History
Perinthus was founded by colonists from the island of Samos in 602 BC.
Perinthus came into conflict with the Megarians around 570–560 BC, although some scholars date the conflict to approximately 600 BC or 590 BC.Before being conquered by the Persians, the inhabitants of Perinthus had also clashed with the Paeonians, but were defeated by them.Following Darius’ Scythian campaign, the Persian forces, led by Megabazus, advanced into Perinthos and brought the city under Persian control despite the resistance of its inhabitants.Persian control over Perinthos was likely disrupted by the Ionian Revolt, because the city was subsequently reconquered by the Persians, as recorded by Herodotus (Histories 6.33.1)The city may have been liberated by the Athenian general Cimon.
Following the withdrawal of Persian rule, Perinthos joined the Athenian-led Delian League. It may have participated in Byzantium’s revolt in 411 BCE, but returned to the League in 410 BCE.Perinthos joined the Second Athenian League in 337 BC.Later, faced with the threat posed by the Odrysian Kingdom, Perinthos shifted its allegiance and formed an alliance with Philip II of Macedon. Following the defeat of Kersebleptes, Perinthos and Byzantion established a sympoliteia, thereby forming a political confederacy.
This city was particularly renowned for its obstinate defence against Philip II of Macedon. In 340 BC, Perinthos refused to participate in the Macedonian king Philip II’s military campaign against Athens in the Chersonese. Philip II subsequently decided to attack the city, but despite a prolonged siege, he failed to capture it.According to Sayar, the alliance between Perinthos and Philip II was eventually renewed following the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC. In 337 BC, Perinthos joined the Hellenic League established by the Macedonian king, alongside the other Greek cities of Thrace. This interpretation is also cited in An Inventory of Archaic and Classical Poleis.
In the 3rd century BC，Perinthos allied with Byzantion to oppose King Antiochus III, formalizing their alliance through a treaty. In 202 BC, the city was brought under the control of Philip V of Macedon, who stationed a garrison there. However, in 197 BC, under Roman pressure, Philip withdrew his forces from the city.
Subsequently, the Seleucid king Antiochus III invaded Perinthos. Following Antiochus III’s defeat by the Romans and their Pergamene allies in 189 BC, Perinthos remained under the rule of the Attalid dynasty until the Kingdom of Pergamon was bequeathed to Rome. The city was subsequently incorporated into the Roman province of Macedonia in 133 BC.
Perinthos eventually became the capital of the newly established province of Thrace, which was created by the Roman emperor Claudius I in AD 46.
At that time it appears to have been a more important and flourishing town even than Byzantium and being both a harbour and a point at which several main roads met, it was the seat of extensive commerce. During this period, Via Egnatia, a major road running through the northern part of the region, facilitated communication and transportation between the coastal areas and the inland regions. Moreover, Via Egnatia intersected with Via Militaris in the vicinity of Perinthus . This strategic position strengthened the city’s commercial connections, while its ports continued to play a significant role in regional trade. Perinthus developed into a wealthy and imposing urban centre, adorned with significant monumental architecture that reflected the interest and patronage of the Roman emperors. The city also served as a naval base for the Roman fleet responsible for securing the Propontis (the Sea of Marmara). This circumstance explains the reason why so many of its coins are still extant from which we learn that large and celebrated festivals were held here.
Septimius Severus (r. 193–211) twice granted the city the prestigious title of neokoros and gave it permission to hold crown festivals in his honor, in recognition of its support during his conflict with Pescennius Niger, a rival claimant to the Roman throne.
Perinthus was renamed to Heraclea in 286 AD during the reign of the Roman emperor Diocletian. It was sometimes called Heraclea Thraciae and Heraclea Perinthus.In 297 the city became the capital of the new province of Europa, until Byzantium was refounded as Constantinople and became the capital.
Justinian restored the old imperial palace, and the aqueducts of the city. Coins of Perinthus have also survived, which were studied by Edith Schönert-Geiß. The inscriptions from Perinthus and the literary testimonia on the city have been collected by Mustafa Hamdi Sayar.
Cityscape
The peninsula and acropolis were complemented by the landward lower city and its walls, some remains of which have been found.
This city may have had the largest theater in ancient Thrace, reflecting its prosperity.
Other notable places include the 5th-century basilica which in its architecture seems to be closely linked to the church designs of Constantinople. The floor mosaics are particularly well made and preserved.
Stone from the basilica seems to have been used in the construction of a tower meant to guard a 1.9m wide secondary gate, from which may be deduced that the basilica must have been destroyed some time prior, though the date for that is not certain. Archaeologists and historians from the Tekirdağ Museum, the University of Istanbul and the University of Heidelberg think the church might have stood for no more than perhaps 150 years. It was never rebuilt and instead replaced with a small chapel.
