Stagira
Remains of the town wall of Stagira
Stagira (ancient city) is located in Greece
Stagira (ancient city)
Shown within Greece
Alternative nameStageira
LocationOlimpiada, Central Macedonia, Greece
Coordinates40°35′30″N 23°47′41″E / 40.59167°N 23.79472°E / 40.59167; 23.79472
TypeSettlement
History
BuilderIonian settlers from Andros
Founded655 BC
Associated withAristotle
Site notes
ConditionRuined
OwnershipPublic
Management16th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities
Public accessYes
WebsiteHellenic Ministry of Culture and Tourism

Stagira (/stəˈdʒaɪrə/), Stagirus (/-rəs/), or Stageira (Greek: Στάγειρα or Στάγειρος) was an ancient Greek city located near the eastern coast of the peninsula of Chalkidice, which is now part of the Greek province of Central Macedonia. It is chiefly known for being the birthplace of Aristotle, the Greek philosopher and polymath, student of Plato, and teacher of Alexander the Great. The ruins of the city lie approximately 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) north northeast of the present-day village of Stagira, close to the town of Olympiada.

History

Stagira was founded in 655 BC by Ionian settlers from Andros.[1] Xerxes I of Persia occupied it in 480 BC. The city later joined the Delian League, led by Athens, but left in 424 BC: as a result, the Athenian demagogue Cleon laid siege to it in 422 BC. However, Cleon was a poor strategist and his conduct of the siege was very inefficient: so much so that the ancient Greek comedy writer Aristophanes satirised him in the play The Knights.[2] Cleon died in the same year, in the battle of Amphipolis. Later, during the Peloponnesian War, Stagira sided with Sparta against the Athenians.[1]

In 348 BC, Philip II of Macedon occupied and destroyed the city.[1] In return for Aristotle's tutoring of his son Alexander, Philip later rebuilt the city and resettled the old city's inhabitants.[3] Many new structures were built at this time, including an aqueduct, two shrines to Demeter, and many houses.

Tradition has it that the natives of Stageira transferred Aristotle's relics to the city, buried it there, and founded a festival in his honour which was called "Aristoteleia".[1]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Ancient stageira Halkidiki Greece". Travel-to-halkidiki.com. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  2. ↑ "The Internet Classics Archive | The Knights by Aristophanes". Classics.mit.edu. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  3. ↑ "Municipality of Aristotle – Travel Guide" (PDF). Aristotelis Municipality. 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on Apr 4, 2023.
  4. ↑ Suda, iota.520

Further reading


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