia on Lake Bolbe. During the Battle of Issus , Arrian names the ile of Anthemus (modern Galatista ),; another, from the unidentified land of Leuge (likely Pieria ), is also mentioned. Theopompus describes

1377-479: The churches constructed between the 5th and 6th centuries are impressive. Four basilicas adorned with rich mosaic floors and elaborate architectural sculptures (such as the ram-headed column capitals – see picture) have been excavated, as well as a church with a hexagonal central plan which evokes that of the basilica of St Vitalis in Ravenna . It is difficult to find reasons for such municipal extravagance in such

1428-554: The city was followed by an increase in the fortification of the town, with the construction of a new rampart with pentagonal towers cutting through the middle of the remaining monuments. The acropolis, the Roman baths , and especially the episcopal basilica were crossed by this wall. The city was probably abandoned in the eighth century, as the last bishop was attested at the Second Council of Nicaea in 787. Its inhabitants probably moved to

1479-595: The coast in 476 BC, and turned it into a military base and commercial port. The Athenians founded a first colony at Ennea-Hodoi (‘Nine Ways’) in 465 BC, but the first ten thousand colonists were massacred by the Thracians . A second attempt took place in 437 BC on the same site under general Hagnon which was successful. The city and its first impressive and elaborately built walls of 7.5 km length date from this time. The new Athenian colony became quickly of considerable size and wealth. The new settlement took

1530-414: The decline of the town, during which period its inhabitants retreated to the area around the acropolis. The ramparts were maintained to a certain extent, thanks to materials plundered from the monuments of the lower city, and the large unused cisterns of the upper city were occupied by small houses and the workshops of artisans. Around the middle of the 7th century, a further reduction of the inhabited area of

1581-498: The early AD 50s, on their journey between Philippi and Thessalonica ; where hence they proselytized to the Greeks, including aporetic Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. In the 1st c. BC the city was badly damaged in the Thracian revolt against Roman rule. During the period of Late Antiquity , Amphipolis benefited from the increasing economic prosperity of Macedonia, as

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1632-482: The east, and was important for the economy and trade. It was therefore incorporated into the city walls. It was discovered in 1977 and is a unique find for Greek antiquity. The hundreds of wooden piles have been carbon-dated and show the vast life of the bridge with some piles dating from 760 BC, and others used till about 1800 AD. This was a major public building for the military and gymnastic training of youth as well as for their artistic and intellectual education. It

1683-551: The elite cavalry of the Macedonian army from the time of King Philip II of Macedon , achieving their greatest prestige under Alexander the Great , and regarded as the first or among the first shock cavalry used in Europe. Chosen Companions, or Hetairoi, formed the elite guard of the king ( Somatophylakes ). The name of the military unit derives from Greek Hetairoi , those near the king. The Hetairoi (Companions) could be members of

1734-494: The entrance to the tomb. Two of the columns supporting the roof in the first section are in the form of Caryatids , in the 4th century BC style. The excavation revealed a pebble mosaic directly behind the Caryatids and in front of the Macedonian marble door leading to the "third" chamber. The mosaic shows the allegory of the abduction of Persephone by Hades , but the persons depicted are Philip and Olympias of Macedon. Hades' chariot

1785-428: The government of Callistratus of Aphidnae . In 357 BC, Philip succeeded where the Athenians had failed and conquered the city, thereby removing the obstacle which Amphipolis presented to Macedonian control over Thrace. According to the historian Theopompus , this conquest came to be the object of a secret accord between Athens and Philip II, who would return the city in exchange for the fortified town of Pydna , but

1836-425: The king among the Macedonian aristocracy. Companion cavalry would ride the best horses, and receive the best weaponry available. In Alexander's day, each carried a xyston (long thrusting spear), and wore a bronze muscle cuirass or linothorax , shoulder guards and Boeotian helmets , but bore no shield . A kopis (curved slashing sword) or xiphos (cut and thrust sword) was also carried for close combat, should

1887-549: The location of the Pinarus has been raging for over 80 years. It was formerly believed it to be the Deli Çay , but the distances measured by Alexander's bematists and observations of the local topography, as compared to ancient descriptions, indicate that the Pinarus is actually the Payas River . The Issos River at approx. 36.30 east by 36.60 north is the geographical point that the battle

1938-468: The minority in the city and hence Amphipolis remained an independent city and an ally of the Athenians, rather than a colony or member of the Athens-led Delian League . It entered a new phase of prosperity as a cosmopolitan centre. The city itself kept its independence until the reign of king Philip II ( r.  359 – 336 BC ) despite several Athenian attacks, notably because of

