Ancient Coin Stories

Aegina and Thebes give “earth and water” to the Persians under Darius I.

The Battle of Thermopylae. Soldiers from Sparta, Mantinea, Tegea, Orchomenos (Arkadia), Corinth, Phlious, Thespiai, Phokis, Opuntian Lokris, and other cities are overrun by the Persians at a huge cost.

The Greek alliance, consisting of Aegina, Athens, Corinth, Megara, Thespiai, Orchomenos, Epidauros, Troizen, Halieis, Elis, Hermione, and Sparta defeate the Persians at the Battle of Plataea.

Argos organizes an alliance with Mantinea, Corinth, Elis, and Thebes against Athens and Sparta.

Thebes takes Herakleia Trachineia from Sparta and installs the Trachinians and Oetaians.

Sparta and their allies defeat Athens and their allies at the Battle of Nemea. On Athens side are Thebes, Lokris Opuntii, and Corinth. With Sparta are Halieis, Sikyon, Epidauros, Troizen, and Hermione. Phlious remains neutral.

Eresos, Byzantion, Chios,Mytilene, Methymna, Rhodes, Thebes, Korkyra, Eretria, Kios, Samos, Naxos, Andros, Myrina (Lembos), Hephaistia, Imbros, and Thasos join the Second Athenian League, reaffirming its alliance with Athens in response to the growing threat of Persian interference and internal Greek conflicts.

The Theban general Pelopidas intervenes in Macedonian affairs, leading an expedition to secure Alexander II‘s position. However, Alexander is forced to agree to a treaty that acknowledges Theban influence and sends his brother Philip II to Thebes as a hostage.

The Theban Pelopidas is sent to negotiate with Alexander of Pherai, who throws him in prison.

Thebes defeats Alexander of Pherai at the Battle of Cynoscephalae, but their general Pelopidas is killed.

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.

With Theban power down after the death of Epaminondas, Alexander of Pherai takes Tinos and sells the inhabitants as slaves, then besieges Peparethos. Athens defeats Alexander near Sounion and relieves Peparethos. Alexander then plunders Piraios.

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.

The Aetolian League, Athens, and Thebes revolt against Macedon after the death of Philip II.

Alexander the Great demolishes Thebes after a rebellion.

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.

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

Demetrios Poliorketes and Antigonos II take Thebes after a siege. Huge siege engines are used to break its walls.

The Emperor Nero travels to Greece and visits Athens, Olympia, Delphi, Epidauros, and Thebes.