Irlandos at 10:17, January 22, 2007

2007-01-22T10:17:54Z

New page

'''Pydna''' (in [[Greek language|Greek]]: Πύδνα), also '''Pidna''' was a Greek city in ancient [[Macedon]], the most important in [[Pieria]]. Modern Pydna is a rural municipality and coastal town in the northeastern part of the [[Prefecture]] of [[Pieria]]. Pydna is situated in fertile land to the north of the Pierian plain. Hills and mountains dominate the west, while beaches and the [[Thermian Gulf]] dominate the east. Pydna is linked with [[Greece Interstate 1|GR-1]]/[[E75]] through its interchange to its west and in Kitros. The old highway ran through Pydna. It is located N of [[Larisa]], NE of [[Katerini]], ESE of [[Veria]] and WSW of [[Thessaloniki]].

==Nearest places==

*[[Methone (Pieria)|Methone]], north
*[[Korinos]], southwest
*[[Katerini]], southwest (County Town)

==Ancient Pydna==

Pydna was already subject to Macedon under [[Alexander I of Macedon|Alexander I]] ([[Thucydides]] I.131.1), but later regained its independence. It was besieged by the [[Athens|Athenians]] in [[432 BC]]. Pydna was brought back under Macedonian rule in [[410 BC]] by [[Archelaus I of Macedon|Archelaus]], who reestablished the city twenty stadia further inland ([[Diodorus of Sicily]] 13.14). The Athenians seized Pydna in [[364 BC]], only to have it retaken eight years later by [[Philip II of Macedon]], in spite of a secret agreement that bound it to Athens. [[Cassander]] besieged and captured Pydna in [[317 BC]] and had the queen mother, [[Olympias]], who had taken refuge there, put to death.

The [[Battle of Pydna]] ([[June 22]], [[168 BC]]), in which the Roman general Aemilius Paulus defeated King [[Perseus of Macedon|Perseus]], ended the reign of the [[Antigonid dynasty]] over Macedon.

The site of the city is disputed but may correspond, according to epigraphic evidence agreeing with [[Byzantine empire|Byzantine]] tradition, to the village of [[Kitros]] rather than to [[Alonia]].

Pydna is the location of a Macedonian tomb discovered and explored by León Heuzey during his archaeological expedition in 1867.

==Modern Pydna==

Pydna today is a town that is located near the archaeological site.

==Other==

Pydna has Primary and Secondary schools, banks, a post office, sports facilities, beaches located to the east, and traditional Greek "Plateia" - town and village "squares". (''plateies'').

==Historical population==
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Year !! Population !! Change !! Municipal (Provincial) or Island population !! Change 
|-
| [[1981]] || 1,882 || - || - || - 
|-
| [[1991]] || 1,789 || - || 4,678 || - 
|}

==References==

*Léon Heuzey, H. Daumet, ''Mission archéologique de Macédoine'' (''Archaeological Mission in Macedonia''), Paris, 1876, 239-266.
*R. Danoff, ''RE'' s. v. "Pydna", Suppl. X (1965), 833-842.

==External links==
*[http://www.livius.org Livius], [http://www.livius.org/ps-pz/pydna/pydna.html Pydna] by Jona Lendering (ancient history of Pydna)
*[http://www.culture.gr/2/21/211/21116/e211pa13.html Ancient Pydna]
*http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/history/A0840609.html
*[http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?tb=1&city=Pydna&country=GR Mapquest - Pydna], street map not yet available
*[http://www.musesnet.gr/etimes/BATTLE%20OF%20PYDNA.htm] The Battle of Pydna
*[http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/macedonianwars/articles/pydna.aspx The Third Macedonian War and the Battle of Pydna (168 BC)] by John Foss

== See also ==

*[[Communities of Pieria]]

{{Credit wikipedia}}

[[Category:Ancient Greek cities]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Greece]]
[[Category:Pieria prefecture]]

Pydna - Revision history

Irlandos at 10:17, January 22, 2007