Malia

Ancient Thessaly

Malia , Malian ( al-Greek Μαλιεῖς ) - an ancient tribe in Fthiotida in the eastern, coastal Thessaly ^[1] . The region of Malia was called Malida (Mali Region, Μαλίδα ) and was located on the coast in the inner part of the Gulf of Mali between Mount Eta and the lower course of the Sperkhiya ^[2] .

Neighboring with Malia were the Epicnemid, the ^[3] . Together with the Fthiotic Achaeans, the Malia occupied the area opposite Euboea ^[4] and near Thermopylae ^[1] . The Enians , pushed back by the Lapiths to Mount Eta, forced the Malians to (formerly Trakhin ) and ^[5] .

Mythology connects the Malians with Hercules , as Herodotus ^[6] mentions, or with ( Μάλος ), the son of Amphicion . From the VIII century BC. e. Malia were mercenaries in the service of large policies. They were distinguished by their courage and experience in the war; Malian slingers and spearmen were especially famous. From the 5th century BC e. divided into three tribes, which were called from their place of residence - Παράλιοι , Ἴερῆς and Trabinians ( Τραχίνιοι ) ^[7]

According to Herodotus, Hercules and the Malia expelled the Driopes from Dorida , who founded the city of Hermione ^[6] . Malia was one of the tribes who surrendered to the Persian king Xerxes I ^[8] and joined the royal army ^[9] . At the Battle of Plataeus, the malia were in the army of Mardonia ^[10] .

In 427 BC e. during the Peloponnesian war, malia entered the Peloponnesian Union . In 413 BC e. they took control of Lamia , which they made their capital in 371 BC. e. In 370 BC e. they were forced to submit to Thebes , the Macedonian king Philip II (343 BC), later to the Aetolian Union (220 BC) and, finally, to the Romans (189 BC).