User:Juergen Weidner/Amphipolis

Amphipolis (ancient Greek Ἀμφίπολις) was an ancient Greek polis, which existed continuously until late antiquity as an urban settlement. It extends within several kilometers around the acropolis of the ancient city. The excavations took place mainly in the period from 1956 to 1984, under the direction of the late archaeologist Dimitris Lazaridis, instead. After his death (1985) his daughter, Calliope Lazaridis, continued the work until 1989. Archaeologist Katerina Peristeri began excavations in 2012 on the Kasta hill, exposing the largest burial site ever discovered in Greece (as of December 2017). The finds from the region are exhibited in the Archaeological Museum in Amfipoli.

Location
The ancient Amphipolis is located about 80 kilometers east of Thessaloniki on the European Route 90 (E 90). The Acropolis is bordered to the south by the modern town of Amfipoli, and the individual archaeological sites are located around the Acropolis.

Prehistoric Times
The area around Amphipolis has been inhabited since the late Neolithic (4000 to 3000 BC). Finds from this period date from the so-called Hill 133. Traces of inhabitants of the Bronze Age (3000 to 1600 BC) were found in the valley of Strymon and in caves of the Pangaion Mountains. Artifacts from the late Bronze Age (1600 to 1100 BC) indicate the contact of the inhabitants with the inhabitants of Mycenae in the Peloponnese. During the Iron Age, the development of the region was influenced by travelers from Central Europe and the southeastern Balkans. During the classical period (700 to 500 BC) the settlement was proven by Thracian tribes. The grave goods from this period are of mixed origin. While jewelry and weapons come from local production, the pottery was produced in Athens or Corinth.

Attic Times
Amphipolis was founded in 437 BC. founded on the site of the settlement Ennea Hodoi (Greek Ἐννέα ὁδοί "Nine Ways") of the Athens military general Hagnon and was an important in the subsequent period Base for Athens in Thrace to take over and control the gold and silver mines in Thasitic Peraia. Its harbor at the mouth of Strymon (originally  Aioneios ) was named after an ancient Thracian settlement Eion.

Already in the year 464 v. Chr. Athens had unsuccessfully attempted to gain a foothold in the area, but had been repulsed by the [Edon Edone] tribe at the Battle of Drabeskos.

Amphipolis gained importance during the Peloponnesian War, among other things, because of the procurement of wood for shipbuilding, revenue from the mines of the area, tariffs and the strategic position.   The city was founded in 424 BC. without a fight the Spartanian general Brasidas, Thucydides,  The Peloponnesian War  4,106.  where the Athenian Strategos Thucydides, the later historian arrived too late to save the city yet for Athens; he then had to go into exile. In the year 422 BC. The Athenian General Kleon attacked Brasidas at Amphipolis. In the Battle of Amphipolis, where Sparta remained victorious, both generals died. Shortly thereafter, the Nicias Peace was closed. The inhabitants buried the Spartans inside the walls. They regarded him as the second founder of their city and worshiped him with games and ritual celebrations as Heros.

According to that of Nicias in the year 421 BC. Amphipolis was again to be put under the control of Athens; but the population of the city refused. Through several military campaigns Athens tried to enforce its rights compulsorily. General Euetion, allied with Thrace and Macedon, failed in 414 BC. When his siege of Amphipolis was unsuccessful. Other unsuccessful military actions took the generals Simmichos in 364 BC. Chr., Protomachos 370 BC Chr. And Timotheos 363 and 360/59 v. Chr. The Macedonian king Perdikkas succeeded in 362 BC. Ultimately establishing Macedonia as the protector of the city.