The inhabitants
of the region were the famous warriors Myrmidons,
who participated in the Trojan War with fifty
ships, led by Achilles.
The Goddess
Athena was the
protector of the city. She had been depicted continuously
on the coins of the city from 500 BC until the
Macedonian conquest in 343 BC.
The regime of the city was traditionally oligarchic,
but its rulers were known throughout Greece for
their integrity. They were even praised by Aristotle
as examples of sound governance: "one
example is the oligarchy of Farsala. They, only
few, govern well and are masters to many"
(Aristotle’s Politics).
The city flourished
in the 5th and 4th centuries
BC. It played an important role in Thessalian
affairs and many members of the Echekratides
family became important politicians. Daochos,
the son of Agias, was the most important of them
all. He ruled the Thessalians for 27 years not
by force, but through the application of the laws
and he devoted the statues of his forefathers
to the Delphi Oracle, where they can be still
seen today.
Polydamas was
another important ruler and a significant personality
of his time. During the Persian Wars, the Echekratides
united with the Athenians. Under the guidance
of Polydamas, in 400 BC the Thessalians stood
up successfully to the tyrant of Ferrai Alexander.
The army of Xerxes
crossed Farsala.
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