Amphipolis

Amphipolis
Ἀμφίπολις
Αμφίπολη
Amphipolis sites
Amphipolis is located in Greece
Amphipolis
Shown within Greece
LocationMacedonia, Greece
Coordinates40°49′6″N 23°50′24″E / 40.81833°N 23.84000°E / 40.81833; 23.84000
TypeSettlement
Map of Amphipolis

Amphipolis (Greek: Αμφίπολη, romanizedAmfipoli; Ancient Greek: Ἀμφίπολις, romanizedAmphipolis)[1] 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.[2]

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 the Great prepared for campaigns leading to his invasion of Asia in 335 BC.[3] Alexander's three finest admirals, Nearchus, Androsthenes and Laomedon, resided in Amphipolis. After Alexander's death,[4] his wife Roxana and their son Alexander IV were imprisoned and murdered there in 311 BC.[5][4]

Excavations in and around the city have revealed important buildings, ancient walls and tombs. The finds are displayed at 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.

  1. ^ "Amfípolis: Greece, name, administrative division, geographic coordinates and map". Geographical Names. Retrieved 2014-10-22.
  2. ^ "ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
  3. ^ "Amphipolis", Ministry of Culture: ISBN 960-214-126-3
  4. ^ a b Badian, Ernst. "Rhoxane ii Alexander's Wife". iranicaonline.org. Retrieved 2022-02-14.
  5. ^ Thirlwall, Connop (1840). A History of Greece. Longmans. pp. 318–319.