Ancient Coin Stories

The first known temple to Demeter is constructed at Eleusis.

The Eleusinian Mysteries are founded in Eleusis per Aristotle.

The Proerosia, a festival and sacrifice, is established at Eleusis.

Temple of Athena Polias completed in Athens.

Solon, the Athenian lawgiver, includes provisions for the protection of the Eleusinian Mysteries.

Solonian law established in Athens.

Pesistratos becomes tyrant of Athens.

Pisistratos ousted from office in Athens when two rival factions join.

Pisistratos lands at Marathon and routes an Athenian force. He becomes tyrant of Athens again.

The tyrant Peisistratos of Athens enhances the sanctuary at Eleusis, commissioning extensive building projects and promoting the Mysteries as part of Athenian culture.

Approximate date of Pisistratos of Athens‘ decree that all graves within sight of the temple at Delos be dug up and moved.

Death of the tyrant Pisistratos, tyrant of Athens.

Aegina’s navy captures Athenians involved in a conflict between Athens and Megara.

Chalkis is defeated by Athens in the Battle of Chalkis. As a result, Athens takes control of much of Euboea’s land and imposes a tribute on the city.

Athens, Eretria, and the Ionian cities are defeated by the Persians at the Battle of Ephesos.

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

Temple of Aphaia completed at Aegina.

Aegina plays a significant role in the Greek naval victory against the Persian Empire in the Battle of Salamis. Byblos, Arados, Tyre, and Sidon support Darius. Chalkis supports the Greek effort. Alexander I serves as a peace negotiator on behalf of the Persians.

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.

Athens and Eleusis are burnt and destroyed by the Persians. Elataia and Lilaia are also burnt.

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.

The Persians are defeated at the Battle of Mykale. An alliance of Athens, Sparta, and Corinth. As a result, Chios and Ephesos are liberated from Persian rule.

Delian League founded by Athens, with its regular meeting place at Delos. Ephesos, Gargara, and Eresos are members.

Athens forcefully establishes a Cleruchy on Andros as punishment for their support of Xerxes.

Athenians create a colony in Eion, just south of Amphipolis.

The Athenian colony near Amphipolis is annihilated by the Thracians, with ten thousand colonists killed.

The Athenian navy under Kiimon destroys the Persians at the Battle of the Eurymedon. As a result, Aspendos joins the Delian League.

Athens, aligned with Sparta, sends a force of 4000 soldiers to help squash a helot uprising. Upon arriving in Sparta, they are dismissed while other allies remain. Angered, Athens repudiates their treaty with Sparta.

Argos joins an alliance with Athens and Thessaly.

Athens lays siege to Aegina as part of the Peloponnesian War.

Megara and Corinth go to war. Athens supports Megara and obtains access to the Isthmus of Corinth.

Aegina is defeated by Athens, forced to join the Delian League, and pay tribute. Athens dismantles Aegina’s naval fleet, reducing its power and independence significantly.

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

First mention of Airai in tribute records to Athens.

The shared treasury of the Delian League is transferred from Delos to Athens.

Erythrai secedes from the Delian League before Athens installs a garrison and they rejoin.

The alliance of Athens, Argos, and Thessaly dissolves.

Peace of Kallias, an agreement between Athens and Persia after a series of conflicts between them. In Cyprus, Amathos and Salamis remain under Persian control but maintains its local autonomy. Ephesos, Miletos, Priene, Klazomenai, and Phokaia also obtain some autonomy.

Athens founds a colony on Imbros.

Construction of the Parthenon in Athens begins.

Pericles oversees the construction of new buildings at Eleusis, including the grand Telesterion (Initiation Hall), which serves as the central site for the Mysteries.

The Thirty Years’ Peace is signed between Athens and Sparta where they recognize each others rights to direct their own alliances.

The Revolt of Euboea occurs against Athenian control. Chalkis is once again subdued by Athens, and a garrison is established to control the city. Histaia is particularly punished, with its inhabitants expelled and replaced by 2000 colonists.

Samos revolts from Athens. Sparta considers war in their support, but the matter is put to a vote and Corinth disagrees. Peace between Sparta and Athens continues and Athens squashes the revolt.

