The ancient Greek city of Pella is the capital of the legendary Macedonian kingdom and the birthplace of the famous commander Alexander the Great. The ruins of the ancient city are located a few kilometers from modern Pella and about 40 km from Thessaloniki.
The first mention of Pella is found in the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. At the end of the 5th century BC. The Macedonian king Archelaus moved the capital from the sacred city of Aegis to Pella and built a luxurious palace here, the painting of which was entrusted to the famous ancient Greek artist Zeuxis. The city began to grow and develop rapidly, and at the beginning of the 4th century Pella was already the largest city in Macedonia. The city reached its peak during the reign of Philip and his famous son Alexander the Great. In 168 BC. Pella was conquered and plundered by the Romans. For some time, Pella remained the capital of one of the districts of the Roman province of Macedonia, but subsequently lost its status to Thessaloniki. Over time, the city fell into decay, and an earthquake in the 1st century BC. completely destroyed it.
Research and the first excavations of ancient Pella date back to the beginning of the 20th century, but large-scale systematic work began already in the 50s of the 20th century. During the excavations, a monumental palace complex was discovered - the residence of the Macedonian kings and, in fact, the ancient Pella itself, located somewhat south of the palace. The city was built in accordance with the urban planning system of the famous ancient Greek architect Hippodamus with rows of streets intersecting at right angles. In the center of the city was the urban Agora, surrounded by a colonnade and occupying an area of approximately 70,000 square meters, on the territory of which there were shops, workshops, administrative buildings, etc. Pella was also equipped with water supply and sewerage systems. Archaeologists have discovered numerous ruins of one- and two-story residential buildings (some of them have preserved pebble floor mosaics of stunning beauty), as well as the remains of fortress walls, the ruins of the city harbor (in ancient times, Pella was connected to the Thermaikos Gulf by a navigable lagoon) and ancient burials. Part of the archaeological site is now accessible to tourists.
The ruins of Ancient Pella are recognized as an important historical and archaeological monument and are under state protection. Excavations continue here and at the present time, and it is likely that new amazing discoveries await us in the future.
In 2009, the Archaeological Museum was opened on the territory of the excavations of ancient Pella, which is rightfully considered one of the best museums of its kind in Greece.
The famous ruler Alexander was born in this city. In the ancient city of Pella, every stone breathes thousands of years of history.
Alexander created a majestic empire that united peoples and countries. Much of that time has survived to this day. Everything here reminds of the creation of civilization, which even today keeps numerous secrets and mysteries.
Who decided to create a royal capital from a small town, historians do not know, but 2400 years ago, King Archelaus built a luxurious palace here, known as one of the best examples of ancient architecture and fine arts. The first mentions of the city have been heard since the time of the campaign of King Darius and the famous battle of the Spartans.
The growth of the influence of the Macedonian kings also expanded Pella. From a small city with a good location, where it was possible to perfectly defend against enemies, it grew to the title of the capital of the formidable Macedonian kingdom.
City of the king of kings
In the 4th century BC, the city became one of the largest cities in the young and rapidly growing kingdom. Here the rulers of Macedonia were born and died, which began to unite most of the Greek lands. The famous commander, creator of the largest Hellenistic state, Alexander the Great or Alexander III the Great, was born in the city.
Alexander's heirs made Pell one of the largest and most splendid cities of the new empire. Then the city experienced periods of prosperity and decline, but after a major earthquake at the beginning of the 1st century BC, it was almost completely destroyed.
Restoring the memory of Pella
Only at the beginning of the 20s of our century, archaeologists were able to start excavations and search for an answer to the question of whether the capital of Macedonia was actually in Pella. The excavations delighted scientists. A huge number of well-preserved artifacts from ancient Greek times were found here.
The Archaeological Museum of Pella is a treasure trove of modern knowledge about the times of kings, the exploits of heroes and the battles for freedom.
Today, travelers can enjoy spending hours interacting with artifacts from an ancient era. Scientists carefully studied everything that could be raised from the ruins and found the remains of a magnificent city.
It had its own palace, located on 6 hectares. In the center of the city there was a large area-agora for meetings and holidays, trade. The wide streets were carefully planned. The ancient inhabitants of Pell lived in 500 houses with one-story or two-story structures. The houses are richly decorated with mosaics, sculptures and paintings. The unique mosaics in Pell's houses have been preserved. It is considered the pinnacle achievement of ancient Greek culture because of the richness and brightness of the images, the realism of the images.
Ancient Pella is a reflection of the Greek civilization that created the foundation of modern civilization. Today's Pella is rich in antiquities and a spectacular open-air museum town.
