Argos

This article is about the city in Greece. For the catalog retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland, see Argos (retailer). For other uses, see Argos (disambiguation).
Argos
Άργος

View of Argos, seen from the ancient theatre

Seal
Argos

Coordinates: 37°37′N 22°43′E / 37.617°N 22.717°E / 37.617; 22.717Coordinates: 37°37′N 22°43′E / 37.617°N 22.717°E / 37.617; 22.717
Country Greece
Administrative region Peloponnese
Regional unit Argolis
Municipality Argos-Mykines
Government
 • Mayor Dimitrios Kamposos
 • Municipal unit 138.138 km2 (53.335 sq mi)
Elevation 42 m (138 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Municipal unit 22,209
 • Municipal unit density 160/km2 (420/sq mi)
Community
 • Population 24700
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code 21200
Area code(s) 2751
Vehicle registration AP
Website www.argos.gr

Argos (/ˈɑːrɡɒs, -ɡəs/; Modern Greek: Άργος [ˈarɣos]; Ancient Greek: Ἄργος [árɡos]) is a city and a former municipality, former bishopric and present Latin Catholic titular see 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.[2] It is 11 kilometres (7 miles) 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.[3] The city is a member of the Most Ancient European Towns Network.[4]

A resident of the city of Argos is considered an Argive (pronounced /ˈɑːrɡaɪv/, "AHR-gahyv"). However, this term is also used to refer to those ancient Greeks generally who assaulted the city of Troy during the Trojan War; the term is more widely applied by the Homeric bards.

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.[5] Numerous ancient monuments can be found in the city today, the most famous of which is the Heraion of Argos, though agriculture (particularly citrus production) is the mainstay of the local economy.

In 700 BC there were at least 5,000 people living in the city.[6] In the fourth century BC, the city was home to as many as 30,000 people.[7]

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 (Φορωνικόν Άστυ). It is also believed that "Argos" is linked to the word "αργός" (argós), which meant "white"; possibly, this had to do with the visual impression given of the argolic plain during harvest time. According to Strabo, the name could have even originated from the word "αγρός" (=field) by antimetathesis of the consonants.[8]

History

Antiquity

The Heraion of Argos
Ancient Peloponnese
View of the ancient theatre

Foronikon Asty (City of Phoroneus), the name of Argos during prehistoric time, is by many considered to be the first town ever.[9][10] 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".[11] During the Dorian invasion, c. 1100 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 (8 km; 5 miles) from Argos, closer to Mycenae. The temple was dedicated to "Argive 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 ("shimmering" or "slow"), and only secondarily associated with mythological Argus (or the toponym).[12]

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 workshops, tanneries and clothes producers. Moreover, at least 25 celebrations took place in the city, in addition to a regular local products exhibition.[13]

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, Crusader, Ottoman rule and independence

The castle on Larissa Hill.

Under Rome, Argos was part of Achaia province, and after its division of Peleponnesus Secundus, where it was a suffragan bishopric of its capital Corinth's Metropolitan archbishop.

In the aftermath of the so-called Fourth Crusade, the Crusaders captured the castle called built on Larissa Hill, 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 (Morea) Theodore I Palaiologos before the Venetians could take control of the city; he sold it anyway to them in 1394. The Crusaders established a Latin bishopric.

In 1397, the Ottomans plundered Argos, carrying off much of the population,[14] to sell as slaves.[15] The Venetians repopulated the town and region with Albanian settlers,[15] granting them long-term agrarian tax exemptions.[14] Together with the Greeks of Argos, they supplied stratioti troops to the armies of Venice.[14] 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.[16]

The old Dimarhio (City Hall) in 2002; built in 1830, it served as the headquarters of municipal government until 2012
The church of the Kimisis (Dormition) of the Virgin

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.

Argos in Greek mythology

The mythological kings of Argos are (in order): Inachus, Phoroneus, Argus, Triopas, Agenor, Iasus, Crotopus, Pelasgus (aka Gelanor), 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.[17]

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 (see Anaxagoras), 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.

Ecclesiastical history

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 (879).[18]

For the Orthodox succession, see Metropolis of Argolis.

Under 'Frankish' Crusader rule, Argos became a Latin Church bishopric in 1212, which lasted as a residential see until Argos was taken by the Ottoman Empire in 1463 [19] but would be revived under the second Venetian rule in 1686.

Suffragan Latin Bishops of Argos

Titular Latin see

Today, Argos is listed by the Catholic Church as a titular see [20] since the diocese was nominally restored as a Latin Catholic titular bishopric in the 17th century.

It is vacant for decades, having had the following incumbents, all of the fitting episcopal (lowest) rank :

City characteristics

The city of Argos is delimited to the north by dry river Xerias, to the east by Inachos river and Panitsa stream (which emanates from the latter), to the west by the Larissa hill (site of homonymous castle and of a monastery called Panagia Katakekrymeni-Portokalousa) and the Aspidos Hill (unofficially Prophetes Elias hill), and to the south by the Notios Periferiakos road.

The Agios Petros (Saint Peter) square, along with the eponymous cathedral (dedicated to saint Peter the Wonderworker), make up the town centre, whereas some other characteristic town squares are the Laiki Agora (Open Market) square, officially Dimokratias (Republic) square, where, as implied by its name, an open market takes place twice a week, Staragora (Wheat Market), officially Dervenakia square, and Dikastirion (Court) square. The Park (adjacent to the central square) 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 (Kapodistriou, Danaou, Vasileos Konstantinou streets) as well as Korinthou street. The Pezodromi (Pedestrian Streets), 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:

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

The railway station

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.[29][30]

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 (primary schools), four gymnasia (junior high), three lyceums (senior high), 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.[31]

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.

