Troas, Larissa-Ptolemais
400-300 BCE
AE 16mm 3.89g
Female head in sakkos left
Amphora, kerykeion to left, grape bunch above, grain to right
BMC 3

Although most ancient scholars believe that Larissa Phrikonis was the Larissa referred to in the Iliad, most scholars today believe it was Larissa Ptolemais.

While the city has a fair number of mentions during the Peloponnesian War, where it had to pay tribute to Athens, we know little about it during Hellenistic times.

Some believe that its inhabitants were forcibly moved to Antigonos I Monophthalmos’ Antigoneia, later renamed to Alexandria (Troas). Others argue that it was refounded during Ptolemaic times as Larissa Ptolemais. We don’t really know, although there are inscriptions mentioning the city as late as 220 BCE, so there must have still been people there after Alexandria Troas was founded.

427 BCE

Athens detaches Kolone and Larissa Ptolemais from Mytilene in punishment for their revolt.

399 BCE

Hamaxitos and Larissa-Ptolemais are forcibly re-integrated into the Persian Empire.

398 BCE

During a battle between Deryklidas of Sparta and Pharnabazos with Tissaphernes, men from Priene and Achilleion fighting with the Spartans fled. Hamaxitos and Larissa-Ptolemais thus receive their freedom again.

306 BCE

Alexandria Troas founded by Antigonos I Monophthalmos from the cities of Neandria, Skepsis, Hamaxitos, Kolone, Kebren, Larissa-Ptolemais, and Achilleion.