Ancient Coin Stories

Byzantion is founded by Byzas of Megara.

Abdera led by Timesios of Klazomenai.

Abdera begun as a colony of Klazomenai.

Abdera settled by Ionians from Teos, who were escaping Persian subjugation.

Abdera conquered by Persia.

Darius I destroyed Abydos and takes Byzantion as part of his Scythian campaign.

Otanes, satrap of Phrygia, captures Antandros, Lamponeia, Imbros, and Hephaistia and Myrina on Lemnos.

Abdera conquered again by the Persians after the Ionian revolt, under their general Mardonius.

Xerxes’ army marches out of Sardis and passes through Atarneos, Thebe, Adramytteion, Antandros, Ilion, Gergis, and Abydos on its way to Greece. Its temporary headquarters is at Elaios.

The Persian satrap Artayctes desecrates the grove of Protesilaos at Elaios. He is later crucified for the offense by the Athenian general Xanthippos.

A large meteorite lands near Aigiospotamoi. At the same time, a comet is reported, which may be the first European mention of Halley’s Comet.

Abdera taxed 10 to 15 talents as part of the First Athenian League.

Athens founds a colony on Imbros.

The Battle of Sphacteria between Athens and Sparta is fought at the entrance to the Bay of Pylos, resulting in an Athenian victory. Ainos, Imbros, and the cities of Lemnos (Myrina, Hephaistia) provide support.

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

Sparta takes Byzantion in an effort to force Athens into submission.

The Athenian general Thrasyllos barely escapes with his fleet from Sestos to Elaios.

Abdera subjugated under Athens by their general Thrasybulus.

Lysander destroys the Athenian fleet at the mouth of the Aigiospotamoi. Just before, the Athenian triremes arrive at Elaios to discover that Lysander is in control of Lampsakos.

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.

Abdera destroyed by an invasion of Thracian Triballi tribe.

Autophradates lay siege to Ariobarzanes in Assos. In exchange for Athenian support, Ariobarzanes gifts them Sestos.

Chios, Rhodes, Kos, and Byzantion revolt against Athens in the Social War. Myrina and Hephaistia on Lemnos and Imbros (Athenian allies) are ravaged and Samos is besieged. After bungling by the Athenian general Chares, Persia demands Athens leave and Athens, running out of money, complies.

Abdera and Akanthos conquered by Philip II of Macedon.

A stele from this year puts Elaios in charge of Chares of Athens and provides privileges to its inhabitants.

Philip II besieges Perinthos. It is believed this is the battle where Antigonos Monophthalmos loses an eye.

Alexander is dispatched by Philip II to quell revolts in southern Thrace. The two then campaign together and Alexander by some accounts saves his father’s life in Perinthos.

Alexander the Great visits the temple to Protesilaos at Elaios.

Alexander the Great crosses from Sestos to Abydos. He then visits Troy and returns to Abydos. On his way, he sacrifices at the tomb of Achilles at Achilleion.

Lysimachos obtains control over parts of Thrace, including Abdera.

Kassander travels to Apollonia Pontika to enlarge his territories.

Antigonos Monophthalmos gives Athens grain and timber and removes his garrison from Imbros, giving the island back to Athens.

Lysimachos defeated at the Battle of Coropedion. Adramytteion, Ainos, and Abydos come under control of the Seleukid Empire. Ephesos returns to its original name.

Abydos besieged by Philip V of Macedon. Ainos is taken. Elaios surrenders to him peacefully.

Romans declare Abdera a free city.

Philip V is forced to remove his garrisons from Iasos, Euromos, Pedasa, Bargylia, Abydos, Thasos, Myrina, and Perinthos.

Aspendos surrenders to the Romans. The general Verres plunders its art treasures. Elaios also offers their city.

Ainos is declared a free city by the Romans.

Armies of Eumenes II and the Romans sack Abdera.

Philip of Macedon, after being defeated at the Battle of Pydna, stops briefly at Galepsos before heading to Samothrace.

The Roman general Lucullus sacks Apollonia Pontika.

Thrace is annexed by the Roman Empire, bringing Agathopolis, Aigiospotamoi, and Perinthos under its rule.

Byzantion sides with Pescennius Niger over Septimius Severus, Roman forces besiege the city and cause considerable damage.

The fleet of Constantine I takes moorage at Elaios against Licinius.

Constantine I refounds Byzantion as an imperial residence named Nova Roma.

The city of Nova Roma, formerly known as Byzantion, is renamed to Constantinople by Constantine the Great.

Constans elevated to Caesar at Constantinople by Constantine I

Theodosius leaves Constantinople to fight the Arbogastes and Eugenius and leaves Arcadius nominally in charge.

Aelia Eudoxia and John Chrysostom’s dispute reaches its peak. John Chrysostom is deposed and exiled by Arcadius, largely due to Eudoxia’s influence. She erects a silver statue of herself in the Forum of Constantinople, which John condemned in his sermons.