Argos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese,
Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it has been part of the
municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres
from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour. A settlement of great
antiquity, Argos has been continuously inhabited as at least a substantial
village for the past 7,000 years. The city is a member of the Most Ancient
European Towns Network. A resident of the city of Argos is
considered an Argive. However, this term is most often used to refer to those
ancient Greeks generally who assaulted the city of Troy during the Trojan War,
many of whom came from Argos. At a strategic location on the fertile
plain of Argolis, Argos was a major stronghold during the Mycenaean era. In
classical times Argos was a powerful rival of Sparta for dominance over the
Peloponnese, but was eventually shunned by other Greek city-states after
remaining neutral during the Greco-Persian Wars. Numerous ancient
monuments can be found in the city today, the most famous of which is the
Heraion of Argos, though agriculture is the mainstay of the local economy.
In 700 BC there were at least 5,000 people living in the city. In the fourth
century BC, the city was home to as many as 30,000 people.
Etymology The name of the city is very ancient and
several etymological theories have been proposed as an explanation to its
meaning. The most popular one maintains that the name of the city is a remainder
from the Pelasgian language, i.e. the one used by the people who first settled
in the area, in which Argos meant "plain". Alternatively, the name is
associated with Argos, the third king of the city in ancient times, who renamed
it after himself, thus replacing its older name Foronikon Asty. It is also
believed that "Argos" is linked to the word "αργός", which meant "white";
possibly, this had to do with the visual impression given of the argolic plain
during harvest time. According to Strabo, It's quite likely that the name
could have even originated from the word "αγρός" via antimetathesis of the
consonants. History
= Ancient= Foronikon Asty, the name of Argos during
prehistoric time, is by many considered to be the first town ever. The first
settlement of modern-day Argos took place in late 3rd millennium BC, during
neolithic times. Since then, it's been continually inhabited and rebuilt in the
same area, whereas it was first colonized in prehistoric times by the
Pelasgian Greeks. Their historical presence in the area can be witnessed in
the linguistic remainders that survive up to today, such as the very name of
the city and "Larisa", the name of the city's castle located on the hill of the
same name, meaning "citadel". During the Dorian invasion, circa 1098 BC, Argos
was divided into four neighbourhoods, each of them inhabited by a different
phyle. A Neolithic settlement was located near
the central sanctuary of Argois, at a distance of 45 stadia from Argos, closer
to Mycenae. The temple was dedicated to "Argivian Hera". The main festival of
that temple was the Hekatombaia, one of the major festivals of Argos itself.
Walter Burkert connected the festival to the myth of the slaying of Argus
Panoptes by Hermes, and only secondarily associated with mythological Argus.
Argos was a major stronghold of Mycenaean times, and along with the
neighbouring acropolis of Mycenae and Tiryns became a very early settlement
because of its commanding positions in the midst of the fertile plain of
Argolis. Argos experienced its greatest period of expansion and power under the
energetic 7th century BC ruler King Pheidon. Under Pheidon Argos regained
sway over the cities of the Argolid and challenged Sparta’s dominance of the
Peloponnese. During this time of its greatest power, the city boasted a
pottery and bronze sculpturing school, pottery shops, tanneries and clothes
artisanships. Moreover, at least 25 celebrations took place in the city, in
addition to a regular local products exhibition.
During Homeric times it belonged to a follower of Agamemnon and gave its name
to the surrounding district; the Argolid which the Romans knew as Argeia.
The importance of Argos was eclipsed by Sparta after the 6th century BC; because
of its refusal to fight or send supplies in the Greco-Persian Wars, Argos was
shunned by most other city-states. Argos remained neutral or the ineffective ally
of Athens during the 5th century BC struggles between Sparta and Athens.
= Roman, Byzantine and Modern= After Christianity became established in
Argos, the first bishop documented in extant written records is Genethlius,
who in 448 CE took part in the synod called by Archbishop Flavian of
Constantinople that deposed Eutyches from his priestly office and
excommunicated him. The next bishop of Argos, Onesimus, was at the 451 Council
of Chalcedon. His successor, Thales, was a signatory of the letter that the
bishops of the Roman province of Hellas sent in 458 to Byzantine Emperor Leo I
the Thracian to protest about the killing of Proterius of Alexandria.
Bishop Ioannes was at the Third Council of Constantinople in 680, and Theotimus
at the Photian Council of Constantinople.
In the aftermath of the so-called Fourth Crusade, the Crusaders captured the
castle called built on Larissa Hil, the site of the ancient Acropolis, and the
area become part of the lordship of Argos and Nauplia. In 1388 it was sold
to the Republic of Venice, but was taken by the despot of Mystra Theodore I
Palaiologos before the Venetians could take control of the city; he sold it
anyway to them in 1394. In this period, Argos became a Latin
Church bishopric, which lasted as a residential see until Argos was taken by
the Ottoman Empire in 1463. Today, Argos is listed by the Catholic Church as a
titular see. In 1397, the Ottomans plundered Argos,
carrying off much of the population, to sell as slaves. The Venetians
repopulated the town and region with Albanian settlers, granting them
long-term agrarian tax exemptions. Together with the Greeks of Argos, they
supplied stratioti troops to the armies of Venice. Some historians consider the
French military term "argoulet" to derive from the Greek "argetes", or
inhabitant of Argos, as a large number of French stratioti came from the plain
of Argos. With the exception of a period of
Venetian domination in 1687–1715, Argos remained in Ottoman hands until the
beginning of the Greek War of Independence in 1821.