Sport clubs based in Tripoli
Club Founded Sports Achievements
Panargiakos F.C. 1926 Football Earlier presence in Beta Ethniki
AC Diomidis Argous1976Handball Panhellenic and European titles in Greek handball

Notable locals

International relations

Twin towns & sister cities

Argos is twinned with:

Other relations

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
  2. ↑ Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (Greek)
  3. ↑ Bolender, Douglas J. (2010-09-17). Eventful Archaeologies: New Approaches to Social Transformation in the Archaeological Record. SUNY Press. pp. 121–. ISBN 978-1-4384-3423-0. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  4. ↑ MAETN (1999). "diktyo". classic-web.archive.org. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  5. ↑ Roberts, John (2005). Dictionary of the Classical World. Oxford University Press. p. 66. ISBN 978-0-19-280146-3.
  6. ↑ Urbanism in the Preindustrial World: Cross-Cultural Approaches, p. 37, at Google Books
  7. ↑ Geology and Settlement: Greco-Roman Patterns, p. 124, at Google Books
  8. ↑ http://argolikivivliothiki.gr/2010/09/27/%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%82-%CE%B5%CF%84%CF%85%CE%BC%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-%CE%BF%CE%BD%CF%8C%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%82/
  9. ↑ http://argolikivivliothiki.gr/tag/%CF%86%CE%BF%CF%81%CF%89%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%8C-%CE%AC%CF%83%CF%84%CF%85/
  10. ↑ https://alphalinenet.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/ceb1cebdceacceb3cebdcf89cf83ceb7-cf84ceb7cf82-cf80cf8ccebbceb7cf82-cf89cf82-cf85cf80ceb5cf81ceb2ceb1cf84ceb9cebacf8c-cebaceb5ceafcebc.pdf
  11. 1 2 http://www.kastra.eu/castlegr.php?kastro=argos
  12. ↑ Homo necans, p. 185
  13. ↑ http://argolika.gr/index.php/2014-25-96-44-85-11/2013-44-34-89-23-12/2013-10-18-08-30-27/5330-methysoi-kleftes-sykofantes
  14. 1 2 3 Contingent countryside: settlement, economy, and land use in the southern Argolid since 1700 Authors Susan Buck Sutton, Keith W. Adams, Argolid Exploration Project Editors Susan Buck Sutton, Keith W. Adams Contributor Keith W. Adams Edition illustrated Publisher Stanford University Press, 2000 ISBN 0-8047-3315-5, ISBN 978-0-8047-3315-1 page 28
  15. ↑ Pappas, Nicholas C. J. "Stradioti: Balkan Mercenaries in Fifteenth and Sixteenth Century Italy". Sam Houston State University.
  16. ↑ James Cowles Prichard : An Analysis of the Egyptian Mythology. 1819. p. 85
  17. ↑ Michel Lequien, Oriens christianus in quatuor Patriarchatus digestus, Paris 1740, Vol. II, coll. 183-186
  18. ↑ Konrad Eubel, Hierarchia Catholica Medii Aevi, vol. 1, p. 105-106; vol. 2, pp. XIV e 94; vol. 3, p. 117; vol. 4, p. 94; vol. 5, p. 98
  19. ↑ Annuario Pontificio 2013 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2013 ISBN 978-88-209-9070-1), p. 838
  20. ↑ http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/2/gh251.jsp?obj_id=733
  21. ↑ http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/gh355.jsp?obj_id=2567
  22. ↑ http://argolikivivliothiki.gr/tag/%CE%B1%CE%B4%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%AC%CE%BD%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%BF-%CF%85%CE%B4%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%B3%CF%89%CE%B3%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%BF/
  23. ↑ http://argolikivivliothiki.gr/2008/10/24/%CF%83%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B1%CF%84%CF%8E%CE%BD%CE%B5%CF%82-%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%80%CE%BF%CE%B4%CE%AF%CF%83%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%B1-%E2%80%93-%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%82/
  24. ↑ http://argolikivivliothiki.gr/2011/11/16/%CE%B4%CE%B7%CE%BC%CE%BF%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE-%CE%BD%CE%B5%CE%BF%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%B1%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE-%CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%AC-%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%85%CF%82/
  25. ↑ http://argolikivivliothiki.gr/2008/11/16/%CE%BF%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CE%B3%CF%8C%CF%81%CE%B4%CF%89%CE%BD%CE%BF%CF%82-%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%82/
  26. ↑ http://argolika.gr/index.php/2014-25-96-44-85-11/2013-44-34-89-23-12/2013-10-18-08-30-27/6099-i-oikia-trikouph-xtisthke-to-1900
  27. ↑ http://argolikivivliothiki.gr/2010/01/12/h-%CF%83%CF%87%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%AE-%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AC%CF%81%CF%89%CE%BD-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF-%CE%B1%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%B4%CF%81%CF%8C%CE%BC%CE%B9%CE%BF-%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%85/
  28. ↑ http://argolika.gr/index.php/2014-02-07-12-13-14/2013-10-18-08-28-40/2013-10-18-08-29-25/4115-maniaths-se-3-mhnes-o-proastiakos-sto-nafplio
  29. ↑ http://sidirodromikanea.blogspot.gr/2015/01/blog-post_64.html
  30. ↑ http://argolikivivliothiki.gr/2008/11/16/%CE%BC%CE%AD%CE%B3%CE%B1%CF%81%CE%BF-%C2%AB%CE%B4%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B1%CE%BF%CF%8D%C2%BB-%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%82/
  31. ↑ "Twinnings" (PDF). Central Union of Municipalities & Communities of Greece. Retrieved 2013-08-25.

Sources and external links

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