Ancient Coin Stories

Approximate colonization of Mende by Eretrians.

Skione is founded by settlers from Achaia.

Akanthos founded by settlers from Andros.

Neapolis is founded by settlers from Thasos.

Potidaia is founded by settlers from Corinth.

Histaios of Miletos founds the city of Myrkinos, on the site of what later would be Amphipolis. Aristagoras, also of Miletos, would later occupy the city and perish in the siege of a nearby town.

Residents of Akanthos welcome the Persian invasion force of Xerxes and help him dig a canal.

The Persian general Artabazos captures Olynthos and kills its inhabitants.

Potidaia is besieged by Persians, but rescued when a tsunami washes them away.

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 property of citizens of Neapolis in Thasos is confiscated by the oligarchs there.

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

Ainea is mentioned as part of the Delian League.

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.

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

Athens unsuccessfully besieges Pydna.

Chalkidian League formed.

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.

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

Perdikkas II of Macedon convinces several towns to move their populations to Olynthos.

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

The Spartan general Brasidas captures Amphipolis and then Galepsos. He travels through Melitaia and camps at Phakion.

Citizens of Mende and Potidaia flee to Olynthos after rebelling against Athens.

The Athenian general Kleon recaptures Galepsos.

Mende attempts to revolt against Athenian rule, but is repressed.

Skione revolts against Athens and is besieged by them.

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

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.

Athens takes Skione, kills every man, and sells the women and children into slavery.

Thasos defects from the Delian League, but Neapolis remains loyal to Athens.

Neapolis is besieged by Thasos, causing Athens to besiege Thasos and praise Neapolis.

King Archelaos of Macedonia besieges Pydna from land, while Athens besieges it from sea. The location of the city is then moved by Archelaos, but the citizens later move it back.

The Spartan general Lysander besieges Aphytis, then has a dream that Ammon stood by him in his sleep. He thus raises the siege and orders the inhabitants to pray to Ammon.

Amyntas III of Macedon transfers territory to Olynthos of the Chalkidian League.

Amphipolis declares independence from Spartan control and operates as a self-governing city-state.

Amyntas III appeals to the Spartans against the Chalkidian League. Akanthos, Argilos, and Stageira also claim that membership was forced upon them. Potidaia is separated from the League.

Olynthos occupies the Macedonian city of Pella.

Philip II is born in Pella to Eurydike I and Amyntas III.

The Spartan king Agesipolis I, while undergoing operations against Olynthos, comes down with a fever and dies at the sanctuary to Dionysos at Aphytis.

The Chalkidian League become subject allies of Sparta.

The Spartans and Macedonians under Amyntas III destroy Olynthos after two initial defeats. Derdas II participates on the winning side.

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

Amyntas III supports Athens‘ claim over Amphipolis.

Potidaia is taken by Athens.

Lysimachos is born in Krannon or Pella.

Philippi founded by settlers from Thasos and named Thasian Epeiros.

Philip II undertakes a campaign to subjugate the Chalkidike Peninsula, including Aineia.

Philip II of Macedon conquers Amphipolis.

Philip II takes Pydna. He is supposed to give up Amphipolis to Athens in exchange, but ends up keeping both cities.

Philip II occupies Krenides and renames it to Philippi.

Potidaia is occupied by Philip II.

Alexander the Great is born in Pella, Macedon

Abdera and Akanthos conquered by Philip II of Macedon.

Philip II takes Neapolis and uses it as the harbor of Philippi.

Athens sends Chares to aid Olynthos. He attempts to ambush Philip II at Neapolis, but is easily tricked and accomplishes nothing.

Philip II conquers Olynthos and thus destroys the Chalkidian League.

The Aetolian League receives Naopaktos from Philip II.

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

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

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

Athens and the Aetolian League leave their baggage at Melitaia before attacking Leonnatos.

Kassander forces the population of Olynthos to move to his new city of Kassandreia.

Olympias flees to Pydna to escape Kassander.

Polyperchon and Olympias march against Adea Eurydike. Adea’s soldiers refuse to fight against Alexander’s mother and switch to Olympias’ side. Adea is captured near Amphipolis.

Kassander founds Kassandreia from Potidaia and Mende, founds Thessalonika, and rebuilds Thebes.

Kassander completes the siege of Pydna and executes Olympias. Alexander IV and Roxana are imprisoned in Amphipolis.

