Listed 5 sub titles with search on: History for wider area of: "EGHIO Town ACHAIA" .
EGHION (Ancient city) ACHAIA
(Achaicum Foedus; to Achaikon). The league or confederation
of a number of towns on the northwest coast of Peloponnesus. In speaking of it
we must distinguish between two periods. The former, though formed for mutual
protection, was mainly of a religious character, whereas the latter was a political
confederation to protect the towns against the domination of Macedonia.
(1) The Earlier League.--When the Heraclidae took possession
of Peloponnesus, a portion of the Achaeans, under Tisamenos, turned northwards
and took possession of the northern coast of the peninsula, which was called Aigialos:
the Ionians, who had hitherto occupied that country, sought refuge in Attica and
on the west coast of Asia Minor. The country thus occupied by the Achaeans, from
whom it derived its name of Achaia, contained twelve towns which had been leagued
together even in the time of their Ionian inhabitants. They were governed by the
descendants of Tisamenus, until, after the death of King Ogyges, they abolished
the kingly rule and established democratic institutions. The time when this happened
is not known. In the time of Herodotus the twelve towns of which the league consisted
were: Pellene, Aegeira, Aegae, Bura, Helice, Aegion, Rhypes, Patrae, Pharae, Olenos,
Dyme, and Tritaea. After the time of Herodotus, Rhypes and Aegae disappear from
the number of the confederate towns, as they had decayed and become deserted,
and Leontion and Cerynea stepped into their place. Helice appears to have been
their common place of meeting; but this town, together with Bura, was swallowed
up by the sea during an earthquake in B.C. 373, whereupon Aegion was chosen as
the place of meeting for the confederates (Strab. viii. p. 384). Of the constitution
of this league very little is known; but it is clear that the bond which united
the different towns was very loose, and less a political than a religious one.
The looseness of the connection among the towns in a political point of view is
evident from the fact that some of them acted occasionally quite independent of
the rest. The confederation generally kept aloof from the troubles of other parts
of Greece, on which accordingly it exercised no particular influence down to the
time when the league was broken up by the Macedonians. But they were nevertheless
highly respected by the other Greek states on account of their honesty, sincerity,
and wise moderation. Hence after the battle of Leuctra they were chosen to arbitrate
between the Thebans and Lacedaemonians. Demetrius, Cassander, and Antigonus Gonatas
placed garrisons in some of their towns, while in others they favoured the rising
of tyrants. The towns were thus separated from one another, and the whole confederation
was gradually destroyed.
(2) The Later League.--The ancient confederacy had thus ceased
to exist for some time when events took place which in some towns roused the ancient
spirit of independence. When in B.C. 281 Antigonus Gonatas attempted to drive
Ptolemaeus Ceraunus from the throne of Macedonia, the Achaeans availed themselves
of the opportunity of shaking off the Macedonian yoke, and renewing the old confederation.