At that time, as part of the general uprising, many local governing bodies
were formed in different parts of the country, and the "Consulate of Argos"
was proclaimed on 28 March 1821, under the Peloponnesian Senate. It had a
single head of state, Stamatellos Antonopoulos, styled "Consul", between
28 March and 26 May 1821. Later, Argos accepted the authority of
the unified Provisional Government of the First National Assembly at
Epidaurus, and eventually became part of the Kingdom of Greece.
As part of Greek mythology The mythological kings of Argos are:
Inachus, Phoroneus, Argus, Triopas, Agenor, Iasus, Crotopus, Pelasgus,
Danaus, Lynceus, Abas, Proetus, Acrisius, Perseus, Megapenthes, Argeus,
and Anaxagoras. An alternative version supplied by Tatian of the original 17
consecutive kings of Argos includes Apis, Argios, Kriasos, and Phorbas
between Argus and Triopas, explaining the apparent unrelation of Triopas to
Argus. The city of Argos was believed to be the
birthplace of the mythological character Perseus, the son of the god Zeus and
Danaë, who was the daughter of the king of Argos, Acrisius.
After the original 17 kings of Argos, there were three kings ruling Argos at
the same time, one descended from Bias, one from Melampus, and one from
Anaxagoras. Melampus was succeeded by his son Mantius, then Oicles, and
Amphiaraus, and his house of Melampus lasted down to the brothers Alcmaeon and
Amphilochus. Anaxagoras was succeeded by his son
Alector, and then Iphis. Iphis left his kingdom to his nephew Sthenelus, the son
of his brother Capaneus. Bias was succeeded by his son Talaus,
and then by his son Adrastus who, with Amphiaraus, commanded the disastrous
Seven Against Thebes. Adrastus bequeathed the kingdom to his son,
Aegialeus, who was subsequently killed in the war of the Epigoni. Diomedes,
grandson of Adrastus through his son-in-law Tydeus and daughter Deipyle,
replaced Aegialeus and was King of Argos during the Trojan war. This house lasted
longer than those of Anaxagoras and Melampus, and eventually the kingdom was
reunited under its last member, Cyanippus, son of Aegialeus, soon after
the exile of Diomedes. City characteristics
The city of Argos is delimited to the north by dry river Xerias, to the east
by Inachos river and Panitsa stream, to the west by the Larissa hill and the
Aspidos Hill, and to the south by the Notios Periferiakos road.
The Agios Petros square, along with the eponymous cathedral, make up the town
centre, whereas some other characteristic town squares are the
Laiki Agora square, officially Dimokratias square, where, as implied by
its name, an open market takes place twice a week, Staragora, officially
Dervenakia square, and Dikastirion square. The Park and Boni's Park are
essential green spaces of the city. Currently, the most commercially active
streets of the city are those surrounding the Agios Petros square as
well as Korinthou street. The Pezodromi, i.e. the paved Michael Stamou, Tsaldari
and Venizelou streets, are the most popular meeting point, encompassing a
wide variety of shops and cafeterias. According to the 2011 Greek census, the
city has a population of 22,209. It is the largest city in Argolis, larger than
the capital Nafplio. Considerable remains of the ancient and medieval city
survive and are a popular tourist attraction. Agriculture, however, is the
primary economic activity in the area, with citrus fruits the predominant crop.
Important monuments Argos flaunts a wide variety of
historical and archaeological monuments, though most of them are currently only
partially renovated, unused or abandoned. Some of them are:
The Larisa castle, built during prehistoric time, which has undergone
several repairs and expansions since antiquity and played a significant
historical role during the Venetian domination of Greece and the Greek War
of Independence. It is located on top of the omonymous Larisa Hill, which also
constitutes the highest spot of the city. In ancient times, a castle was
also found in neighbouring Aspidos Hill. When connected with walls, these two
castles fortified the city from enemy invasions.
The Ancient theatre, built in the 3rd century B.C with a capacity of 20,000
spectators, replaced an older neighbouring theatre of the 5th century
BC and communicated with the Ancient Agora. It was visible from any part of
the ancient city and the Argolic gulf. In 1829, it was used by Ioannis
Kapodistrias for the Fourth National Assembly of the new Hellenic State.
Today, cultural events are held at its premises during the summer months.
The Ancient Agora, adjacent to the Ancient theatre, which developed in the
6th century B.C., was located at the junction of the ancient roads coming
from Corinth, Heraion and Tegea. Escavations in the area have uncovered a
bouleuterion, built in 460 B.C. when Argos adopted the democratic regime, a
Sanctuary of Apollo Lyceus and a palaestra.
