MEG'ARA (Lat., from Gk. 311-yapa) . The capital of Megaris (q.v.), on the Isthmus be tween the Peloponnesus and Northern Greece. It was built at the base of two hills, ('aria and Aicathous, each defended by a citadel. Two walls, built by the Athenians during their protectorate over Megara, between n.e. 461 and 445, connected the city with its harbor, Nisxa. In the time of Pansanias the city contained many temples and public buildings, but of these only very scanty traces are now visible, of which the most interesting are perhaps the remains of the aqueduct and fountain built by the Tyrant Theagenes. The origin of Megara is lost in legend, but as early as the eighth century B.C. it was a flourishing commercial city, and sent out many colonies, of which the most famous were Byzantium, Chalcedon, and the Sicilian Megara. Near the end of the seventh century we find it engaged in a fierce and protracted struggle with the Athenians for the island of Salamis, of which it long retained possession. The government had originally been in the hands of the Dorian landed aristocracy, from whom it was usurped about B.C. 620 by Theagenes, who led the popular faction, and established himself as absolute ruler of the State. Upon his expulsion, soon after, a fierce contest took place between the democratic and the aristo cratic parties. After the Persian wars .legara carried on hostilities with Corinth, against which she formed an alliance with Athens, B.C. 461.
Later the Athenians were compelled to surrender their hold on the city. and under a strict oligarchy it became a member of the Pelopon nesian League. It was easily open to the attacks of the Athenians. and was by the decree' of Pericles deprived of all markets in Attica. It was frequently ravaged during the Peloponnesian War, and almost captured at one time by the Athenians aided by the democratic party within. After this war the city plays but a small part in history. A demoeratie form of government w•as rei:stablished in n.a•. 357; after the death of Alexander the (treat the city passed under the eontrol of Demetrius Polioreet es and Ptolemy Seder successively. Demetrius. the son of Antigonus Gonatas, captured and nearly destroyed it. It was afterwards partially re built, and finally surrendered to the Romans under Aletellus. Alone among the cities of Greece. it was not restored by Hadrian; Alaric still further reduced it, and in 1657 the Vene tians completely destroyed it Mtwara was cele brated in antiquity as the seat, of the Megarian School of Philosophy, founded by Euclid, a native of the city. The site is now occupied by a prosperous Greek town, bearing the ancient name, with a population of about 6500.