Pella

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For other places named Pella, see: Pella (disambiguation).

Template:Infobox Pref GR Pella (Greek: Πέλλα) is the name of a city and one of the prefectures of Greece. Its capital town is Edessa. The prefecture was named after the ancient city Pella. During Byzantine and Ottoman years, the city was known in Greek as Άγιοι Απόστολοι (Ayii Apostoli), rendered in South Slavic languages as Постол (Postol), until it revereted to its ancient name in 1936.

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History

Main article History of Pella.

Pella was the palace-capital of ancient Macedon since the times of Archelaus I of Macedon, the seat of Philip II of Macedon and of Alexander the Great, his son. In 168 BC Pella was sacked by the Romans, and its treasury was transported to Rome. Later the city was destroyed by an earthquake and eventually was rebuilt over its ruins. By 180 AD Lucian could describe it in passing as "now insignificant, with very few inhabitants".

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Geography

The mountains lie to the north and the southwest especially the Vermio mountains, the Voras mountains to the northwest and the Paiko mountains to the northeast. Pella is bounded with the prefectures of Kilkis to the northeast, Thessaloniki to the east, Imathia to the south, Kozani to the southwest, Lake Vegoritida to the southwest, Florina to the west and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to the north with the district of Brod to the northwest and Gevgelija to the northeast.

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Etymology

The word Pella is a form of the Doric Greek word Apella, originally meaning a ceremonial location were decisions were made. The city was founded by Archelaus I specifically to become the capital of his kingdom.

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Archaeology

Based of the descriptions provided by Titus Livius, the site was excavated by voyagers including Holand, Pouqueville, Beaujour, Cousinéry, Delacoulonche, Hahn, Glotz and Struck in the 19th century. The first excavation was begun by G. Oikonomos in 1914-1915. The systematic exploration of the site began in 1953 and full excavation was being done in 1957. The first series of campaigns were completed in 1963, including more excavations in 1980. These digs continue in the part identified as the agora.

In the late 1970s, the archaeologist Manolis Andronikos discovered the grave of Philip II of Macedon, who was the father of Alexander III of Macedon. Among the findings was a box made of gold along with the golden Vergina Star, (which was an apple of discord between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) in the early 1990s.

In February of 2006 a farmer accidently uncovered the largest funeral tomb ever found in Greece. The names of the noble ancient Macedonian family are still on inscriptions and painted sculptures and walls have survived. The tomb dates to the 2nd or 3rd century BC following the rule of Alexander the Great. [1], [2]

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Agriculture

Agriculture is very common to the south and mainly produces fruits.

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Transportation

GR-1 (old highway), SE
GR-2, W, SW, Cen., E, SE
Edessa - Verroia road, S

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Municipalities

Municipality	YPES code	Seat	Postal code	Area code
Aridaia	4101	Aridaia	584 00	23840-2
Edessa	4104	Edessa	582 00	23810-2
Exaplatanos	4105	Exaplatanos	580 04	23840-4
Giannitsa	4103	Giannitsa	581 00	23820-2
Kria Vrissi	4106	Kria Vrissi	583 00	23820-6
Kyrros	4107	Neos Mylopotamos	581 00	23820-51
Megas Alexandros	4108	Galatades	583 00	23820-43
Meniida	4109	Kali	585 00	23810-41
Pella	4110	Pella	580 05	23820-3
Skydra	4111	Skydra	585 00	23810-8
Vegoritida	4102	Arnissa	580 02	23810-31

Image:Pella Lion Hunt Mosaic.jpg

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References

Ch. J. Makaronas, Pella: Capital of Ancient Macedonia, pp 59-65, in Scientific American, Special Issue, Ancient Cities, c 1994.
Ph. Petsas, Pella. Alexander the Great's Capital, Thessaloniki, 1977.
D. Papakonstandinou-Diamandourou, Πέλλα. ιστορικί επισκόπησις και μαρτυρίαι Pella istoriki episkopisis kai martyriai (, in Greek), Thessaloniki, 1971.
R. Ginouvès e. a., La Macédoine, CNRS Éditions, Paris, 1993, 90-98.
F. Papazoglou, Les villes de Macédoine romaine, BCH Suppl. 16, 1988, 135-139.