Argos (Greek: Άργος, Árgos) is a city in Greece in the Peloponnesus near Nafplio, which was its historic harbor, named for Nauplius.

Ancient Argos

The name of the city originates from the ancient Greek root arg-, which signifies bright light (hence argyros, silver). The region of Argos was — and is — called the Argolid. It was a major stronghold of Mycenaean times, but the pre-Greek name of its acropolis, Larissa, reveals that it was a Pelasgian settlement. Argos, along with the neighboring acropoleis of Mycenae and Tiryns became very early settlements because of their commanding positions in the midst of the fertile plain of Argolid. Because of its refusal to fight in the Persian War, Argos was shunned by most other city-states. Its founding legend can be read under Danaus. In Homeric times it belonged to a follower of Agamemnon and gave its name to the surrounding district— the Argolid— which the Romans knew as Argeia. Eclipsed by nearby Sparta after the 6th century BC, Argos remained neutral or the ineffective ally of Athens during the 5th century BC struggles between Sparta and Athens.

Medieval Argos

In the 12th century, a castle on Larissa hill was built. Argos fell to the Franks and the Venetians until 1463. The Turks ruled Argos after until 1686 when Argos fell again to the Venetians under Morosini until 1716. It was ruled by the Turks until the Greek War of Independence in 1821.

Modern Argos

The town of Argos is the seat of the province of the same name, one of the three subdivisions of the Argolis prefecture. According to the 2001 Greek census, the city has a population of 27,550. It is the largest city in the prefecture, one of the few prefectures in Greece where the largest city in population is larger than the prefectural capital.

Considerable remains of the city survive and are a popular tourist attraction. Agriculture, however, is the primary economic activity in the area, with citrus fruits the predominant crop. Olives are also popular here.

Argos has a school, a lyceum, a high school, a church, banks, a police station, a post office, a castle a train station (Kalamata - Tripoli - Corinth) a water tower, a junior soccer team, and a square (plateia).

Subdivisions

• Akova
• Kokla
• Larissa
• Timenio

Communities and subdivisions

The two large communities of Argos and Kryovrysi covers about three-thirds of the entire municipality.

• Argos
• Dalamanara
• Inachos
  • Tristrato
• Ira
• Kefalari
  • Magoula
• Kryoneri
  • Elliniko
  • Krya Vryssi
  • Tourniki
  • Zogka
• Kourtaki
• Lalouka
• Pyrgela

Ancient sites

• Kechries or Cenchreae
• Larissa
• Timenio

Twinnings

• Episkopi, Cyprus

See also

• Communities of Argolis

External links

• sikyon.com: History, images, and beautifum ancient places, In Greek
• Das Schwarze Netz: Griechische Mythologie - Schauplätze: Argos
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