Pella
Capital of ancient Macedon, birthplace of Philip II and Alexander the Great.
Located 1 km outside the modern town of Pella in Central Macedonia, Greece, it was probably founded at the beginning of the 4th century BC by Archelaus I as the new capital, supplanting Aigai.
- Founded
- Beginning of the 4th century BC (probably by Archelaus I)
- Location
- 1 km outside modern Pella, Central Macedonia, Greece
- Destroyed by earthquake
- c. 90 BC
- Roman colony
- Colonia Iulia Augusta Pella (45–30 BC)
Lore & Background
Pella was a strategic port in Lower Macedonia, connected to the Thermaic Gulf by a navigable inlet that later silted up. It is first mentioned in relation to Xerxes' campaign and Macedonian expansion. By the early 4th century BC, Xenophon called it the largest Macedonian city. Philip II made it a walled city of great international importance, and it flourished under Cassander and Antigonus II, with the latter's reign representing the height of prosperity.
Reader's Guide
Pella's significance lies in its role as the political and commercial heart of Macedon during its rise under Philip II and Alexander the Great. The city declined as Thessalonica became the provincial capital. The site remains a key source for understanding Macedonian culture and language.
Did You Know?
- Pella was probably founded at the beginning of the 4th century BC by Archelaus I, supplanting Aigai as capital.
- The name 'Pella' may derive from the ancient Greek word 'pella' meaning 'stone'.
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