Ancient Coin Stories

The hill fort of Tiryns reaches its height of importance.

The palace at Tiryns is destroyed, but the city continues to grow.

Approximate year for Dorian invasion of Kos, with settlers from Epidauros.

Sybaris is founded by settlers from Troizen.

Argos defeats Sparta at the Battle of Hysiae.

Nemean Games are established at Nemea in honor of Zeus, in the territory of Kleonai.

Sparta crushes Argos at the Battle of Sepeia. Sikyon participates with 12 ships.

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

The Greek allies are forced to withdraw against the Persians in the Battle of Artemisium. Afterwards the Persians occup Histaia. The Greek fleet is supplied by Athens, Chalkis, Sparta, Troizen, Opuntian Lokris, Corinth, Megara, Epidauros, Aegina, Sikyon, and Kios.

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

A notable reorganization of the Nemean Games, held in the territory of Kleonai, occurred following the Persian Wars.

Argos obtains possession of Hermione.

Argos joins an alliance with Athens and Thessaly.

Athenians attempt to land at Halieis but are repulsed by Sikyon.

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

The alliance of Athens, Argos, and Thessaly dissolves.

Athens lands at Epidauros and ravages its territory, then proceeds to Troizen, Hermione, and Halieis, where they do the same.

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.

Sparta and Sikyon march under King Agis against Argos, but a truce is arrived at before battle.

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

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

Sparta, Orchomenos, and Phokis defeat Argos, Athens, Lokris, Euboia, Corinth, the Ainianes, and Thebes at the Battle of Koroneia (the sequel).

Sparta and their allies, including Sikyon and Tegea, 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. Pellene fights on the side of Sparta against Thespiai.

Sparta uses Sikyon as a base to take the long walls of Corinth. Sparta succeeds though Sikyon takes heavy losses against Argos.

A union between Argos and Corinth is established.

Due to the Peace of Antalkidas, the union between Corinth and Argos is broken under pressure from Sparta.

The Tholos, a circular building in the sanctuary of Asklepios in Epidauros, is built under the architect Polykleitos the Younger.

Sparta, Athens, Pellene, and Sikyon attempt to stop Thebes under Epaminondas by guarding the fort of Oneion near Corinth. Epaminondas gets around them and attacks Sikyon, Pellene, Epidauros, and unsuccessfully attempts to take Corinth.

Athenian forces under Chares relieve Phlious, which was besieged by Arkadians and Argives.

Sikyon helps Argos in a war against Phlious.

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.

The Theatre of Epidauros, also designed by Polykleitos the Younger, is constructed.

Artaxerxes III Okhos finally succeeds in re-conquering Egypt under Nektanebo II, with the help of mercenaries from Argos, Thebes, and Mentor of Rhodes.

Alexander III and Philip II defeat Thebes at the Battle of Chaeronea. Argos and Stratos fight on the side of Philip, while Corinth, Megara, Epidauros, and Troizen participate with Thebes. Chares is one of the Athenian commanders, but escapes blame.

Melos and Kimolos dispute the ownership of the island Polyaigos. The turn to Argos to mediate, who decide in favor of Kimolos.

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 seizes Epidauros, Sikyon, Corinth, Bura, Argos, and Orchomenos.

Pleistarchos is expelled from Argos.

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

Antigonos II installs the tryant Aristippos the Elder at Argos.

The Nemean Games are transferred to Argos from Nemea (in Kleonai), though some events continued to be held in Nemea.

Epidauros suffers in the wake of the Kleomenean War, but the sanctuary and city are quickly restored.

Hermione ruled by tyrant named Xenon.

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

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

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.

The Sanctuary to Asklepios at Epidauros is looted by Sulla.

Julius Caesar, during his campaigns in Greece, visits the sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidauros.

The sanctuary to Asklepios in Epidauros‘ infrastructure is upgraded with new Roman baths and improved facilities for visitors.

Emperor Caligula visits Greece and shows interest in the Greek sanctuaries, including that of Asklepios at Epidauros.

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

Hadrian revives the Sanctuary to Asklepios at Epidauros.

Hadrian rebuilds ancient shrines in Megara and Argos.

Approximate end of the Nemean Games (held in the territory of Kleonai) during the Roman Empire era as interest in Greek athletic competitions waned.

The author of this page wakes up early and tours Epidauros before the busses arrive.

The author of this page visits Tiryns.