Ancient Coin Stories

Heraia signs a treaty with Eleian cities for mutual protection and support for 100 years.

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.

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

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.

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

King Agis of Sparta falls sick at Heraia. He is brought back to Lakedaimon, where he dies.

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.

The territory of Heraia is laid waste by Arcadian cities due to Heraia’s support for Sparta.

The Theban general Epaminondas intervenes in Arcadia to support the Arcadian League and the newly founded city of Megalopolis. Heraia is pressured to join the Arcadian League but maintains a pro-Spartan stance.

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.

King Agis III of Sparta revolts from Macedonia and besieges Megalopolis, forcing Antipater to act.

Antipater defeats the Spartans under Agis III at Megalopolis. The Macedonians take many casualties, but Agis is killed.

Heraia joins the Aetolian League.

he Achaean League is revived, with Aegira, Heraia, Patrai, and Dyme active members.

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.