View source for Mygdonia (Macedon)

'''Mygdonia''' was an ancient territory, later conquered by [[Macedon]], which comprised the plains around [[Therma]] ([[Thessalonica]]) together with the valleys of Klisali and Besikia, including the area of the [[Axios]] river mouth and extending as far east as Lake [[Bolbe (lake)|Bolbe]]. To the north it was joined by [[Crestonia]]. The [[Echeidorus]], which flowed into the [[Thermaic Gulf]] near the marshes of the Axios, had its sources in Crestonia. The pass of [[Aulon]] or [[Arethusa]] was probably the boundary of Mygdonia towards [[Bisaltia]]. The maritime part of Mygdonia formed a district called [[Amphaxitis]], a distinction which first occurs in [[Polybius]], who divides all the great plain at the head of the Thermaic gulf into Amphaxitis and [[Bottaiea]], and which is found three centuries later in [[Ptolemy]]. 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 with [[Strabo]]. In another place Ptolemy includes [[Stagura]] 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 main cities of Mygdonia were [[Therma]] ([[Thessalonica]]), [[Sindus]], [[Chalastra]], [[Altus]], [[Strepsa]], [[Cissus]], [[Mellisurgis]] (today, [[Mellisourgós]]), and [[Heracleustes]]. Besides these, the following obscure towns occur in Ptolemy: ''Chaetae'', ''Moryllus'', ''Antigoneia'', ''Calindaea'', ''Boerus'', ''Physca'', ''Trepilus'', ''Carabia'', ''Xylopolis'', ''Assorus'', ''Lete'', and ''Phileres''. The early inhabitants of the area were the [[Mygdones]], who gave their name to the region. The Mygdones may have been a [[Thrace|Thracian]] tribe. Paionians and also Thracians (in particular, the Edonians) ruled and inhabited the region for a time, till it was annexed to [[Macedon]]. Today, most of Mygdonia is comprehended within the [[Thessaloniki prefecture]] [http://alexander.macedonia.culture.gr/maps/macedon/salonica/salonica.html], in [[Greece]].

==See also==
*[[Macedon]]
*[[Macedonia]] 
*[[Chalcidice]] 
*[[Thrace]]

==Reference==
*Smith, Wlliam (editor); ''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography''; (1854)

==External link==
*[http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/macedonia/mygdones/t.html Ancient Mygdonian Coinage] 

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[[Category: Ancient Macedon]]
[[Category:Ancient Greece]]