Caranus (king)
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This is about the mythological king. For other uses, see Caranus
Caranus or Karanus (Greek:Κάρανος) 808- 778 BC) was the first king of ancient Macedon according to later traditions. According to Herodotus the first king was Perdicas. King Karanus is first reported by Theopompus[1] (FGrH, No. 115, Frag. 393)
According to Greek myth, Karanus was one of King Temenus' sons. Temenus, along with Cresphontes and Aristodemus were the three Doric leaders who invaded the Mycenean Peloponnese region. Then they proceeded to divide the conquered territories between them. Cresphontes was given Messenia and Sparta; Aristodemus took Laconia; and finally Temenos was given Argos. Following the death of King Temenos, the Princes argued about who should be king. One of them, Pheidon, defeated his brothers in battle and took over as kingship. Karanos then, decided to find another kingdom of his own, where he could be King. First, however he went to the Oracle of Delphi to ask Pythias' advice. "You should find your kingdom there, were you will find plenty of game and domestic animals, was her advice." Thus Karanos and his entourage moved to the North, in search of suitable land to establish his new kingdom. Finally, he discovered a green valley, with a lot of game and goats, whereupon he thought that the prophecy of Pythia has been fulfilled. Thus he built a city there, which he named "AIGAE", (Greek: Aiga-goat), present day Vergina, a site of substantial archaeological activity, as numerous important findings have been unearthed.
Accorging to Justin (7.1) citing Marsyas of Pella
| “ | Caranus also came to Emathia with a large band of Greeks, being instructed by an oracle to seek a home in Macedonia. Here, following a herd of goats running from a downpour, he seized the city of Edessa, the inhabitants being taken unawares because of heavy rain and dense fog. Remembering the oracle’s command to follow the lead of goats in his quest for ar empire, Caranus established the city as his capital, and thereafter he made it a solemn observance, wheresoever he took his army, to keep those same goats before his standards in order in have as leaders in his exploits the animals which he had had with him to found the kingdom. He gave the city of Edessa the name Aegae and its people the name Aegeads in memory of this service | ” |
According to Chronicon (Eusebius)
| “ | Before the first Olympiad, Caranus was moved by ambition to collect forces from the Argives and from the rest of the Peloponnese, in order to lead an army into the territory of the Macedonians. At that time the king of the Orestae was at war with his neighbours, the Eordaei, and he called on Caranus to come to his aid, promising to give him half of his territory in return, if the Orestae were successful. The king kept his promise, and Caranus took possession of the territory; he reigned there for 30 years, until he died in old age. He was succeeded by his son Coenus, who was king for 28 years | ” |
[edit] References
- ^ Theopompus the Historian Page 270 By Gordon Spencer Shrimpton ISBN 0773508376
[edit] See also
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