city state · Greece and the Aegean

Hermione

800 BCE – 146 BCE (approx.) · capital Hermione

Coastal city of the southern Argolid, known for its sanctuary of Demeter Chthonia and its purple dye.

Origins

Hermione lay on a peninsula at the southern tip of the Argolid, facing the islands of Hydra and Spetses. Greek tradition held that its first people were Dryopes, later joined by Dorians from Argos in the early Iron Age.

Rule and society

Hermione was a small independent city living from fishing, farming and the production of purple dye from murex shells. Its sanctuary of Demeter Chthonia had a festival with a famous cattle sacrifice, and a nearby chasm was believed to be a short route to the underworld. The city sent ships to Salamis in 480 BCE and was usually a member of the Peloponnesian League.

Decline and legacy

Hermione joined the Achaean League c. 229 BCE when its tyrant Xenon stepped down, and passed under Roman control in 146 BCE. The modern town of Ermioni occupies the site.

Few sources survive for this state; details are uncertain.

Connections (2)

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Hermione. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/hermione
MLA
“Hermione.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/hermione. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Hermione.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/hermione.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Hermione’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/hermione (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