Argos, Argolis - Ancient Coin Stories

Argolis, Argos
400-350 BCE
13.56mm 1.82g
Obverse: Head of Hera left, wearing stephane
Reverse: Large A; club below
BCD Peloponnesos 1057.1
Ex BCD Collection (not in LHS sale)
Ex CNG
Ex Marc Breitsprecher

Argos was perhaps the most potent rival to Sparta in the Peloponnese. A large and powerful city, it fought against Sparta for hundreds of years and for brief period assumed hegemony over the Peloponnese.

At other times Argos was neutral, notably when the Persians invaded. Here, their neutrality provoked the ire of the other Greeks, though they were also mostly neutral in disputes between Athens and Sparta.

Although Argos was never conquered by either Philip II or Alexander III, they did have to respect their will, such as honoring a peace treaty brokered by Philip II against Sparta. Among the Diadochi, only Pyrrhos attacked Argos. He was killed in the attempt. During Pausanias’ time there was a memorial to him.

Pausanias visited and spent a great deal of his Book 2 in Argos. He details many of their temples and several stories that occurred there. For example, during one bitter dispute between Argos and Sparta, Argos raised a thousand men to attack and put a man named Bryas in charge. They made a number of raids into Lakedaimon and on one occasion interrupted a bridal possession by snatching a young girl. When Bryas fell asleep, the girl blinded him.

The soldiers then chased after the girl, who fled back the procession. When the Argives demanded the girl, the commoners refused. There was then a battle where every single one of the soldiers were killed.

Argos, Argolis
ca 280-260 BCE
Ae Dichalkon 16.3mm 3.2g
Obv: Head of Hera right wearing stephane inscribed ARGE
Rev: The Palladion standing left holding spear and shield
SNG Cop 57

Pictured on this coin is the Palladion, which was a small sacred statue that originally protected Troy. Legend had it that as long as they possessed the Palladion, the city could not be taken. Odysseus and Diomedes snuck into the city and stole the statue. Shortly thereafter, Troy fell.

After the Trojan War, one story has Diomedes returning with the Palladion to Argos, hence its depiction on the reverse.

669 BCE

Argos defeats Sparta at the Battle of Hysiae.

494 BCE

Sparta crushes Argos at the Battle of Sepeia.

480 BCE

Argos does not participate in the Greek alliance against the Persian invasion, resulting in diplomatic isolation.

464 BCE

Argos obtains possession of Hermione.

462 BCE

Argos joins an alliance with Athens and Thessaly.

457 BCE

Sparta defeats Athens, with 1000 hoplites from Argos, in the Battle of Tanagra. Casualties are heavy on both sides.

451 BCE

The alliance of Athens, Argos, and Thessaly dissolves.

418 BCE

Sparta and their allies Tegea defeat Athens and their allies Argos, Mantineia, Kleonai, and Aegina in the Battle of Mantineia. As part of the truce, Argos gives up its alliance with Athens and Elis, Orchomenos is given to Sparta, and Athens is evicted from Epidauros.

417 BCE

As a result of their loss at the Battle of Mantineia and an invasion by Epidauros, Argos undergoes an oligarchic coup.

415 BCE

The Sicilian expedition of Athens against Syracuse departs. Ainos, Argos, Mantineia, and Elis provide support. Akragas remains neutral.

362 BCE
July 4

Epaminondas and Boeotia defeat Sparta at the Battle of Mantinea. However, the death of Epaminondas would spell Thebes‘ downfall. On the side of Thebes were Tegea, Argos, Messene, Sikyon, and the Aenianians. On the side of Sparta were Heraia, Athens, Elis, and Mantinea.

338 BCE

Alexander III and Philip II defeat Thebes at the Battle of Chaeronea. Argos fights on the side of Philip, while Corinth, Megara, Epidauros, and Troizen participate with Thebes.

330 BCE-
326 BCE

A food crisis erupts in the Greek world that was likely caused by Alexander the Great’s campaigns in the East, which disrupted traditional trade routes. Kyrene sends grain to many cities including Athens, Sparta, Rhodes, Thebes, Argos, and Atrax.

323 BCE

The Lamian War breaks out, pitting Athens, Thebes, Megara, Argos, and the Aetolian League against Antipater of Macedon.

272 BCE

Pyrrhos of Epiros attacks Argos, which is helped by Antigonos II, and is killed there when an old woman throws a brick on him.

272 BCE

Antigonos II installs the tryant Aristippos the Elder at Argos.

228 BCE

Aratos of Sikyon takes the Acrocorinth and frees Argos. Xenon steps down in Hermione.

226 BCE

The Spartans under King Kleomenes III defeat the Achaian League under Aratos of Sikyon (and including Argos and Megalopolis) in the Battle of Dyme.

220 BCE

The Social War begins, pitting members of the Achaian League, including Aegira, Patrai, Dyme, Bura, Sikyon, Corinth, Megalopolis, Messenia, Argos, Elis, and Macedon, against Sparta under King Kleomenes III, who were supported by the Aetolian League and Athens.