Named after Argus, one of the many children of Zeus and Niobe, Argos endured through the Bronze and Dark Ages, Classical and Hellenistic periods, and the rule of Rome, right up to Frankish and Turkish times.
Ancient Argos was built in the Late Bronze Age and situated just five kilometers from the coast on the west side of the fertile Argolid plain in the Peloponnesus, well-watered by two rivers from neighboring mountains, Larissa and Aspis, lies this enduring polis of great bounty and agricultural wealth.
But in antiquity this kingdom was a mighty rival of Sparta and there were more than 30. 000 inhabitants when Christianity came.
Most of the food was imported from other countries and city-states such as Italy, Sicily, Egypt and other city states. They invented silver coins to buy things. These coins were supported by the government and helped Argos foster a thriving marketplace.
Argos would take a position of neutrality during the earlier Persian Wars – though arguably displaying pro-Persian sentiment – and Argos did not join the Hellenic League in 481 BC.
Early in the seventh century BC, King Pheidon defeated the Spartans, presided over the Olympic Games, and made Argos the first power in Greece. This burst of power receded in the sixth century to Spartan dominance, with the Spartans taking control of Thyrea in 545 BC at the Battle of 300 Champions.
The modern city of Argos is mainly built on this elevated surface on top of the ancient habitation ruins brought to light during excavations of the French Archaeological School and the 4th Ephoria of Prehistorical and Classical Antiquities.
Ancient city of Argos
