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Upper Macedonia (Greek: Ἄνω Μακεδονία, Ánō Makedonía) is a geographical and tribal term to describe the upper/western of the two parts in which, together with Lower Macedonia, the ancient kingdom of Macedon was roughly divided.^[1]^[2]^[3]

The middle and southern parts of Upper Macedonia corresponds roughly to the modern Greek region of West Macedonia while the northern part of Upper Macedonia corresponds to the southwestern corner of the Republic of North Macedonia.

History

During the late Bronze Age numerous matt painted vases have been unearthed in the region that are connected to the middle Helladic ware found southern Greece. This type of ware has been typically used by northwestern Greek tribes. Various unearthed artifacts of that time also point to the possible existence of Mycenaean Greek settlements in Upper Macedonia.^[4]

Following the withdrawal of the Bryges in c. 800 BC the local populations of the Eordoi, Elimiontae, Orestae, Lyncestae and Pelagonians formed their separate political entities. As early as the 7th century BC occasional Illyrian invasions against Argead Macedonia inevitably also involved the Upper Macedonian regions of Lynkestis, Orestis, Eordaea, Elimea and Tymphaea, because they were located between Illyrian territory and the lands of the Argeads, who were based at Aegae.^[5]

The populations of Upper Macedonia shared a common language and a common way of life with that of Lower Macedonia which differed from those inhabiting Illyria and Thrace.^[6] Available inscriptional and ancient literature points that the local population spoke a Northwest Greek dialect in contrast to those of Lower Macedonia who spoke Aeolic Greek.^[7] The region witnessed occasional raids and became a constant threat by Illyrian invasions from the rise of the Argead dynasty until the reign of Philip II of Macedon.^[5]^[8]^[9]

Unification of Upper and Lower Macedonia into a single kingdom was achieved by Phillip II in the mid-4th century.^[10] From that date, its inhabitants were politically equal to Lower Macedonians. Upper Macedonia was divided in the regions of Elimeia, Eordaea, Orestis, Lynkestis, Pelagonia, Deuriopus, Tymphaea, and later incorporated Atintania and eastern Dassaretis until Roman intervention.^[11]

Three of the most important Hellenistic dynasties originated from Upper Macedonia: the Lagids from Eordaea, the Seleucids from Orestis and the Antigonids from Elimiotis.

References

^ Joseph Roisman, Ancient Greece from Homer to Alexander: The Evidence, Wiley-Blackwell, 2011, p.520
^ Eugene N. Borza, In the shadow of Olympus: the emergence of Macedon, Princeton University Press, 1991, p.31
^ Michael M. Sage, Warfare in ancient Greece: a sourcebook, Routledge, 1996, p.162
^ Wynn-Antikas, Laura (1998). "The Aiani Museum Opens". Minerva. 9 (4). London: Aurora Publications: 34. Retrieved 22 January 2024. This can be seen in the numerous matt painted vases in the tradition of late Bronze Age pottery which developed from the Middle Helladic pottery in southern Greece ( 1900-1800 BC ). Matt painted ware has been found as far away as Albania, Central Macedonia and Thessaly, and was typically used by the north-western Greek tribes of the Dorians and the Macedonians. Among the Mycenaean finds found is a unique figurine ( Fig 6 ) which dates to the late Hel- ladic - IIIb period ( 1300 to 1200 BC). Such artefacts have led archaeologists to believe that it is likely there were Mycenaean settlements in Upper Macedonia . Because of the large quantity of architectural artefacts"
^ ^a ^b Butler, Margaret Erwin (2008). Of Swords and Strigils: Social Change in Ancient Macedon. Stanford University. p. 46. Following the withdrawal ... in the north were more of less independent tribes, suffering the occasional Illyrian invasion: Illyrians remained a constant threat from the early years of the Argead line right up into Philip's reign.
^ Howe & Reames 2008, pp. 5–6: "Macedonia may rest in common ethnic and linguistic affinities among most people of upper Macedonia. By the Bronze Age, Indo-Europeans prevailed in this region although there were exceptions, for example the Bryges. Differences in the closeness of affinity existed: the language of the Macedonians residing in lower and upper Macedonia appears to have come from the same limb of the Indo-European tree while that of more distant people—those of Thrace and Illyria—represented a different limb, albeit still Indo-European. In addition, the peoples of lower and upper Macedonia shared a common way of life in combining sedentary agriculture with transhumant pasturing. Geography furnished similar resources in the rivers and the riches of the mountains—wild animals, timber, and minerals. The history of settlement also created a common political life with personal leadership vested in a particular family. Recognition of these commonalities allowed the nominal confederacy of Elimeia, Orestis, Lynkestis, and Pelagonia with lower Macedonia during the kingship of Alexander I (498-454). It was fragile, as the assertion of independence by Lynkestis under its ruler Arrhabaios during the Peloponnesian War testifies (Thuc. 2.99.2). Renewed efforts to centralize the larger Macedonian area occurred during the reign of Archelaos (413-399) with centralization at Pella and fortification of the core that had been weakened by events in Greece following the end of the Peloponnesian War ... Incursion of the Illyrians in 360-59 may have been the main impetus for growing integration. Travelling to lower Macedonia had taken the Illyrian warriors through upper Macedonia to kingdoms west and north. Thus the Illyrians were a common enemy, distanced by language, as noted above, and also by way of life.
^ Templar, Marcus Alexander (2009). "Hellenic Migrations and Katadesmos: A Paradigm of Macedonian Speech" (PDF). Ninth Viennial Conference of Greek Linguistics. University of Chicago: 8–9. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
^ Worthington 2008, p. 13
^ Billows, Richard A. (12 June 2018). Before and After Alexander: The Legend and Legacy of Alexander the Great. Abrams. p. 71. ISBN 978-1-4683-1641-4. The Illyrians normally constituted more of a thread to raid and pillage upper Macedonia, rather than to occupy and dominate the realm
^ Worthington 2008, p. 7
^ Robin J. Lane Fox (editor), Brill's Companion to Ancient Macedon: Studies in the Archaeology and History of Macedon, 650 BC - 300 AD, 2011, p.95