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The City of Argos
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Lupus
Argos
Argos is a unique Greek City State. Greek writers claim it's the oldest Hellenic city, second only to Sikyon, built by the Pelasgian rulers Inachos or Phoroneus, in an age that cannot be defined. Omeros (Homer) often uses the name Argives to describe all the Greeks and one of the more venturous heroes of the Trojan war, Diomedes, the king of Argos. He was the only mortal who was believed to have injured the gods Aphrodite and Ares, while Apollon was afraid that Diomedes could even attack Zeus if they were ever to meet in battle!
Cities far away from Peloponessos are named after Argos; including Argos Amphilochikon, Argos Orestikon, Pelasgian Argos in Phthiotis, where Achilles' homeland was supposed to be, Argos of Cyprus, and Argos near Thrace. Larissa, a major city in Thessaly, is also named after the acropolis of Argos. In addition, many mythological figures, who established cities and kingdoms, originated from Argos, showing Argos' impact on the region from very early times. Its history, as with most of the Hellenic States, is not a peaceful one. Even the myth of the Seven Generals against Thebes, which ends in the destruction of Thebes, portrays that the Argives were polemic since a time unrecorded. Unlike Sparta, the culture of Argos survived after the coming of the Dorians. Though Argives were able warriors,[/b] defeating Sparta at Hysiae and in the battle of Champions during a close fight, at the same time they cultivated the arts, producing masterpieces, reaching their highest point culturally, at the time of Ageladas and Polykleitos.
Apart from the myths, which relates them with a greater part of Hellenic mythology, the Argives had actually reigned Peloponnesos, if not the whole Greek mainland. They were the first to adopt the hoplon shield, which the Greek hoplite carries on the battlefield, and this shield was originally named the 'Argolic' Shield. Argos was at its apex during the 8th century BC, it ruled one of the holy amphyctionic leagues of Apollo, and few could question its authority. The peak of their power was when Pheidon was in power, hereditary king of Argos, descendant of Temenos, who amassed such an absolute power, that he was named tyrannt n 669 BC, he defeated the Lacedaemonians at Hysiai. Pheidon had enormous influence, not only in the Peloponnese, but throughout Greece. According to Aristotle, Pheidon was the first to develop currency, striking the first coins at the occupied by Argos island of Aigina. Being the supreme force in Peloponnesos meant it eventually had to face the rising might of Sparta; this was the beginning of many bloody wars, which lead to the reduction of Argos' territory. But, Sparta did not come out of the conflict unscathed. Victory against the strong army of Argos, which was lead by 5 generals –one for each Argive tribe- was never easy and simple, at least in the early stages of the rivalry between these 2 cities. The 2nd Messenean War is said to had began after an Argive victory against the Lacedaimonians. Another cruel collision, known as "The Battle of the Promachoi" took place in Thyreatis in the mid 6th century BC, twice. It is said that all of the warriors on both sides were killed, except for 2 Argives and a Spartan. The Spartan remained in the field when the Argives left (to announce the outcome), and claimed the victory for himself. Eventually the 2 armies collided in their full numbers a 2nd time to determine the winner. Even when Argos lost Cynouria and other regions to Sparta, it remained a considerable military force and was culturally advanced. It was the center of sculpture in Greece, and Herodotos mentions that the Argives were the most skillfull musicians. Inside and outside the city lay several monuments; among them was the sacred place were the Argives had gathered and vowed not to return to their city if they did not seize Troy, which reminded them of the great mythological era that had passed. There was even a large bunk in the agora, where the Argives claimed Medussa's head was buried. During celebrations they carried about Diomedes' shield and honored the gods, but escecially Athena and Hera, who favored their mythological king. The white color of their shields also comes from an ancient tradition; Argives beared white shields since the age of the Trojan Wars!
However in the threat of the Persian invasion Argives chose to keep a strict neutrality which favored the persian invasion ,either due to their weakness -since earlier they had lost thousands of soldiers after a battle against the Spartans- or because of their huge hatred with the Lacedaimonians. When the persian emissaries reached Argos they told the Argives about their supposingly common descend from the famous Argive hero Perseus. Earlier in 494 BC, Kleomenes had advanced into Argolis, but he failed to take Argos. He then asked ships from Sikyon and Aigina which unwillingly gave them and landed near Tyrinth. There he found, at a location called Sepea, which was between Argos and the sea, the Argive army. By gross carelessness of the Argives, he surprised them and defeated them. The Argives then tried to find refuge in the sacred grove of the Hero Argos. Kleomenes surrounded them and in an unthinkable for the Greek customs action, he set fire to the grove. 6000 Argives lost their lives that day, almost 2/3 of the whole army. The city itself avoided destruction when Telesila, a renown Argive poetess gather the women, children and the old men and gave them weapons from the sanctuaries, and placed them in positions where the Spartans would attack. The Spartans however, thinking that would be a disgrace to attack old women and children, eventually withdrew.
The Argives have a great legacy to guard, they will not hesitate to destroy the minor cities of Argolis which challenge their hegemony in the region, and possess mighty hoplites of superior quality; they believe that they are protected by the gods, who favored their ancestors, and are open to innovations. They were the first to introduce an elite force of proffessional soldiers and they remain the most powerfull city in Argolis, keeping good relations with the priesthood of Delphi.They are always willing to help the enemies of Sparta, easily ally with Athens against their ancient rivals and will at once capture the neighbouring cities of Arcadia and Corinth when they have the chance. All of these things make Argos capable of causing anyone who challenges it, whether he is Greek or barbarian, an unforgettably painful experience!