The famed Athenian playwright Sophocles is named general against the Anaians.

Athenians found a new colony at Amphipolis under the general Hagnon.

The Battle of Sybota takes place between Corinth and Korkyra over control of the latter. Korkyra was aided by Athens, while Corinth was joined by Ambrakia. Corinth was forced to withdraw.

Athens imposes trade sanctions on citizens of Megara, which angers the Spartans and is one of the causes of the Peloponnesian War.

The Athenian general Phormio makes his base at Aphytis and leads his army against Pallene. He also takes Argos Amphilochian, removes the Ambrakians, and restores the town to the original inhabitants.

Decorations completed on the Parthenon in Athens.

Athens instructs Potidai to tear down its walls. Corinth persuades them to revolt.

Spartans vote that Athens has violated the Thirty Years’ Peace and declares war. The Peloponnesian War begins.

Pericles gives his famous funeral oration in Athens.

Several Thessalian cities provide aid to Athens at the start of the Peloponnesian War, notably Gyrton, Larissa, Krannon, Pharsalos, and Pherai.

Athens defeats Potidaia and Corinth at the Battle of Potidaia, then places Potidaia under siege. Due to the costs of maintaining it, it is eventually removed.

The Plague kills 30,000 people in Athens, including Pericles and his sons.

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

Athenians, needing money for a siege of Mytilene, attempt to take it from Carian cities but are attacked and defeated by soldiers of Anaia.

Antissa and Mytilene revolt from Athens during the Peloponnesian War. Athens forces both cities back into its orbit. Hamaxitos is taken from Mytilene.

Eresos, Antissa, Pyrrha, Mytilene, and Methymna, revolt against Athenian domination during the Peloponnesian War. The revolt is crushed by Athens, and Eresos is punished with the loss of its autonomy.

Athens attempts to invade Aetolia, but is forced back by the Aetolian League.

Ambrakia is crushed by Athens in the Battle of Idomene in an attempt to re-take Argos Amphilochian.

Athens decrees that it is illegal to be born or die on Delos.

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.

Anaktorion is captured by the Acarnanians and Athenians during the Peloponnesian War. The Acarnanians expel the Corinthians from the city, and Anaktorion becomes part of the Acarnanian League.

Athens defeats Sparta at the Battle of Pylos and traps 420 Spartans.

The Spartan general Brasidas convinces Akanthos to leave the Athenian Alliance.

Temple of Athena Nike is built in Athens.

The Athenian general Kleon recaptures Galepsos.

The Athenian general Kleon attempts to take Amphipolis, but fails in the attempt. Both Kleon and the Spartan general Brasidas perish.

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

The Peace of Nikias between Athens and Sparta is signed after the deaths of Cleon and Brasidas. They agree to break up the Chalkidian League, but this is not done.

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.

Athens surrounds Melos and demands they ally with them. When the Melians reject, all adult males are slaughtered and the women and children are sold into slavery.

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

The Athenian general Demosthenes takes aboard heavy infantry from Zakynthos and Kephallenia (likely including Same) and crosses over to the opposite coast of Akarnania to Alyzeia and Anaktorion, already held by Athens.

The Athenian forces in Sicily are destroyed by Syracuse.

Under Darius I’s orders, Tissaphernes allies with Sparta over Athens and re-occupies most of the Ionian coast.

Chios, Erythrai, and Klazomenai revolt against Athens and is besieged until relieved by Sparta.

Eresos leaves Athens and joins Sparta in an unsuccessful attempt on Methymna.

Euromos is among the Carian cities that revolt against Athens during the Peloponnesian War.

Andros proclaims its freedom from Athens.

Sparta defeats the Athenian fleet based in Samos.

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

During the Peloponnesian War, Chalkis secedes from the Athenian alliance but eventually rejoins before the war’s end in 404 BCE. Histaia is the only Euboian city that does not defect.

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

An Athenian fleet under Thrasybulus barely defeats a Spartan fleet at the Battle of Kynossema. Three days afterward, several boats from Harpagion are captured.

An Athenian fleet under Alkibiades, Thrasybulos, and Theramenes defeats the Spartans at the Battle of Kyzikos. Afterwards, Sparta offers peace but is rejected.

