Mygdonia Μυγδονία (Mygdonía) | |
|---|---|
Historical region | |
 Interactive map of Mygdonia | |
| Country | Greece |
| Established | Ancient times |
| Population | |
| • Ethnicities | Ancient Macedonians |
| • Languages | Ancient Greek |
Mygdonia (/mɪɡˈdoʊniə/;Greek:Μυγδονία,romanized: Mygdonia) was an ancient territory, part of ancientThrace, later conquered byMacedon, which comprised the plains aroundTherma (Thessalonica) together with the valleys of Klisali and Besikia, including the area of theAxios river mouth and extending as far east as LakeBolbe. To the north it was joined byCrestonia. TheEcheidorus, which flowed into theThermaic Gulf near the marshes of the Axios, had its sources in Crestonia. The pass ofAulon orArethusa was probably the boundary of Mygdonia towardsBisaltia. The maritime part of Mygdonia formed a district calledAmphaxitis, a distinction which first occurs inPolybius, who divides all the great plain at the head of the Thermaic gulf into Amphaxitis andBottiaea, and which is found three centuries later inPtolemy. The latter introduces Amphaxitis twice under the subdivisions of Macedonia (in one instance placing the mouths of the Echidorus and Axios in Amphaxitis, and mentioning Thessalonica as the only town in the district, which agrees with Polybius and withStrabo). In another place Ptolemy includesStageira and Arethusa in Amphaxitis, which, if correct, would indicate that a portion of Amphaxitis, very distant from the Axios, was separated from the remainder by a part of Mygdonia; but since this is improbable, the word is perhaps an error of the text.
The area has been inhabited since theMesolithic era (9000–7000 BC). Early inhabitants probably were thePelasgians, followed by theMygdones, who gave their name to the region. The Mygdones may have been aBrigian orThracian tribe.[1]Paeonians and alsoThracians (in particular, theEdonians) ruled and inhabited the region for a time, until it was annexed toMacedon.
Mygdonia and the Mygdones were named afterMygdon, a mythological figure considered to be a son ofAres andCallirrhoe, according toStephanus of Byzantium. His brothers,Edonus,Odomantus andBiston, had other regions and their peoples named after them as well, and so did his sons, Crusis andGrastus.[2]
The main cities of Mygdonia wereTherma (Thessalonica),Sindus,Chalastra,Altus,Strepsa,Cissus,Mellisurgis (today,Mellisourgós), andHeracleustes. According to theActs of the Apostles, the town ofApollonia was visited by the apostlesPaul andSilas.[3] Besides these, the following obscure towns occur in Ptolemy:Chaetae,Moryllus,Antigoneia (which actually refers toAntigonia Psaphara in theChalcidice[4]),Calindaea,Boerus,Physca,Trepilus,Carabia,Xylopolis,Assorus,Lete,Phileres,Dicaea,Aeneia andArethusa.
Today, most of Mygdonia is comprehended within theThessaloniki regional unit, inGreece.[5] TheMygdonia municipal unit is named after the ancient region, however it encompasses a much smaller area, consisting of the communities ofDrymos,Liti andMelissochori, a total area of about 100 km2.[6] It includes sites of archaeological interest, such asLete andDerveni. It used to be a municipality of its own, though since 2011 it is part of the municipality ofOraiokastro.[7]
Media related toMygdonia at Wikimedia Commons
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