Graeco-Roman

Megalopolis (Megale Polis, 'Great City’), a new foundation in SW ’Arcadia in the period following ’Leuctra (sources differ on the date, in the range 370-367 bc). Existing communities were combined to produce a new state with a new urban centre; five Arcadian poleis (see polis) provided ‘founders, but the Theban ‘Epaminondas is credited with strong influence. The main accounts (Diod. Sic. 15. 72. 4; Paus. 8. 27) differ on the number of communities incorporated into Megalopolis, but its territory clearly covered SW and central Arcadia, which had had no major state. The main part of the territory was a large upland basin crossed by the river ‘Alpheus, an area crucial for access to north¬ ern Messenia, and for travel across the Eurotas/Alpheus water¬ shed between upper ‘Laconia and southern Arcadia. The new city, built in the era of liberation from Sparta, was fortified (cf. mantinea; messene) by walls enclosing a large area; its buildings included a notable theatre and a m

king of Sparta (338-330 bc), ’Eurypontid. Ascending the throne at a time of humiliation, when Sparta had lost her borderlands to ’Philip (1) II of Macedon, he devoted himself to reviving his city’s fortunes. Inconclusive intrigues with the Persian commanders in the Aegean (333) led to intervention in ’Crete, where he attracted 8,000 Greek mercenaries, refugees from ’Issus. With their support he declared open war in the Peloponnese during (it seems) summer 331. ’Elis, ’Tegea, and the ’Achaean Confederacy joined his cause, but the Athenians fatally stood aloof. ’Antipater (1) was able to raise a coalition army 40,000 strong, profiting from the common detestation of Spartan expansionism, and relieved the siege of ’Megalopolis. Agis suffered a crushing defeat. He died heroically, but left Sparta enfeebled beyond redemption. Berve, Alexanderreich 2, no. 15; E. Badian, Hermes, 1967, 170 ff., and in I.  Worthington (ed.), Ventures inta Greek History (1994), 258 ff.; A. B. Bosworth