The object, however, was no longer a common worship, but a real political union
among the towns. The places which first shook off the yoke of the oppressors were
Dyme and Patrae, and the alliance concluded between them was speedily joined by
the towns of Tritaea and Pharae. One town after another expelled the Macedonian
garrisons and tyrants; and when in B.C. 275, Aegion, the head of the ancient league,
followed the example of the other towns, the foundation of the new confederation
was complete, and the main principles of its constitution were settled, though
afterwards many changes and modifications were introduced. The fundamental laws
were that henceforth the confederacy should form one inseparable state; that every
town which should join it should have equal rights with the others; and that all
members in regard to foreign countries should be regarded as dependent, and be
bound in every respect to obey the federal government and those officers who were
intrusted with the executive. No town, therefore, was allowed to treat with any
foreign power without the sanction of the others. Aegion, for religious reasons,
was appointed the seat of the government. At Aegion, therefore, the citizens of
the various towns met at stated and regular times to deliberate upon the common
affairs of the confederation, and if necessary upon those of any separate town
or even of individuals, and to elect the officers of the league. After having
thus established a firm union among themselves, the Achaeans zealously exerted
themselves in delivering other towns also from their tyrants and oppressors. The
league, however, did not acquire any great strength until B.C. 251, when Aratus
united Sicyon, his native place, with it, and some years later also gained Corinth
for it. Megara, Troezen, and Epidaurus soon followed their example. Afterwards
Aratus prevailed upon all the more important towns of Peloponnesus to join the
confederacy, and Megalopolis, Argos, Hermione, Phlius, and others were added to
it. In a short time the league thus reached its highest power, for it embraced
Athens, Aegina, Salamis, and the whole of Peloponnesus, with the exception of
Sparta, Tegea, Orchomenus, Mantinea, and Elis. Greece seemed to revive, and promised
to become stronger and more united than ever, but it soon showed that its new
power was employed only in self-destruction and its own ruin. The Achaean League
might at one time have become a great power, and might have united at least the
whole of Peloponnesus into one State; but the original objects of the league were
in the course of time so far forgotten that it sought the protection of those
against whom it had been formed; and the perpetual discord among its members,
the hostility of Sparta, the intrigues of the Romans, and the folly and rashness
of the last strategy brought about not only the dissolution and destruction of
the confederacy, but the political annihilation of the whole of Greece in the
year B.C. 146.
This text is from: Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities. Cited Dec 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
Grammateus (grammateus). The Greek word for a writer, secretary, or clerk. At Athens the officials had numerous clerks attached to them, who were paid by the State and belonged to the poorer class of citizens. But there were several higher officials who bore the title of grammateus. The Boule, or Senate, for instance, chose one of its members by show of hands to be its clerk or secretary for one year. His duty was to keep the archives of the Senate. So, too, a secretary was chosen by lot from the whole number of senators for each prytany to draft all resolutions of the Senate. His name is therefore generally given in the decrees next to that of the president and the proposer of the decree. The name of the grammateus of the first prytany was also given with that of the archon, as a means of marking the year with more accuracy. At the meetings of the Ecclesia, a clerk, elected by the people, had to read out the necessary documents. The office of the antigrapheis, or checking clerks, was of still greater importance. The antigrapheus of the Senate, elected at first by show of hands, but afterwards by lot, had to take account of all business affecting the financial administration. The antigrapheus of the administration had to make out, and lay before the public, a general statement of income and expenditure, and exercised a certain amount of control over all financial officials. In the Aetolian and Achaean leagues the grammateus was the highest officer of the league after the strategi and hipparchi.
This text is from: Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities. Cited Oct 2003 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
Caulonia was a colony in Italy founded by Achaeans, and its founder was Typhon of Aegium. When Pyrrhus son of Aeacides and the Tarentines were at war with the Romans, several cities in Italy were destroyed, either by the Romans or by the Epeirots, and these included Caulonia, whose fate it was to be utterly laid waste, having been taken by the Campanians, who formed the largest contingent of allies on the Roman side. (Puas. 6.3.12)
RYPES (Ancient city) EGIALIA
Myscellus (Muskellos, or Muskelos), a native of Rhypes, one of the twelve divisions
of Achaia, and, according to Ovid (Metam. xv. 15) a Heraclide, and the son of
an Argive named Alemon. He led the colony which founded Crotona, B. C. 710. They
were assisted in founding the city by Archias, who was on his way to Sicily. The
colony was led forth under the sanction of the Delphic oracle, Myscellus having
previously been to survey the locality. He was so much better pleased with the
site of Sybaris, that on his return he made an unsuccessful attempt to persuade
the Delphic god to allow the colonists to select Sybaris as their place of settlement.
Respecting the choice offered to Archias and Myscellus by the oracle, and the
selection which each made, see Archia.
(Strab. vi., viii.; Dionys. ii.; Schol. ad Arist. Equit. 1089; Suidas s. v. Muskelos)
This text is from: A dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, 1873 (ed. William Smith). Cited July 2005 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
Receive our daily Newsletter with all the latest updates on the Greek Travel industry.
Subscribe now!
