Evia Tourist Guide -- Evia during the Ancient Times

Evia during the Ancient Times

Aulida

When the Mikinaikan Civilization was flourishing, the Greeks undertook their Trojan Campaign, which was the first collective Greek national undertaking and evolved into a glorious event of great national significance. The Greek army gathered in the Gulf of Evia and the inhabitants of Evia the Avantes, responded to the historic challenge by taking part in the campaign against Troy with 40 ships. Homer, refers to a list of ships in the Greek army from the Evian towns of Chalkida, Eretria, Istiaia, Kirntho, Dion, Karisto and Stira.

During the Geometrical period we had an influx of ionies into Evia and during the first Greek colonization, the Avantes from Evia colonized Chalkithiki, Chio and Ionia of Asia Minor. Also during the period of the second colonization the two powerful cities of Chalkida and Eretria established colonies in Southern Italy, Sicily, the remaining coast of the Mediterranean and also the Efxinos Pontos.

During the 7th century B.C. both Chalkida and Eretria claimed the right to control the Lilantine plain which flows the Lilantios river.

By the end of the 6ht Century B.C. the cities of Evia had experienced every form of government: monarchy, aristocracy, oligarchy and tyranny. In the period that followed the Chalkidians were subject to the Athenians, who exiled their aristocrats (Hippobotes) and divided their land up among colonists brought from Athens.

In 449 B.C. the Eretrians and Athenians went to assist the Ionian cities which has rebelled against the Persians. This event gave the Persians. This event gave the Persians a pretext to organise their first campaign against Greece and during this war Eretria was razed to the ground.

Evia has associated its name with the Greek - Persian wars because of the naval battle which took place at the promontory of Artemision. There, at the northernmost point of Evia, the Greek navy, with the participitation of the Evian fleet, clashed with the Persian navy. The result of this battle was undecided but the Greeks had gained valuable experience which they would use during the battle of Salaminas. Thus at Artemisio, «the freedom of the Greeks has been established» as Pindar had stated.

After the Greek - Persians wars the Evians became members of the A' Athenian Alliance.

When the Persian were under Athenian rule and they rebelled twice. When widespread rebellion broke out in 446 B.C. the Athenians reacted decisively and Pericles himself with strong army put down the revolt. Evia was forced to become a member of the alliance again. The second time in 411 B.C., however, during the Peloponesian war, the Evian cities were supported by the Peloponesian naval forces, and the Athenians were badly defeated in Eretria.

After some civil disturbances, Evia became a member of the 2nd Athenian Alliance in 357 B.C., bu trebelled again in 349-348 B.C.

When Philip was expanding his sphare of influence over southern Greece, the Evian cities formed the Federation of «the Council of Evia» and made an alliance with Athens.

The Evians fought alongside the Athenians and Thebans in the battle of Heronias. After this victory, Philip probably fortified Chalkida and used it as an arsenal. During the time of the successors of Alexander the Great, relations between the Evians and Macedonians were friendly.

The Evians, however, fought with the Archaikis federation against the Romans at the battle of Skarphias and this is the reason why the Roman General, Mommios destroyed both Chalkida and Corinth in 146 B.C.