Listed 6 sub titles with search on: Archaeological sites for wider area of: "MEGALOPOLIS Ancient city ARCADIA" .
MEGALOPOLIS (Ancient city) ARCADIA
A large rectangular building located on the north-eastern side of
the ancient Agora. It was built a short distance from the main area of the Agora,
on the other bank of the river Elisson.
It was used as the meeting place of the "myriad", the 10.000 members
of the Arcadic confederation. According to Pausanias, the foundation of the building
was attributed to Thersilos, around 4th century BC. The building was constructed
after the foundation of Megalopolis by Epameinondas, in 371 BC, after the defeat
of the Lacaedemonians by the Thebeans at Leuctra.
At the south side of the auditorium was a rectangular "orchestra".
Along the other three sides there were rows of wooden seats. The 65 columns supporting
the roof, were arranged in lines radiating from the center, to ensure visual contact
with the speaker.
This text is cited March 2003 from the Foundation of the Hellenic World URL below.
Region: Arcadia
Periods: Classical, Hellenistic, Roman
Type: Fortified city
Summary: One of the largest cities in the Peloponnese.
Physical Description:
One of the largest cities in the Peloponnese, Megalopolis
is located on a large plain and is bisected by the Helisson river. The city was
protected by ca. 9 km of city walls and occupied by the inhabitants of ca. 40
abandoned Arcadian villages. On the N bank the civic center of the city included
the agora, stoas, the Philippian Stoa, Sanctuary of Zeus Soter, and other civic
buildings. The S bank section of the city was the center of the Arcadian League
and the location of the Thersileion (the league's council house). The theater
in the S sector was the largest in Greece with ca. 20,000 seats.
Description:
Megalopolis was founded ca. 370 B.C. by Epaminondas of
Thebes as the capital of the Arcadian League and as a buffer city to help contain
the Spartans. During the 4th century B.C. Megalopolis politically favored Macedonia
and suffered a number of Spartan attacks. In the 3rd century the city joined the
Achaean League. In 223 B.C. the Spartans (under Cleomenes III) succeeded in taking
and destroying Megalopolis. The city was rebuilt and enjoyed some prosperity,
but never regained political power, and by the 2nd century A.D. it was a minor
town much in ruin. It was finally abandoned at the end of the Roman period.
Exploration:
Excavations in 1890-93 directed by W. Loring and others
for the British School. M. Kavallieratos excavated in 1901 and in 1962-63 cleaning
and minor excavations conducted by E. Stikas and C. Christou.
Donald R. Keller, ed.
This text is cited Oct 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains 13 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
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