Argos (El)
The modern town of Argos and the ruins of the ancient theater
Administration
Country	Greece
Mayor	Vasilios mto
Periphery	Peloponnese
Nome	Argolis
Postcode	21200
Calling code	(+30) 2751
Registration	AP
Geography
Contact	37 37 '00 "North 22 43 '00 "East / 37.61667, 22.716667
Altitude	42 m
Area	13 800 ha = 138 km 2
Demography
Population	24 239 hab. (2001)
Density	175.6 inhabitants / km 2
Location
Argos
Internet
City website	http://www.argos.gr

Argos (in ancient Greek ) is a city of Argolis in the Peloponnese , near Nafplion. Its name comes from the Greek root arg-meaning "something shiny" (cf. Argyros means "money"). Located at the foot of two citadels dating back to antiquity (Larissa and Aspis), it is now an agricultural (livestock, tobacco plantations and lemons).

Geography

Water

Argos depends for its water supply for numerous wells located in the Argolis plain called matia (eyes) and are credited with founding the Danaides. Since 1954, the waters of the Erasinos supply the town and in 1972, Waters came Amymone join.

Economy

Agriculture

The plain of Argos is very fertile because of the alluvium deposited by rivers, including the Erasinos. The main agricultural activity is gardening. In the nineteenth ^century , farmers devoted themselves mainly to viticulture and the cultivation of tobacco speculative, but the various crises of the century have pushed gardening.

The main current productions are fruits, vegetables and legumes, citrus, grain, olives, tobacco, cotton and grapes. Melons and lemons Argos are very famous. There are also some livestock.

Industry

The main industries in Argos are weaving and canning.

History

Mythology

The town has a mythical founder Argos , son of Zeus. The city is also associated with the legend of Io , Danaus , Perseus and the gesture of Atreus.

Homer mentions in his epics the "Argos pelagic, which means the plains of Thessaly and the "Achaean Argos," a term that encompasses both the Peloponnese as a whole and the city of Argos itself. Alongside Tiryns or to Epidaurus , Argos takes part in the Trojan War under the command of Diomede .

Antiquity

Kastro Larissa

At the end of the Bronze Age , Argos is one of the centers and one of the main strongholds of the Mycenaean civilization. However, the pre-Greek name of its acropolis , Larissa, suggests that the site was formerly occupied by Pelasgians. The site was Argos, with Mycenae and Tiryns , very busy time for its geographical location and its position in the fertile plains of Argolis.

After the dark ages , it regains its importance, replacing Mycenae. Under the reign of the tyrant Pheidon in the seventh ^centuryBC. BC, it submits the Peloponnesian cities. He attributes the first use of coins and the balance in mainland Greece. Pheidon was defeated by the Spartans in 668 BCE. Argos is definitely overshadowed by Sparta from the ^sixth century BC. AD. She does not participate in the Median wars. The rivalry with Sparta Argos explains systematically adopts party anti- Laconian during the Peloponnesian War , whether it is neutral, it is allied with Athens. The Battle of Mantinea in 418 BC. AD , finally persuaded to ally with Sparta Argos . But she breaks his treatise at the beginning of the war of Corinth in 395 BC. AD , and then joined the Achaean League.

Pyrrhus attacks Argos in 272 BC. There is killed by receiving a tile launched from a roof by an old woman. The city is included in the Roman province of Achaea in 146 BC.

Middle Ages

Argos became the center of a bishopric in the ^fifth century before being elevated to a metropolis in 1088.

In the ^twelfth century , a fortress was built atop the Acropolis. Argos is conquered to 1212 by the "Franks" of the principality of Achaia , and is then transferred in fee to the Duke of Athens Othon de La Roche , forming with its neighbor Nafplion the lordship of Argos. It is then sold in 1388 to the Venetians who continue until 1463.

The city is ravaged by the Ottomans in 1397, then control it until 1686 , when it is taken by the Venetians, before falling under Ottoman domination in 1716 until the Greek War of Independence in 1821.

Revolutionary War

The city was burned in May 1821 by the Ottoman army sent back to Patras to strengthen Tripolizza and commanded by Kehaya Bey (lieutenant of a pasha) Ahmet (or Moustapha). Turkish troops came from Corinth, and Argos battled militiamen in the city strengthened Greek island of Spetses and Hydra , the Greeks were defeated and lost 700 men, including the son of Laskarina Bouboulina. After giving the city sacked, the Ottoman army marched into Tripolizza to lift the seat .

In 1822, Khursit Pasha , the Ottoman commander in chief, asked Mahmud Pasha of Drama , said Dramali Pasha , to recapture the peninsula, so nearly up Greek hands of insurgents. One of his goals was Argos, then head of the Provisional Government of Greece insurgent. Dramali Pasha would have 20,000 soldiers from the city of Larissa, he met no opposition in its progress and June 24 (Julian), 1822, he laid siege to the citadel of Argos, Larissa, where s' was removed Dimitrios Ypsilanti at the head of 700 men. Despite the disparity of forces, the citadel held out, mainly due to the inefficiency of the Ottoman artillery. Theodoros Kolokotronis in late July sent a relief column to the city. It was rejected and lost over 150 men. August ^1, he tried a new offensive to clear the fortress at the head of his men, reinforced by 1,300 Arcadians. The fighting went on for three days and three nights between the mills close and the citadel of Argos. The goal to reach the city could not be reached. However, the defenders could take advantage of the tumult to evacuate. August 3, the Ottomans seized the citadel so Argos. However, their food ran out. They had to withdraw and were massacred by the Greeks in parades Dervnakia.

In June 1825 the city was again destroyed by Ibrahim Pasha. In 1829, the fourth national assembly was held at Argos, at the request of Ioannis Kapodistrias. He obtained full powers. In 1832, the city was occupied by French troops from the Morea expedition after an altercation with Pallikaris.

Archaeology

Theatre of Argos

The modern city covers much of the ancient city. The excavations began in the 1920s, led by archaeologist Dutch Wihlem Vollgraff. In the 1950s, the French School of Athens took over.

The excavations at Argos helped uncover Mycenaean walls, the remains of temples of Apollo and Python of Athena and a theater. The tombs also yielded a large quantity of ceramics from the Geometric period.

Twinning

• Abbeville ( France )
• Episkopi ( Cyprus )

Notes

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