Calydon

Calydon (Greek Καλυδών, latin Calydon ) was an ancient Greek city.

The remains lie at the southern foot of the Kalydons Arakynthosgebirges, above the Euenosufers, in the coastal plain of Aetolia, about two kilometers from the modern village Evenochori. The city has been known since Homeric times and is listed in the Iliad as Aetolian city. Eponymous hero is Calydon. Calydon is in the Greek myths of greater importance. Here the legends played to Oineus, the king of this city and the city Pleuron that should have been founded by the brother of the mythological founder of the city. The best-known story about Oineus and the city is the Calydonian boar hunt by the.

In historical times Calydon was initially an independent polis in the Aeolis in the 5th century BC. Since about 390 century BC, the city was up to the year 366 BC, part of the Achaean Koinon ( Achaiischer Confederation). Then Kalydon became the capital of the Aetolian federal government. With the conquest of the Greek motherland by the Roman Empire was also part of the province of Achaea Calydon. During the reign of Emperor Augustus, the territory of the city fell to Patrae. In the course of the cult images of Calydon were transferred to Patrae. Sunk into insignificance, the village was deserted increasingly, around Roman veterans were settled. The town was known for the dense oak trees in the area.

The most striking ancient legacy today is the four kilometer long city wall dating from the 4th century BC, which includes the double-headed settlement mound. On the northern tip of settlement remains have been found in Mycenaean times supposedly. Excavations leads the Danske Institut i Athen by. So far, the local main sanctuary, which was dedicated to Artemis Laphria, Apollo and Dionysus Laphrios, excavated in front of the west gate and a Heroon. The sanctuary consisted of temples from the late 7th century BC, from the beginning of the 6th century BC and the first half of the 4th century BC; the Heroon is dated to the 1st century BC.