; Herodotus called Pella a city located in the region of Bottia, inhabited by the Botti tribe.
Stefan of Byzantium noted in his geographical treatise: formerly Pella in Macedonia was called Bounomos or Bounomeia. During the reign of the Macedonian king Alexander I (- BC), the lands of Macedonia rapidly expanded to the north and east due to the displacement and absorption of the Thracian and other tribes. Under the son of Alexander I, King Perdikka II, Pella was already part of Macedonia, and the Botti tribe moved to the peninsula of Halkidiki. When the Thracian king Sitalk invaded Macedonia in the 2nd half of the 5th c. BC e. , the Macedonians took refuge in a few fortresses, making partisan attacks against the enemy. Perhaps it was then that Perdikka II decided to make Pella, located in a protected place, almost in the center of Emathia, his capital.
It is not known who exactly and when moved the capital of Macedonia from the sacred Eggs to Pella, but at least the son of Perdikkas, the Macedonian king Archelaus (- BC), built a luxurious palace there, for the painting of which he invited the famous Greek artist Zeuxis. Euripides was buried here.
« The consul left Pydna with all his army, the next day he was at Pella and set up camp a mile from the city, stood there for several days, examining the location of the city from all sides, and was convinced that the kings of Macedonia had not settled here in vain: Pella stands on a hill looking at winter sunset; swamps around it, impassable neither in summer nor in winter - they are fed by river floods. The fortress of Fakos rises like an island among the swamps in the place where they come closest to the city; it stands on a huge embankment, capable of withstanding the weight of the walls and not suffering from the moisture of the swamps surrounding it. From afar, it seems that the fortress is connected to the city wall, although in fact they are separated by a moat with water, and connected by a bridge, so that the enemy would not be able to approach, and any prisoner imprisoned by the king could not escape except through the bridge, which is easier protect everything. There, in the fortress, was the royal treasury...»
After the Roman conquest of Macedonia in the 2nd c. BC e. Pella for some time remained the center of one of the 4 administrative districts into which the Romans divided Macedonia, but then the center was moved to a more conveniently located Thessaloniki, and the former capital of the Macedonian kings was abandoned. Lucian in 180 called Pella an insignificant town with a small number of inhabitants.
The fortress among the swamps did not stand the test of peacetime. In the 1st century BC e. the earthquake destroyed the city. Natural changes in the landscape also contributed to the oblivion of Pella. Once a port on the lake and having access to the Aegean Sea through the Ludius River, over time Pella turned out to be a land city.
Archeology
In our time, only the ancient ruins near the town of Ayii Apostoli (Greek: Άγιοι Απόστολοι ), but there was no certainty that this was the same city - the birthplace of Alexander the Great. In Agioi Apostoli, located one kilometer from the ruins of the ancient city and 40 km northwest of Thessaloniki (Greek Thessaloniki or Thessaloniki Θεσσαλονίκη), he changed his name to Pella.
Excavations in Greece at the supposed site of ancient Pella began in the city and continued from the city. Decorative tiles with Pella inscriptions were found in the city, confirming the correctness of the archaeologists' assumptions. During the excavations, a settlement of the Neolithic period (7th millennium BC), traces of a palace complex with an area of 6 hectares, and a fortress were found. Only the stone foundation remained of the walls of the fortress, the walls themselves were made of mud brick, which over time turned into mud that covered the foundation.
The ancient city with an area of about 2 km² was located south of the palace. There was a large square (agora) in the center, and the city itself was regularly planned by 9-10 m wide streets intersecting at right angles. The buildings (almost 500) were one- and two-story.
Mosaic
Well-preserved mosaics from the early Hellenistic period have been found on the floors of some buildings.
Of particular interest are the andron floor mosaics of the so-called. "Houses of Dionysus" ("Dionysus", "Hunting a Lion"), and "Houses of Helen's Abduction" ("Hunting a Deer" and "Abduction of Helen" (preserved fragment)).
The inscription “γνῶσις ἐποίεσεν” (“Gnosis made”) is the first autograph of the author in the history of the mosaic on the mosaic depicting a deer hunting scene.
This is a new level of mosaic art, which neither the masters of classical Greece knew and for a long time will not reach the masters of the Hellenistic era. Realism appears here for the first time: space and volume, color is used freely. In technology - the most careful selection of pebbles, not only in size, but also in shape, for better detail, new materials are used - strips of clay and lead.
This is explained by the fact that the master Gnosis was guided in his art by contemporary realistic painting, while other, both early and late masters, oriented the mosaic more towards red-figure vase painting with its predominantly two-color coloring and planar graphics.
