Amphipolis

Origins

The site, a loop of the lower Strymon called Ennea Hodoi (Nine Ways), had long attracted Athens; a first attempt to settle it ended in disaster around 465 BCE. In 437 BCE Hagnon founded Amphipolis there with Athenian and allied settlers, controlling the river crossing and the route to the timber and gold and silver mines of Mount Pangaion.

Rule and society

Amphipolis was a mixed community in which Athenians were a minority among other Greek settlers, which weakened loyalty to Athens. It governed itself through an assembly and magistrates, honoured Hagnon as founder and later the Spartan Brasidas, and grew rich on timber for shipbuilding, precious metals and trade with Thrace and Macedon.

Decline and legacy

Brasidas captured it in 424 BCE; both he and the Athenian Cleon died in battle there in 422 BCE. Independent afterwards and never recovered by Athens, it fell to Philip II in 357 BCE. It became a leading Macedonian city and mint, and in 167 BCE capital of one of the Four Macedonian Republics.