Nicaea or Nikaia ( grc-gre, Νίκαια), was an ancient fortress of the
Epicnemidian Locrians
Opuntian Locris or Eastern Locris was an ancient Greek region inhabited by the eastern division of the Locrians, the so-called tribe of the Locri Epicnemidii ( el, ) or Locri Opuntii (Greek: ).
Geography
Opuntian Locris consisted of a narrow ...
, situated upon the sea, and close to the pass of
Thermopylae. It is described by
Aeschines
Aeschines (; Greek: , ''Aischínēs''; 389314 BC) was a Greek statesman and one of the ten Attic orators.
Biography
Although it is known he was born in Athens, the records regarding his parentage and early life are conflicting; but it seems ...
as one of the places which commanded the pass. It was the first Locrian town after
Alpenos, the latter being at the very entrance of the pass. The surrender of Nicaea by
Phalaecus to
Philip II Philip II may refer to:
* Philip II of Macedon (382–336 BC)
* Philip II (emperor) (238–249), Roman emperor
* Philip II, Prince of Taranto (1329–1374)
* Philip II, Duke of Burgundy (1342–1404)
* Philip II, Duke of Savoy (1438-1497)
* Philip ...
, in 346 BCE, made the
Macedonian king master of Thermopylae, and brought the
Third Sacred War
The Third Sacred War (356–346 BC) was fought between the forces of the Delphic Amphictyonic League, principally represented by Thebes, and latterly by Philip II of Macedon, and the Phocians. The war was caused by a large fine imposed in ...
to an end. Philip kept possession of it for some time, but subsequently gave it to the
Thessalians
Thessaly ( el, Θεσσαλία, translit=Thessalía, ; ancient Thessalian: , ) is a traditional geographic and modern administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thess ...
along with
Magnesia. But in 340 BC we again find Nicaea in the possession of Philip. According to
Memnon of Heraclea Memnon of Heraclea (; grc-gre, Mέμνων, ''gen''.: Μέμνονος; fl. c. 1st century) was a Greek historical writer, probably a native of Heraclea Pontica. He described the history of that city in a large work, known only through the ''Exce ...
, Nicaea was destroyed by the
Phocians, and its inhabitants founded
Bithynian Nicaea. But even if this is true, the town must have been rebuilt soon afterwards, since we find it in the hands of the
Aetolians during the
Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
* Rome, the capital city of Italy
* Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lett ...
wars in
Greece. Subsequently the town is only mentioned by
Strabo (ix. p. 426).
William Martin Leake identifies Nicaea with the castle of
Mendenitsa
Mendenitsa ( el, Μενδενίτσα), in the Middle Ages known as Mountonitsa (Μουντονίτσα) and Bodonitsa or Vodonitsa (Βοδονίτσα), is a village in Phthiotis, Greece. Along with the nearby village of Karavidia, it forms a com ...
, where there are Hellenic remains.
Modern scholars place its site at Ag. Triada / Palaiokastro.
Notes
10. Livy, "The Dawn of the Roman Empire", (Oxford World's Classics, 2000, Books 31-40) Book 32, chapt 32, p 86, "They
hillip II of Macedonia and Roman Consul, Quinctiuschose a site on a beach in the Malian Gulf near Nicaea..." in 197 BC.
References
*
Cities in ancient Greece
Populated places in Epicnemidian Locris
Former populated places in Greece
{{AncientGreece-geo-stub