Abydos attacked by Athens but repelled by Pharnabazos.

Abdera subjugated under Athens by their general Thrasybulus.

Athens attempts to force Andros back into its orbit, but fails.

Athens under Alkibiades and Sparta under Lysander face off in the Battle of Notion. Sparta loses more ships, but Athens faces heavy losses when many are not rescued at sea. The resulting trial strips Alkibiades and the other Athenian generals of command.

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.

Peloponnesian War ends in an Athenian surrender, and as a result Adramytteion is ruled by Mytilene. Residents of Aegina are allowed to return to their island.

Delos regains control over their sanctuary and island following Athens‘ defeat in the Peloponnesian War.

Hamaxitos gains some freedom after Athens is defeated in the Peloponnesian War.

The Athamanians leave Sparta and join an Athenian alliance.

Athens begins administering the sanctuary at Delos again.

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 Athenian general Thrasybulos threatens Aspendos. The inhabitants collect money to bribe him to leave, but he still orders his trips to trample their crops. Enraged, the Aspendians stab and kill him.

Amyntas III adopts the Athenian general Iphikrates, who has marriage ties to Kotys I.

The Academy in Athens is founded by Plato.

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.

Naval battle is fought near Alyzeia between Athenians under Timotheos and Spartans under Nikolochos.

The Chalkidian League leave Sparta and join and alliance with Athens, but that soon falls out over ownership of Amphipolis.

The Athenian general Iphikrates flees to Antissa after falling out of favor with his father-in-law Kotys I.

Amyntas III supports Athens‘ claim over Amphipolis.

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

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.

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.

Delos appeals to Philip II of Macedon to intervene in Athens control over them, but he chooses not to go against Athens at the time.

Parties friendly to Philip II take over Histaia, but Athens send troops and retakes the city.

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

Ambrakia is besieged by Philip II of Macedon. Although Corinth and Athens come to its aid and prevent its complete destruction, Ambrakia is forced to accept a Macedonian garrison.

Antipater is sent by Philip II to Athens to negotiate a peace treaty.

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

The Lyceum is founded in Athens by Aristotle.

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.

Antipater barricaded in Herakleia Trachineia by Athens during the Lamian War.

Antipater and Krateros defeat Athens and the Aetolian League at the Battle of Krannon.

Antigonos I Monophthalmos Declaration of Tyre grants autonomy to all Greek cities. While its effects weren’t the same everywhere, it allowed Delos to regain control of its Temple to Apollo from Athens.

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

Demetrios Poliorketes pushes Kassander out of Athens and chases him to Herakleia Trachineia, who submit to him.

Athens is convinced by Chremonides to join Sparta in declaring war on Antigonos II.

Antigonos II blockades Athens and destroys a temple to Poseidon between it and Megara. Ptolemy II sends a fleet to break the blockade.

Athens and Sparta make peace with Antigonos II, who maintains his hold on Greece.

The Achaean League takes control of Aegina, but it is soon captured by Rome.

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.

Aegina is briefly occupied by Aetolians.

During the Second Macedonian War between Rome and Philip V of Macedon, Aegira, the Aetolian League, Corinth, Sikyon, Patrai, Athens, Pergamon, and Rhodes support Rome.

The Roman Senate gives Delos to Athens.

Athens is sacked by the Romans.

During the First Mithridatic War, the Roman general Sulla sacks Aegina as he attempts to defeat Mithridates VI of Pontus.

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

The sanctuary at Eleusis is damaged during a raid by the Costoboci, but it is quickly restored with Roman funds.

Marcus Aurelius and Commodus are initiated into the Eleusinian Mysteries.

Aegina is damaged in raids by Goths.

Emperor Julian, known as “Julian the Apostate” for his attempts to restore paganism, is initiated into the Eleusinian Mysteries and actively promotes them, opposing the spread of Christianity.

Alaric I destroys Eleusis.

The Christian Roman Emperor Theodosius I issues edicts prohibiting pagan rituals and closes many pagan temples, including the sanctuary at Eleusis.

The Eleusinian Mysteries are definitively ended as a religious practice following further imperial decrees.