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Achaia Phthiotis
RYAN BOEHM

Achaia Phthiotis is the name of one of the

perioikic regions of Thessaly, distinct from
the Thessalian tetras (district) of Phthiotis.
Achaia Phthiotis encompassed the Othrys
mountains, the Almiros (Krokian) and Sourpi
plains, and extended north to Pelasgiotis, west
to Phthiotis and Thessaliotis, and east to the
Pagasitic gulf. In the Homeric tradition, the
ACHAIANS were ruled by ACHILLES, listed alongside the Myrmidons and Hellenes (Hom.
Il. 2.684), and in myth held a much wider
territory. Achaia Phthiotis was politically
dependent on THESSALY by the end of the sixth
century BCE, and required to provide tribute
and military service to the Thessalian League
(Arist. Pol. 1269b6; Thuc. 8.3.1; Xen. Hell.
6.1.919). However, the Achaians remained
a distinct political community and sent
representatives to the Delphic Amphictyony
(Harpokrates s.v. Amphiktyones; Pausanias
10.8.2), were listed separately in Herodotus
list of Persian sympathizers (7.132.1), struck
their own coinage, and independently gave
money and hostages to SPARTA in 413/12
(Thuc. 8.3.1). Following the defeat of ALEXANDER
OF PHERAI, Achaia Phthiotis was handed over
to the BOIOTIAN LEAGUE (Diod. Sic. 15.80.6).
In 346, PHILIP II OF MACEDON destroyed the
Achaian polis Halos (see HALOS IN THESSALY),
handing its territory over to Pharsalos,

and in 342 gave Echinos to MALIS. The poleis

of Achaia Phthiotis, with the exception of
Phthiotic Thebes, supported the alliance
against Macedonia during the LAMIAN WAR
(Diod. Sic. 18.11.1). Halos was rebuilt on
a new site, probably by DEMETRIOS I POLIORKETES
ca. 302, when an ACHAIAN LEAGUE was probably
established, as coins bearing the monogram
suggest. In the third century, Achaia
Phthiotis joined the AITOLIAN LEAGUE, and
inscriptions attest to Achaians calling themselves Aitolians (e.g., Syll.3 444.10). In 196,
Achaia Phthiotis was declared free and autonomous by Rome (Polybius 18.46), became part
of the Thessalian League, and Achaians begin
referring to themselves as Thessalians in
inscriptions (e.g., IG IX 2.89a14).
SEE ALSO:

Koinon; Perioikoi.

REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED READINGS

Bernert, E. (1941) RE 20: 9558, s.v. Phthiotis.
Helly, B. (1995) LEtat thessalien: Aleuas le Roux,
les tetrades et le Tagoi. Lyon.
Reinders, H. (1988) New Halos: a Hellenistic town
in Thessalia, Greece. Utrecht.
Reinders, H., ed. (2004) Prehistoric sites at the
Almiros and Sourpi Plains. Assen.
Sprawski, S. (1999) Jason of Pherai. Krakow.
Stahlin, F. (1924) Das hellenische Thessalien.
Stuttgart.
Westlake, H. (1935) Thessaly in the fourth
century B.C. London.

The Encyclopedia of Ancient History, First Edition. Edited by Roger S. Bagnall, Kai Brodersen, Craige B. Champion, Andrew Erskine,
and Sabine R. Huebner, print pages 3738.
2013 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Published 2013 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
DOI: 10.1002/9781444338386.wbeah14004