Phlius

Location of Phlius

Phlius (Ancient Greek: Φλειοῦς, gen.: Φλειοῦντος) was a Greek city in the northwestern Argolid, in the Peloponnese, said to be named after the Greek hero, Phlias. Although geographically close to Argos, the city became a Spartan ally and a member of the Peloponnesian League.

Like many other cities of ancient Greece, Phlius fell into civil strife between a democratic and an oligarchic faction during the 4th century BCE; the democratic faction initially gained control and exiled its opponents, but in 380 BCE a Spartan army under Agesilaus laid siege to the city for some twenty months, eventually forcing the Phliasians to capitulate and accept oligarchic government.

It was the hometown of the playwright, Pratinas.

Sources

• Fine, John V.A. The Ancient Greeks: A critical history (Harvard University Press, 1983) ISBN 0-674-03314-0
• Xenophon (1890s) [original 4th century BC].  Hellenica. Trans. Henry Graham Dakyns. Wikisource.