The "Criterion" of Argos, an ancient monument located on the southwest side
of the town, on the foot of Larissa hill, which came to have its current
structure during the 6th-3rd century BC period. Initially, it served as a court
of ancient Argos, similar to Areopagus of Athens. According to mythology, it
was at this area where Hypermnestra, one of the 50 daughters of Danaus, the first
king of Argos, was tried. Later, under the reigns of Hadrian, a fountain was
created to collect and circulate water coming from the Hadrianean aqueduct
located in northern Argos. The site is connected via a paved path with the
ancient theatre. The Barracks of Kapodistrias, a
preservable building with a long history. Built in the 1690s during the
Venetian domination of Greece, they initially served as a hospital run by
the Sisters of Mercy. During the Tourkokratia, they served as a market
and a post office. Later, in 1829, significant damage caused during the
Greek revolution was repaired by Kapodistrias who turned the building
into a cavalry barrack, a school, an exhibition space, a shelter for Greek
refugees displaced during the population exchange between Greece and Turkey and
an interrogation and torture space. In 1955-68, it was used by the army for the
last time; it now accommodates the Byzantine Museum of Argos, local
corporations and also serves as an exhibition space.
The Municipal Neoclassical Market building, built in 1889, which is
located next to Dimokratias square, is one of the finest samples of modern
Argos' masterly architecture, in Ernst Ziller style. The elongated, two
corridor, preservable building accommodates small shops.
The old Town Hall, built during the time of Kapodistrias in 1830, which
originally served as a Justice of the peace, the Dimogerontia of Argos, an Arm
of Carabineers and a prison. From 1987 to 2012, it housed the Town Hall which
is now located in Kapodistriou street. The House of philhellene Thomas Gordon,
built in 1829 that served as an all-girls school, a dance school and was
home to the 4th Greek artillery regiment. Today it accommodates the
French Institute of Athens. The House of Spyridon Trikoupis, where
the politician was born and spent his childhood. Also located in the estate,
which is not open to public, is the Saint Charalambos chapel where Trikoupis
was baptized. The House of general Tsokris, important
military fighter in the Greek revolution of 1821 and later assemblyman of Argos.
The chambered tombs of the Aspidos hill. The Hellinikon Pyramid. Dating back to
late 4th B.C., there exist many theories as to the purpose it served. Together
with the widely accepted scientific chronology, there are some people who
claim it was built shortly after the Pharaoh tomb, i.e. the Great Pyramid of
Giza, thus a symbol of the excellent relationship the citizens of Argos had
with Egypt. The Argos airport, located in an
omonymous area in the outskirts of the city. The area was created in 1916-1917
and was greatly used during the Greco-Italian War and for the training
of new, Kaberos school, aviators for the Hellenic Air Force Academy, whereas it
also comprised an important benchmark in the organization of the Greek air forces
in southern Greece. Furthermore, the airport was used by the Germans for the
release of their aerial troops during the Battle of Crete. It was last used as
a landing/take off point for spray planes up until 1985.
A great number of archaeological findings, dating from the prehistoric
ages, can be found at the Argos museum, housed at the old building of Dimitrios
Kallergis at Saint Peter's square. = Transportation=
Argos is connected via regular bus services with neighbouring areas as well
as Athens. In addition, taxi stands can be found at the Agios Petros as well as
the Laiki Agora square. The city also has a railway station which, at the
moment, remains closed due to an indefinite halt to all railway services
in the Peloponnese area by the Hellenic Railways Organisation. However, in late
2014, it was announced that the station would open up again, as part of an
expansion of the Athens suburban railway in Argos, Nafplio and Korinthos.
Education Argos has a wide range of educational
institutes that also serve neighbouring sparsely populated areas and villages.
In particular, the city has seven dimotika, four gymnasia, three lyceums,
one vocational school, one music school as well as a Touristical Business and
Cooking department and a post-graduate ASPETE department. The city also has two
public libraries. Sports
Argos hosts two sport clubs with presence in higher national divisions
and several achievements, Panargiakos F.C. football club, founded in 1926 and
AC Diomidis Argous handball club founded in 1976. Diomidis Argos is the unique
provincial Greek sport club with European cup.
Notable people Acrisius, mythological king
Agamemnon, legendary leader of the Achaeans in the Trojan War.
Acusilaus, logographer and mythographer Ageladas, sculptor
Calchas, Homeric mythological seer Karanos, founder of the Macedonian
Argead Dynasty. Leo Sgouros, Byzantine despot
Nikon the Metanoeite, Christian saint of Armenian origin, according to some
sources born in Argos Pheidon, king of Argos
Argus, king of Argos Polykleitos, sculptor
Polykleitos the Younger, sculptor Telesilla, Greek poet
Bilistiche, hetaira and lover of pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphus
Eleni Bakopanos, Canadian politician International relations
= Twin towns — sister cities= Argos is twinned with:
Veria, Greece Abbeville, France
Ardea, Italy Episkopi, Cyprus
Mtskheta, Georgia Argoncilhe, Portugal
= Other relations= Most Ancient European Towns Network
See also Kings of Argos
List of settlements in Argolis Communities of Argos
Argos Notes
External links Official site
The Theatre at Argos, The Ancient Theatre Archive, Theatre specifications
and virtual reality tour of theatre