Much of the population of Akanthos is settled in the new city of Ouranopolis by Alexarchos.

Stratos is occupied by Kassander to use as a base against the Aetolian League. He resettles people from elsewhere in Akarnania there.

Heraia joins the Aetolian League.

Aetolian League occupies Delphi.

Estimated foundation of Uranopolis by Alexarchos.

Kassander dies of dropsy at Pella. His son Philip IV becomes king.

Demetrios I Poliokcetes of Macedon gains control over Amphipolis.

Demetrios I Poliorketes organizes the Fifth Sacred War against the Aetolian League‘s occupation of Delphi, but is pushed out with the help of Pyrrhos.

Thebes allies itself with Lysimachos and the Aetolian League.

Demetrios I Poliorketes loses control of Macedon, including Amphipolis, to Lysimachos.

A Sixth Sacred War is led by King Arios of Sparta, in an effort to dislodge the Aetolian League from Delphi, but is defeated.

The Aetolian League obtains Herakleia Trachineia, giving them control over the pass of Thermopylae.

The Aetolian League along with Antigonos II Gonatas defeat an invasion of Gauls.

Amphipolis falls under the control of Antigonos II Gonatas after his victory over the Gauls at the Battle of Lysimachia.

Stratos is taken by the Aetolian League.

The Aetolian League invades the Peloponnese and takes Pellene.

The poet Aratos, who wrote a poem on the constellations, dies in Pella.

Orchomenos switches from the Aetolian League to the Achaian League.

The Aetolian League is attacked by Illyria.

The Aetolian League besieges Medeion, but are defeated by reinforcements sent by Demetrios II of Macedon.

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 Lyttian War is fought between an alliance led by Knossos and one led by Polyrhenion. On the side of Knossos were Rhodes, the Aetolian League, and Kydonia. On the side of Polyrhenion were Lyttos, Macedon, and the Achaian League.

The Aetolians defeat the Achaian League under Aratos of Sikyon near Kaphyai.

Kleitor repulses an attack by the Aetolian League.

Ambrakia is besieged by Philip V of Macedon, Phytia taken, and Metropolis is burned during the Social War between the Achaean League and the Aetolian League, of which Ambrakia is a member.

Aegina is briefly occupied by Aetolians.

A Roman army under Sulpicius Puplius and the Aetolian League ravages Sikyon before being pushed out by Philip V.

Kios and Myrleia destroyed by Philip V, which enrages the Aetolian League.

Philip V persuades Kalchedon and Lysimachia to break from the Aetolian League.

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.

Troops the Athamanes and the Aetolian League camp near Pharkadon, but are attacked by troops of Philip V and pushed away.

Akanthos attacked by a fleet of Romans and the Pergamene Kingdom in the Second Macedonian War.

The Aetolian League attempt to take Metropolis after Philip V retreats, but they are repulsed.

The Aetolian League aids Rome in defeating Philip V in the Battle of Cynoscephalae. Philip pauses for a day at Gonnos for troops who had survived the battle. Several hundred soldiers from Gortyna participate on the Roman side.

Aetolians are besieged in Herakleia Trachineia by Acilius Glabrio. After 21 days the town is taken.

Amphipolis becomes the capital of one of the four meris created by Rome out of Macedon.

Pella is sacked by Romans.

The Romans defeat Philip V at the Battle of Pydna. Many cities, including Demetrias, fall under Roman rule. Perseus, King of Macedon, is imprisoned, thus ending the Antigonid dynasty.

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

Thessalonika made the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia.

Pella is destroyed by an earthquake.

A Roman colony is started at Potidaia.

The harbor of Neapolis is used by Brutus and Cassius before the Battle of Philippi.

Octavian and Mark Antony defeat Brutus and Cassius at the Battle of Philippi in Greece, effectively ending the resistance of Caesar’s assassins.

Marc Antony declares Thessalonika a free city.

Octavian resettles Potidaia and renames it Colonia Iulia Augusta Cassandrensis.

Philippi is renamed to Colonia Iulia Philippensis by Augustus.

Arch of Galerius constructed in Thessalonika to commemorate the victory over Narseh.

Licinius is accused of a plot to kill Constantine the Great, is caught at Thessalonika, and is executed.

The Massacre of Thessalonika occurs when Roman soldiers massacre civilians. It is believed to have been ordered by Theodosius.