The ancient city-state of Argos had a nearby harbor for trade and
commerce. But Argos was located on a plain. The weather was hot and dry
in the summer, and cold and wet in the winter. The soil was not
especially fertile. The people of Argos had to fight to grow food. This
they did, quite successfully.
They did many things successfully. Many scholars
credit Argos with the invention of coinage in ancient Greece, an
invention that made trade much easier.
Argos was actively involved in the arts.
Their magnificent stone sculptures of athletes, rippling with stone
muscles, were the envy of many a Greek city-state. Argos was famous for
their wonderful musicians and poets. Drama reached new heights in their
polis (city-state).
Like all Greek city-states, they had
their own way of doing things. Their government was a monarchy.
When Athens
and Sparta
asked Argos to send supplies and troops to help fight the Persians,
after the battle of Thermopylae
in 480 BCE, the king of Argos refused. The other Greek city-states held
Argos in disgrace for that decision for many years thereafter.