Pella's mosaics are the pinnacle of the art of pebble mosaics, and although pebbles will still be used in the 3rd-2nd centuries. BC e., it is becoming obsolete as a material for artwork.
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Notes
Links
- , Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites (via Perseus)
- Hellenic Ministry of Culture
- - in Liberey "New Herodotus"
Coordinates : 40°45′36″ N sh. 22°31′09″ in. d. / 40.76000° N sh. 22.51917° E d./ 40.76000; 22.51917(G) (I)
An excerpt characterizing Pella (city)
Metivier, shrugging his shoulders, went up to Mademoiselle Bourienne, who had come running at a cry from the next room.“The prince is not quite well,” la bile et le transport au cerveau. Tranquillisez vous, je repasserai demain, [bile and congestion to the brain. Calm down, I'll come tomorrow,] - said Metivier and, putting his finger to his lips, hurriedly left.
Footsteps in shoes were heard outside the door and shouts: “Spies, traitors, traitors everywhere! There is no moment of peace in your house!”
After the departure of Metivier, the old prince called his daughter to him and all the strength of his anger fell upon her. It was her fault that a spy was allowed to see him. .After all, he said, he told her to make a list, and those who were not on the list should not be allowed in. Why did they let this bastard go! She was the cause of everything. With her he could not have a moment of peace, he could not die in peace, he said.
- No, mother, disperse, disperse, you know it, know it! I can't do it anymore," he said and left the room. And as if afraid that she might not be able to somehow console herself, he returned to her and, trying to assume a calm air, added: “And don’t think that I said this to you in a moment of my heart, but I am calm, and I thought it over; and it will be - disperse, look for a place for yourself! ... - But he could not stand it, and with that anger that only a person who loves can have, he, apparently suffering himself, shook his fists and shouted to her:
“And if only some fool would marry her!” - He slammed the door, called m lle Bourienne to him and fell silent in the office.
At two o'clock the chosen six persons gathered for dinner. The guests - the famous Count Rostopchin, Prince Lopukhin with his nephew, General Chatrov, the old, fighting comrade of the prince, and from the young Pierre and Boris Drubetskoy - were waiting for him in the living room.
The other day, Boris, who came to Moscow on vacation, wished to be introduced to Prince Nikolai Andreevich and managed to win his favor to such an extent that the prince made an exception for him from all the unmarried young people whom he did not accept.
The prince's house was not what is called "light", but it was such a small circle, which, although not heard of in the city, but in which it was most flattering to be received. Boris realized this a week ago, when in his presence Rostopchin told the commander-in-chief, who called the count to dine on Nikolin's day, that he could not be:
- On this day, I always go to venerate the relics of Prince Nikolai Andreevich.
“Oh, yes, yes,” answered the commander-in-chief. - What he?..
The small society, gathered in the old-fashioned, high, with old furniture, drawing room before dinner, looked like a solemn meeting of the council of the court. Everyone was silent, and if they spoke, they spoke quietly. Prince Nikolai Andreevich came out serious and silent. Princess Mary seemed even more quiet and timid than usual. The guests were reluctant to address her, because they saw that she had no time for their conversations. Count Rostopchin alone kept the thread of the conversation, talking about the latest urban or political news.
Lopukhin and the old general occasionally took part in the conversation. Prince Nikolai Andreevich listened as the supreme judge listened to the report that was being made to him, only occasionally stating in silence or in a short word that he took note of what was being reported to him. The tone of the conversation was such that it was understandable that no one approved of what was being done in the political world. Events were recounted, apparently confirming that things were going from bad to worse; but in every story and judgment, it was amazing how the narrator stopped or was stopped each time at the border where the judgment could relate to the face of the Emperor.
At dinner, the conversation turned to the latest political news, about the seizure of the possessions of the Duke of Oldenburg by Napoleon, and about the Russian note hostile to Napoleon sent to all European courts.
“Bonaparte treats Europe like a pirate on a conquered ship,” said Count Rostopchin, repeating a phrase he had already spoken several times. - You are only surprised at the patience or blindness of sovereigns. Now it comes to the pope, and Bonaparte no longer hesitates to overthrow the head of the Catholic religion, and everyone is silent! One of our sovereign protested against the seizure of the possessions of the Duke of Oldenburg. And then ... - Count Rostopchin fell silent, feeling that he stood at the point where it was no longer possible to condemn.
“They offered other possessions instead of the Duchy of Oldenburg,” said Prince Nikolai Andreevich. - Just as I resettled the peasants from the Bald Mountains to Bogucharovo and Ryazan, so he dukes.
