Ancient Stagira, Philosopher Aristotle’s Homeland

Statue of Aristotle located successful Stagira, Greece. Credit: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0/ Flickr

On the eastbound seashore of Halkidiki successful Greece adjacent the colony of Olympiada prevarication the ruins of past Stagira. Though tiny and unassuming, this tract boasts large humanities value arsenic the birthplace of the large philosopher Aristotle.

Aristotle, calved successful 384 BC during Greece’s classical period, became 1 of the astir influential philosophers of each time. His ideas shaped the sphere of doctrine from antiquity each the mode done the Renaissance, and contiguous they’re being studied with the aforesaid zeal.

Aristotle’s transportation to past Stagira

The philosopher was calved successful the tiny metropolis of Stagira, founded astir 655 BC by Ionian settlers from the land of Andros. It is from this metropolis that Aristotle earned the nickname “the Stagirite,” which is often utilized successful texts successful notation to him. He came from a distinguished family—his father, Nicomachus, was doc to King Amyntas of Macedon, and his mother, Phaestis, came from a affluent household successful Euboea.

At 17, Aristotle near Stagira to survey astatine Plato’s famed Academy successful Athens. However, successful 348 BC, portion helium was away, King Philip II of Macedon, the begetter of Alexander the Great, conquered and destroyed the city. When Philip aboriginal asked Aristotle to tutor his lad Alexander, it is said that Aristotle agreed connected 1 condition: that Philip rebuild Stagira and reconstruct its people. If this is true, it shows Aristotle’s heavy attachment to his hometown and his interest for its future.

As a renowned philosopher of Athens, did Aristotle ever instrumentality to his homeland? It is possible. Historical records suggest that betwixt 341 and 335 BC, Aristotle whitethorn person spent clip successful Stagira earlier yet returning to Athens successful 335 BC. There, helium founded the Lyceum, his ain school, named successful grant of Apollo Lyceus, aft a celebrated statue by Praxiteles.

Aristotle’s transportation to past Stagira endured adjacent past his death. After passing distant successful 322 BC successful Chalkida, his remains were transferred to Stagira, wherever helium was buried with honor. In designation of his achievements, the radical of Stagira declared him a “founder” of the city, arsenic helium was apt the crushed for its rebuilding. They besides built an altar implicit his tomb and established an yearly festival successful his name, the “Aristoteleia.” To this day, Aristotle’s sanction is inseparably tied to Stagira.

The scenery and architecture of past Stagira

As antecedently mentioned, Stagira is located connected the eastbound seashore of Halkidiki, sitting connected a peninsula adjacent the seaside colony of Olympiada. Just offshore is the small, uninhabited land of Kafkanas, known successful Aristotle’s clip arsenic Capros, meaning “boar.” This land lent its sanction to Stagira’s harbor, portion the boar apt was a important awesome for the Stagirites, adjacent appearing connected their metallic coins.

Tetradrachm of Stagira with lion attacking boar, 510–500 B.C. Credit: MFA Boston / Public Domain

In the precocious 20th century, astir 1960, excavations began that revealed important portions of past Stagira, including its archaic walls and well-preserved aboriginal classical fortifications. These limestone and marble fortifications stretched for 2 kilometers and showcased assorted gathering techniques of the time. The metropolis besides had an acropolis which erstwhile protected its inhabitants. From its summit, visitors contiguous tin instrumentality successful stunning views of the sea—perhaps lasting connected the precise stones wherever Aristotle himself erstwhile stood.

Evidence besides suggests that the radical of Stagira were devoted successful their worship. On the eastbound borderline of the city, the remains of a 6th-century BC sanctuary person been uncovered. The Stagirites honored chiefly pistillate deities successful those spaces, and this peculiar sanctuary was apt dedicated to the goddess Demeter.

One of the astir important remnants of past Stagira is the Agora, nestled betwixt the 2 hills connected which the metropolis was built. Back successful antiquity, the Agora served arsenic some a governmental and commercialized center, including a Stoa wherever citizens would stitchery to sermon nationalist affairs and debate.

Beyond the Agora, archaeologists person uncovered fragments of houses and assorted artifacts, galore of which are present housed successful the Archaeological Museum of Polygyros, conscionable an hour’s thrust from Stagira. All these findings let us, implicit 2000 years later, a glimpse into the regular beingness of Aristotle’s homeland astatine its peak.

The fortress walls of Stagira. Credit: Akademie IIK / CC 3.0

The philosopher’s heavy transportation to past Stagira is evident not lone successful his relation successful its rebuilding but besides successful its destiny aft his death. As years passed, Stagira dilatory declined, yet falling into desertion and abandonment.

Today, past Stagira is inseparably linked with Aristotle, and the municipality lives connected mostly done his memory. If you find yourself successful Thessaloniki oregon Halkidiki, a sojourn to the metropolis that helped signifier 1 of history’s top philosophical minds is decidedly worthwhile.