Macedonia (Greece)

Lore & Background

Greek Macedonia incorporates most of the territories of the ancient kingdom of Macedon, ruled by the Argeads, whose most celebrated members were Alexander the Great and his father Philip II. Before Philip's expansion in the 4th century BC, the kingdom covered an area roughly corresponding to modern Western and Central Macedonia. The name Macedonia later applied to various Roman and Byzantine administrative areas, then disappeared under Ottoman rule until revived in the 19th century as a geographical term. The region's economic ascent coincided with the Greek cultural and political renaissance, and Emmanouel Pappas led the Greek Revolution in Macedonia.

Reader's Guide

Greek Macedonia is significant as the heartland of the ancient Macedonian kingdom, where Alexander the Great was crowned and Aristotle was born. It remains an important economic centre, accounting for most of Greece's agricultural production and contributing heavily to industry and tourism. Thessaloniki, the region's metropolis, is Greece's second-largest city and a major cultural and political hub. The region contains four UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Aigai (Vergina), the first Macedonian capital, and Pella, Alexander's birthplace. The autonomous monastic community of Mount Athos also lies within its bounds. The name 'Aegean Macedonia' has been used by Yugoslavs and Bulgarians, sometimes challenging Greek sovereignty, though Macedonian members of a joint committee agreed to remove the term from textbooks.

Did You Know?

• The name Macedonia derives from the Greek word 'Makedon', cognate to the ancient Greek adjective 'makednos', meaning 'tall, slim'.
• The Petralona cave in Macedonia contains the oldest known European humanoid, Archanthropus europaeus petraloniensis.
• Aigai (modern Vergina) was the first Macedonian capital, where Philip II was assassinated and Alexander the Great was crowned.
• Stagira, the birthplace of Aristotle, is located in Greek Macedonia.