- Le duc d "Oldenbourg supporte son malheur avec une force de caractere et une resignation admirable, [The Duke of Oldenburg endures his misfortune with remarkable willpower and resignation to fate,] said Boris, respectfully entering into a conversation. He said this because he was passing through from Petersburg had the honor of introducing himself to the duke.” Prince Nikolai Andreevich looked at the young man as if he wanted to tell him something about this, but changed his mind, considering him too young for that.
“I read our protest about the Oldenburg case and was surprised at the bad wording of this note,” said Count Rostopchin, with the casual tone of a man judging a case he is well acquainted with.
Pierre looked at Rostopchin with naive surprise, not understanding why he was worried about the bad wording of the note.
“Isn’t it all the same how the note is written, Count?” he said, “if its content is strong.
- Mon cher, avec nos 500 mille hommes de troupes, il serait facile d "avoir un beau style, [My dear, with our 500 thousand troops it seems easy to be expressed in a good style] - said Count Rostopchin. Pierre understood why Count Rostopchin was worried about the editorial note.
“It seems that the scribbler is quite divorced,” said the old prince: “everything is written there in St. Petersburg, not only notes, but new laws are being written. My Andryusha wrote a whole volume of laws for Russia there. Everything is being written! And he laughed unnaturally.
The conversation was silent for a minute; the old general drew attention with a cough.
- Did you deign to hear about the latest event at the review in St. Petersburg? how the new French envoy showed himself!
- What? Yes, I heard something; he said something awkwardly in front of His Majesty.
“His Majesty drew his attention to the grenadier division and the ceremonial march,” continued the general, “and it was as if the envoy did not pay any attention and as if he allowed himself to say that we in France do not pay attention to such trifles. The sovereign did not deign to say anything. At the next review, they say, the sovereign never deigned to turn to him.
Everyone fell silent: no judgment could be made on this fact, which applied personally to the sovereign.
- Daring! - said the prince. Do you know Metivier? I kicked him out today. He was here, they let me in, no matter how I asked not to let anyone in, ”said the prince, looking angrily at his daughter. And he told his whole conversation with the French doctor and the reasons why he was convinced that Metivier was a spy. Although these reasons were very insufficient and not clear, no one objected.
Champagne was served for the roast. The guests rose from their seats, congratulating the old prince. Princess Mary also approached him.
The ancient city of Pella, also known by the local name - Tabaqit-Fakhl, is known for its rich history. There are many interesting archaeological sites here, most of which belong to the Greco-Roman, Islamic and Byzantine periods (12-14 centuries AD). But some of the finds made here are among the oldest evidence of human culture. Excavations on the territory of Pella are still ongoing - the city is dearly loved by archaeologists as an interesting object for research.
Pella is located in the north of the Jordan Valley, not far from Amman. In the Greco-Roman era, the city was part of the Decapolis (Decapolis) - an association of ten economically and culturally developed cities.
The city of Pella owes its name to the city of the same name, in which Alexander the Great was born. As in the homeland of the commander, there were healing hot springs, so the soldiers of Alexander the Great gave the city the same name - Pella. But the city itself was founded long before the reign of Alexander the Great. Thanks to the unique archaeological finds, it can be argued that settled life already existed on the territory of Pella in the Paleolithic era. In the second millennium BC. Pella was already a city.
The main attraction of Pella is the ruins of a large Byzantine temple complex. It was built by Christians and was used for Christian worship, despite the established Islam in this region.
The ruins of a large ancient theater - the Odeon, are also a significant find of archaeologists. It was built in the 1st century AD. downtown. Near the Odeon, several ancient fountains have been preserved, of which the Roman Nymphaeum fountain deserves special attention. Among the Byzantine churches preserved in Pella, it is worth paying attention to the East and West. The Eastern Church is located on a high hill, from the observation deck of which there is an excellent view of the city - a place that is especially good for photography. The western church, which dates back to the 4th century AD, was badly damaged by the earthquake - all that remains of it are three columns that were part of the colonnade of the courtyard.
Also, tourists will see in ancient Pella such ancient monuments as: a residential quarter of the early Islamic period - streets, houses, shops; and the ruins of a mosque built during the Mamluk period.
Speaking of the rarest and most ancient monuments that tourists can see in Pella, it is worth noting the remains of the cities fortified for the defense of the Bronze and Iron Ages; artifacts that relate to the Old and New Testaments; traces of the Chalcolithic human settlement (4th century BC). As a result of modern excavations carried out not so long ago, evidence was found that ancient settlements existed in Pella 10 thousand years ago.
An excursion to the ancient city of Pella, in which everything is literally saturated with antiquity, antiquity, will remain in your memory for a long time.
