Lysimachia

LYSIMACHIA(Λυσιμαχίαor Λυσιμάχεια).

1. A small town in Mysia, mentioned only by Pliny (Plin. Nat. 5.22), in whose time it, no longer existed.


2. An important town on the north-western extremity of the Thracian Chersonesus, not far from the Sinus Melas. It was built by Lysimachus in B.C. 309, when he was preparing for the last struggle with his rivals; for the new city, being situated on the isthmus, commanded the road from Sestos to the north and the mainland of Thrace. In order to obtain inhabitants for his new city, Lysimachus destroyed the neighbouring town of Cardia, the birthplace of the historian Hieronymus. (Strab. 2. p. 134, 7. p. 331; Paus. 1.9.10; Diod 20.29; Plb. 5.34; Plin. Nat. 4.18.) Lysimachus no doubt made Lysimachia the capital of his kingdom, and it must have rapidly risen to great splendour and prosperity. After his death the city fell under the dominion of Syria, and during the wars between Seleucus Callinicus and Ptolemy Euergetes it passed from the hands of the Syrians into those of the Egyptians. Whether these latter set the town free, or whether it emancipated itself, is uncertain, at any rate it entered into the relation of sympolity with the Aetolians. But as the Aetolians were not able to afford it the necessary protection, it was destroyed by the Thracians during the war of the Romans against Philip of Macedonia. Antiochus the Great restored the place, collected the scattered and enslaved inhabitants, and attracted colonists from all parts by liberal promises. (Liv. 33.38, 40; Diod. Exc. de Virt. et Vit. p. 574.) This restoration, however, appears to have been unsuccessful, and under the dominion of Rome it decayed more and more. The last time the place is mentioned under its ancient name, is in a passage of Ammianus Marcellinus (Ammian. 22.8). The emperor Justinian restored it and surrounded it with strong fortifications Procop. de Aed. 4.10), and after that time it is spoken of only under the name of Hexamilium (Ἑξαμίλιον;Symeon, Logoth. p. 408). The place now occupying the place of Lysimachia, Ecsemil, derives its name from the Justinianean fortress, though the ruins of the ancient place are more numerous in the neighbouring village of Baular. COIN OF LYSIMACHIA IN THRACE.[L.S]