Definition: Potidaea is situated on a narrow isthmus connecting the peninsula of Pallene with the mainland of northern Greece. Potidaea was a port city strongly fortified by a wall across the isthmus. A colony of Corinth, Potidaea was founded in about 600 B.C. The Persians besieged Potidaea in 479. [See Persian War Timeline.] Potidaea joined the Delian League, which Athens headed originally to help protect league poleis from Persia, but after Potidaea's tribute amount was raised to 15 talents, it rebelled in 432. Athens defeated Potidaea in the Battle of Potidaea (430) and occupied it until 404. Athens regained power over Potidaea in 363, but then Philip of Macedon took it away in 356. In 348, during the Olynthian War, Potidaea may have been destroyed. In c. 316 B.C., didaoch Cassander re-founded Potidaea, renaming it Cassandreia.
References:
- Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière Hammond "Potidaea" The Oxford Classical Dictionary.
- The Geography of Herodotus, by James Talboys Wheeler
Alternate Spellings: Ποτίδαια, Potidaia, Potidea
