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Eion, Macedonia, c. 480 - 470 B.C.
Athens unsuccessfully attempted to capture Eion during the Ionian Revolt in 497 B.C. The revolt ended with Persia re-establishing control in Thrace. A Persian fortress and food storage for the Persian army was built at Eion, probably in 492 B.C. Xerxes recalled most of the Persian troops from the area in the winter of 480/479 B.C. In 475 B.C., Eion was besieged and captured by the Delian League's Athenian general Cimon. Refusing Cimon's offer of an honorable withdrawal, the Persian commander Boges destroyed the treasure, killed his family, and committed suicide as the food ran out. Cimon turned the course of the Strymon River so that it flowed against the city walls, dissolving the mud brick fortifications. The inhabitants were enslaved. The capture of Eion was the beginning of a military campaign intended to clear the Aegean Sea of Persian fleets and pirates in order to facilitate Athenian access to the Hellespont. The Athenian colony Amphipolis was founded in 437 B.C. three miles up the Strymon River. After that, Eion served as the harbor of Amphipolis.GS86791. Silver diobol, SNG Cop 175; SNG ANS 277; BMC Macedonia p. 73, 5; HGC 3.1 520, VF, centered, porosity, edge crack, Eion (near Amfipoli, Greece) mint, weight 1.033g, maximum diameter 10.1mm, die axis 0o, c. 480 - 470 B.C.; obverse goose standing right, left leg raised, head turned back, lizard left above; reverse mill-sail incuse square; SOLD
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