Pella

/pel"euh/, n.

a ruined city in N Greece, NW of Salonika: the capital of ancient Macedonia; birthplace of Alexander the Great.

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Ancient capital, Macedonia.

Located in northern Greece, northwest of Thessaloníki, the city flourished at the end of the 5th century BC. Originally known as Bounomos, it developed rapidly under Philip II, but, after the Romans defeated the last Macedonian king, it became a small provincial town. Archaeological excavations began in 1957 and revealed large, well-built houses with rooms with mosaic floors dating from the late 4th century BC. Pella was the birthplace of Alexander the Great.

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▪ ancient city, Greece

      ancient capital of King Archelaus of Macedonia at the end of the 5th century BC and birthplace of Alexander the Great. The city lay in northern Greece, about 24 miles (39 km) northwest of Thessaloníki. Originally known as Bounomos, the city developed rapidly under Philip II, but, after the defeat of the last Macedonian king by the Romans (168 BC), it became a small provincial town.

      The site of Pella has long been known. Excavations there by the Greek Archaeological Service begun in 1957 revealed large, well-built houses with colonnaded courts and rooms with mosaic floors portraying such scenes as a lion hunt and Dionysius riding a panther. These mosaics are made with small natural pebbles (pebble mosaic) of various colours, carefully matched and laid, and are masterpieces of their kind. They date from the late 4th century BC. Excavations revealed the town to be laid out on a rectangular grid plan with streets more than 30 feet (10 m) wide. Under the streets are terra-cotta pipes for distributing fresh water.

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