Myrcinus

Myrcinus or Myrkinos (Ancient Greek: Μύρκινος^[1] or Μύρκιννος^[2]) was an ancient Greek city located in Macedonian Thrace, in the region of Edonis between the Strymon and the Nestos Rivers,^[3] on the left bank of the Strymon. It was within the territory of the Edonians, a Thracian tribe,^[4] and was founded as a polis by colonists from Miletus in 497 BCE.^[5] The colonists were led by Histiaios^[6] (already a Tyrant of Miletus), whom Darius had allowed to build a city in reward for his help. Its site offered great advantages to settlers, as it contained an abundant supply of timber for shipbuilding, as well as silver mines.^[7] Aristagoras retired to this place, and, soon after landing, perished before some Thracian town which he was besieging.^[8][9] Afterwards, it had fallen into the hands of the Edoni; but on the murder of Pittacus, chief of that people, it surrendered to Brasidas^[10] after he captured Amphipolis, Oesyme and Galepsus in 422 BCE.^[11] During the Byzantine empire it was known as Doxompos (Δοξόμπος) or Doxompus (Δοξόμπους).

Its site is near the modern village renamed Myrkinos in honour of the ancient town.^[12][13]

See also

• Greek colonies in Thrace