1989-511: The name of Amphipolis (literally, "around the city"), a name which is the subject of much debate about its etymology . Thucydides claims the name comes from the fact that the Strymon River flows "around the city" on two sides; however a note in the Suda (also given in the lexicon of Photius ) offers a different explanation apparently given by Marsyas , son of Periander : that a large proportion of

2040-455: The name of its captain. The Royal Ile was commanded by Alexander himself and contained twice the number of soldiers the other units contained, c. 400. These cavalry squadrons would sometimes be combined in groups of two, three or four to form a hipparchy , which was commanded by a hipparch , though the whole Companion force was generally commanded by Alexander. In Alexander's Balkan campaigns, we find mention of Companions from upper Macedonia,

2091-523: The neighbouring site of ancient Eion, port of Amphipolis, which had been rebuilt and refortified in the Byzantine period under the name “ Chrysopolis ”. This small port continued to enjoy some prosperity, before being abandoned during the Ottoman period . The last recorded sign of activity in the region of Amphipolis was the construction of a fortified tower to the north in 1367 by the megas primikerios John and

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2142-460: The northern section which is preserved to a height of 7.5m. 5 preserved gates can be seen and notably the gate in front of the wooden bridge. In early Christian times another, inner, wall was built around the acropolis . The ancient bridge that crossed the river Strymon was mentioned by Thucydides, was strategic as it controlled access between Macedonia and the Chalkidike in the west to Thrace in

2193-444: The older Iranian heavy cavalry who were armed with lances and also engaged in melee combat. In battle, it would form part of a hammer and anvil tactic: the Companion cavalry would be used as a hammer, in conjunction with the Macedonian phalanx -based infantry , which acted as their anvil. The phalanx would pin the enemy in place, while the Companion cavalry would attack the enemy on the flank or from behind. In battle, Alexander

2244-597: The population lived "around the city". However, a more probable explanation is the one given by Julius Pollux : that the name indicates the vicinity of an isthmus . Amphipolis quickly became the main power base of the Athenians in Thrace and, consequently, a target of choice for their Spartan adversaries. In 424 BC during the Peloponnesian War the Spartan general Brasidas captured Amphipolis. Two years later in 422 BC,

2295-548: The site and uncovered further remains of the lion monument (a reconstruction was given in the Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique , a publication of the EfA which is available on line). The silver ossuary containing the cremated remains of Brasidas and a gold crown (see image) was found in a tomb in pride of place under the Agora. In 2012 Greek archaeologists unearthed a large tomb within

2346-511: The urban centre and of the agricultural riches of the city's territory. Amphipolis was also a diocese under the metropolitan see of Thessalonica – the Bishop of Amphipolis is first mentioned in 533. The bishopric is today listed by the Catholic Church as a titular see . The Slavic invasions of the late 6th century gradually encroached on the back-country Amphipolitan lifestyle and led to

2397-464: The xyston be lost or broken. The Companion cavalry was composed of the Hetairoi of the king, mainly upper class citizens who were able to acquire and maintain armour and horses. In the age of Philip II and Alexander they were organized into 8 territorial squadrons, termed ilai . Each ile numbered between 200 and 300 horsemen. They were originally commanded by a single leader, Philotas under Alexander

2448-460: Was a strong fortress of great strategic and economic importance, as shown by inscriptions. Amphipolis became one of the main stops on the Macedonian royal road (as testified by a border stone found between Philippi and Amphipolis giving the distance to the latter), and later on the Via Egnatia , the principal Roman road which crossed the southern Balkans. Apart from the ramparts of the lower town,

2499-507: Was an important ancient Greek polis (city) , and later a Roman city, whose large remains can still be seen. It gave its name to the modern municipality of Amphipoli , in the Serres regional unit of northern Greece . Amphipolis was originally a colony of ancient Athenians and was the site of the battle between the Spartans and Athenians in 422 BC. It was later the place where Alexander

2550-445: Was built in the 4th c. BC and includes a palaestra , the rectangular court surrounded by colonnades with adjoining rooms for many athletic functions. The covered stoa or xystos for indoor training in inclement weather is a long portico 75m long and 7m wide to allow 6 runners to compete simultaneously. There was also a parallel outdoor track, paradromida , for training in good weather and a system of cisterns for water supply. During

2601-569: Was effectively "Macedonianized". Nomenclature, the calendar and the currency (the gold stater , created by Philip to capitalise on the gold reserves of the Pangaion hills, replaced the Amphipolitan drachma ) were all replaced by Macedonian equivalents. In the reign of Alexander the Great , Amphipolis was an important naval base, and the birthplace of three of the most famous Macedonian admirals: Nearchus , Androsthenes and Laomedon , whose burial place

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