Metropolis

About

Metropolis (Ancient Greek: Μητρόπολις) was a town and polis (city-state) of Histiaeotis (or of Thessaliotis) in ancient Thessaly, described by Stephanus of Byzantium as a town in Upper Thessaly. Strabo says that Metropolis was founded by three insignificant towns, but that a larger number was afterwards added, among which was Ithome. He further says, that Ithome was within a quadrangle, formed by the four cities Tricca, Metropolis, Pelinnaeum, and Gomphi.

The position of Metropolis is also determined by its being on Caesar's march from Gomphi to Pharsalus. Livy relates how the town repulsed an attack by the Aetolians after the retreat of Philip V of Macedon (198 BCE). Whilst the Aetolians were devastating the fields round Metropolis the townsmen who had mustered in force to defend their walls inflicted a repulse upon them.

The Aetolians then continued on to attack nearby Callithera. It was taken by Titus Quinctius Flamininus on his descending into this part of Thessaly, after the Battle of the Aous. We learn from an inscription that the territory of Metropolis adjoined that of Cierium (the ancient Arne), and that the adjustment of their boundaries was a frequent subject of discussion...