Macedonia - Ancient Stagira
I'd never heard of Stagira, and probably neither have you. But it is the birthplace of Aristotle. It was founded in 655 BC, occupied by Xerxes in 480, later joined the Delian League of Athens and later tried to leave it, was attacked by Athens as a result then sided with Sparta against Athens. In 348 B.C. Phillip II of Macedonia occupied the city and destroyed it.
The town sits on two hills on a peninsula.
There are, of course, city walls. In two different styles of masonry.
The ruins have the remains of a small agora.
And some residential areas.
Later Phillip was trying to enlist Aristotle to tutor his son, Alexander, and one of Aristotle's conditions was that he rebuilt Stagira, which he did, and moved the original inhabitants back.
After retirement, Aristotle moved back to Stagira and was buried there under a heroon. (A hero's monument.) Based on ancient descriptions we believe this half-circle wall was part of the foundation of the heroon.
It was interesting to see one of the great Greek philosophers coming from such a small city.