Argos Region
Units
Argive Hoplites
The hoplites of Argos are not to be underestimated. A few decades before the starting date of hegemonia they were almost equal to the Spartans. The 300 finest Argives beat the 300 finest Spartans in a close battle for the Cynouria region. Actually 2 Argives survived the lethal battle but when they left the battlefield to bring the victorous news to their countrymen, a wounded Spartan recovered and by building a trophy from the weapons of the fallen Argives claimed the Argive victory to be a Spartan one! This controversy was followed by a new battle with the entire armies (at first the 2 sides agreed to bring only their finest hoplites to settle the difference over Cynouria to avoid a larger slaughter) in which the Argives were beaten. Since then the Spartans wore their famous long hair and the Argives cut their hair short as a sign of mourning.
As a result of the Spartan social and military reforms, the Argives lost their reputation of being the best hoplites of Peloponnesos, but are still great warriors, a considerable foe for any faction that will face the warriors behind the white shields!
Argive Epilektoi (Elite) Hoplites
The bulk of each citys army consists of citizens-hoplites who are not profesional soldiers save those of Sparta whose hoplites are lifetime warriors.
The city of Argos however, which already had quality in its hoplites, was one of the few cities which formed a professional corp of elite and chosen hoplites, fed and trained particularly for war with the cities public expenses
Argos ancient rival, Sparta, had grown intensily in power so the Argives had to make up new constitution for their city in order to successfully face the Spartans on battlefield
Since this constitution is rather early compared with the Spartan laws which had provided the city with a professional army for quite a time and also the fact the epilektoi are only numbered to 1000 while the Spartans homoioi are more numerous, the Argives epilektoi may not be proven an equal of the Spartan homoioi in battlefield, though they are a mighty force nevertheless
Thoykidides has recorded in his history the "epilektoi" taking part in a rather detailed description of a battle.
In the first battle of Mantineia in 418, the Argives and their allies faced a combined lacedaimonian and allied force consisting of the best hoplites of Korinthos,Arcadia,Boiotia and Megara along with Lacedaimonian homoioi,Brasidas veterans,elite skiritai and elite Tegians and was a larger force than that of the Argive-Mantinian and Athenian force
The Mantinian allies of Argos were placed on the right wing because the battle was taken place in their country and next to them the 1000 Argive epilektoi
When the formations collided, the epilektoi and the Mantinians routed the skiritai and the brasidian veterans, caused confusion in the enemy and surrounded the lakedaimonians faster than the right wing of the Spartan army consisting of Tegians and Lacedaimonians routed the outnumbered Athenian wing. The epilektoi chased down the enemy to the supply wagons and slayed the guards. However in the center of the line where the hippeis were fighing around the Spartan king Agis, the Lacedaimonians were badly defeating the normal Argive hoplites who routed along with allies from small cities. The athenian wing then found itself between two fires and the whole of the Argive formation was cut in two.Agis then ,seeing that the center and the left wing was secured sent the whole of his army (more than 4000) against the Mantinians and the Argive epilektoi who had defeated their opponents. Seeing the total of the enemy army advancing against them, they withdrew and many of the Mantinians were killed, however the epilektoi had very few losses
Later on time more Peloponnesians made similar constitutions of elite hoplites following the Argive example
The "gymnesioi" are a social class of public slaves equivalent to the helots of the spartans and the "penestai" of Thessaly, consisting of an archaic population which was subdued to the dorians and lost its freedom. As a result of Argos' gradual decline and the defeats it suffered from the Spartans, the gymnesioi took power in Argos, married the Argive women and became free men. However the women snobbed the former slaves and didnt bear many children, so the next generation of the Argives (the sons of the killed men in 494) managed to expel the gymnesioi from the city. Then the gymnesioi took posession of the neighboring city of Tyrins by force, and tried to recapture Argos city but failed and returned to the status of slave.
In war they follow their masters fighting as auxiliary/supporting psiloi troops, armed with clubs, stones and javelins. Their name most probably derives from "gymnes" (naked) that the greeks called the lightly armed soldiers (psiloi).
Argive Liberated Hoplites
In 494 BC the Spartans lead by king Kleomenes invaded Argolis and beat the Argive army. 6000 men, the biggest part of the Argive army was exterminated or disabled. The Argives then were forced to liberate a number of their gymnesioi in order to fill the ranks of their phalanx and help them overcome the crisis. Of course they are not the best of the hoplites available having little experience in that type of warfare and only the most basic equipement, but they form a cheap and numerous solution in times of need. The Argives also later on had offered the citizenship to the inhabitants of other neighboring cities of Argolis in some occasions after subduing them.
Epidauros Hoplites
All the cities in Argolis area used to be for centuries under Argos' area of influence. So did the famous city of Epidauros which lies on the north coast of Argolis, on the Saronic gulf opposite the island of Aigina. These hoplites fight alongside the Argive army as allies, but if the Epidaurians will find a strong ally which would oppose the Argives, they are likely to grab the chance and turn against them seeking for independence.
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Hegemonia-City States - Faction preview - The city of Argos
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