AMPHIP'OLIS ( Gk. 'Aligillro2,cc). A city of ancient Macedonia, situated in a deep bend of the Strymon, about three miles from the sea (Slap: Turkey in Europe, D 4). Its position made it important as the port of entry for the fertile Strymon Valley and Thrace; and the neighborhood yielded timber for ships, as well as gold and silver. It belonged originally to the Edonians, a Thracian people, and was called, on account of the roads which met here, 'Errea 'odot (Nine Ways). The first who attempted to colonize .it, Aristago•as of 1\liletus, was cut off with his followers by the Edonians. The Atheni ans next tried to gain possession of it. Their first army, amounting to 10,000 men, was utterly cut to pieces at Drabescus, 465 B.C., hut their second, 437 B.C. under llagnon. son of Nicias, was suc cessful. The Thraeians were expelled and a new city built, to which Hagnon gave the name Am phipolis, because it had the river on both sides.
Owing to its mixed population, .Amphipolis was not friendly to Athens, and in 424 n.e. readily joined the Spartan Brasidas. The Athenian gen eral, Cleon, leaving been sent to recover the city, was defeated and slain in a battle fought near its walls in 422 IL c., Brasidas also falling in the engagement. Though nominally restored to Athens, by the peace of Nicias. A mphipolis scenes to have remained independent until its sur render to l'hilip of Alaecdon. At Amphipolis was situated the chief mint of the Macedonian kings, and under the Reonans it was the capital of Eastern Macedonia. In the Middle Ages it was called Popolia. Its site is now occupied by a Turkish town, but a few of its ruins are still visible. Consult: Leake,'''rants in Yo•thera Greece (London, IS35) ; and Henzey and Danmet, arehoologique en Aladdonie (Paris, 1876).