Story
For the first time, the name of Pella was heard by Herodotus when describing the campaign of the Persian king Xerxes against Greece in 480 BC. e. ; Herodotus called Pella a city located in the region of Bottia, inhabited by the Botti tribe.
Stefan of Byzantium noted in his geographical treatise: formerly Pella in Macedonia was called Bounomos or Bounomeia. During the reign of the Macedonian king Alexander I (- BC), the lands of Macedonia rapidly expanded to the north and east due to the displacement and absorption of the Thracian and other tribes. Under the son of Alexander I, King Perdikka II, Pella was already part of Macedonia, and the Botti tribe moved to the peninsula of Halkidiki. When the Thracian king Sitalk invaded Macedonia in the 2nd half of the 5th c. BC e. , the Macedonians took refuge in a few fortresses, making partisan attacks against the enemy. Perhaps it was then that Perdikka II decided to make Pella, located in a protected place, almost in the center of Emathia, his capital.
It is not known who exactly and when moved the capital of Macedonia from the sacred Eggs to Pella, but at least the son of Perdikkas, the Macedonian king Archelaus (- BC), built a luxurious palace there, for the painting of which he invited the famous Greek artist Zeuxis. Euripides was buried here.
« The consul left Pydna with all his army, the next day he was at Pella and set up camp a mile from the city, stood there for several days, examining the location of the city from all sides, and was convinced that the kings of Macedonia had not settled here in vain: Pella stands on a hill looking at winter sunset; swamps around it, impassable neither in summer nor in winter - they are fed by river floods. The fortress of Fakos rises like an island among the swamps in the place where they come closest to the city; it stands on a huge embankment, capable of withstanding the weight of the walls and not suffering from the moisture of the swamps surrounding it. From afar, it seems that the fortress is connected to the city wall, although in fact they are separated by a moat with water, and connected by a bridge, so that the enemy would not be able to approach, and any prisoner imprisoned by the king could not escape except through the bridge, which is easier protect everything. There, in the fortress, was the royal treasury...»
After the Roman conquest of Macedonia in the 2nd c. BC e. Pella for some time remained the center of one of the 4 administrative districts into which the Romans divided Macedonia, but then the center was moved to a more conveniently located Thessaloniki, and the former capital of the Macedonian kings was abandoned. Lucian in 180 called Pella an insignificant town with a small number of inhabitants.
The fortress among the swamps did not stand the test of peacetime. In the 1st century BC e. the earthquake destroyed the city. Natural changes in the landscape also contributed to the oblivion of Pella. Once a port on the lake and having access to the Aegean Sea through the Ludius River, over time Pella turned out to be a land city.
Archeology
In our time, only the ancient ruins near the town of Ayii Apostoli (Greek: Άγιοι Απόστολοι ), but there was no certainty that this was the same city - the birthplace of Alexander the Great. In Agioi Apostoli, located one kilometer from the ruins of the ancient city and 40 km northwest of Thessaloniki (Greek Thessaloniki or Thessaloniki Θεσσαλονίκη), he changed his name to Pella.
Excavations in Greece at the supposed site of ancient Pella began in the city and continued from the city. Decorative tiles with Pella inscriptions were found in the city, confirming the correctness of the archaeologists' assumptions. During the excavations, a settlement of the Neolithic period (7th millennium BC), traces of a palace complex with an area of 6 hectares, and a fortress were found. Only the stone foundation remained of the walls of the fortress, the walls themselves were made of mud brick, which over time turned into mud that covered the foundation.
The ancient city with an area of about 2 km² was located south of the palace. There was a large square (agora) in the center, and the city itself was regularly planned by 9-10 m wide streets intersecting at right angles. The buildings (almost 500) were one- and two-story.
Mosaic
Lion hunting (“House of Dionysus”, late 4th century BC)
Well-preserved mosaics from the early Hellenistic period have been found on the floors of some buildings.
Of particular interest are the andron floor mosaics of the so-called. "Houses of Dionysus" ("Dionysus", "Hunting a Lion"), and "Houses of Helen's Abduction" ("Hunting a Deer" and "Abduction of Helen" (preserved fragment)).
The inscription “γνῶσις ἐποίεσεν” (“Gnosis made”) is the first autograph of the author in the history of the mosaic on the mosaic depicting a deer hunting scene.
Deer hunting (“House of the abduction of Helen”, end of the 4th century BC)
This is a new level of mosaic art, which neither the masters of classical Greece knew and for a long time will not reach the masters of the Hellenistic era. Realism appears here for the first time: space and volume, color is used freely. In technology - the most careful selection of pebbles, not only in size, but also in shape, for better detail, new materials are used - strips of clay and lead.
