Gardens of Midas

[Kate]

Hi everyone,Does anyone know where the Gardens of Midas were situated? I think I read somewhere - in one of Hammond's books - that they were near Naoussa, but is the ancient Naoussa near the town of the same name on a modern map of Macedonia? I ask 'cos I was wondering how far the "school" was from Pella, presumbably Alexander and the other pupils were there for long stretches: don't know if they got "school holidays" in those days. Cheers,KatePs Thanks to Susan and Marcus for answering about Ptolemy.

[marcus]

Hi Kate,As far as I know the modern town is in the same place as the ancient one (although I don't know if it was a town, then).Your best bet is, I think, Ruth/Ruthaki, 'cos I think she's been there on one of her research trips.I'm not really sure why the school was situated there, although I was reading somewhere that, owing to an incident with an earlier king of Macedonia, there was a bit of an anti-philosopher aura around Aegae and Pella; so it was in Aristotle's, and everyone else's, interests to pack the school off to a slightly less conspicuous place. But it probably suited also because there wasn't the hustle and bustle of the court to distract the students.I doubt if there were school holidays as such, but no doubt the boys were only expected to study there for some of the year, as they will have had plenty of other learning experiences to undergo, which weren't Aristotle's areas of expertise.All the bestMarcus

[wmp]

The Gardens of Midas seem to have been all
round (modern) Naoussa, taking in the foothills
of Mt Vermion. The (reputed) School of Aristotle
is near modern Kopanos, about 7km from
Naoussa - there's also a theatre excavated
there - & the modern village is probably built
over remains of a town. Close by are several
Makedonian tombs - when I visited the
Kallikles/Lyson tomb (last May), I was given a
passionate lecture by the tomb's guard about
the modern motorway which is being driven in
over the Kastania pass (south of Naoussa) &
right through an area that the locals still regard
as their garden... The school site is a lot nearer
Aigai/Vergina than to Pella.I agree with Marcus that there'd not be "school
holidays" as we know them, but the whole area
affords some relaxation - it's a very verdant area
even today - heart of a peach & cherry & vine
growing area, with mountain streams (the ones
north of Naoussa are famed for their fresh-water
trout). No doubt it was good hunting ground too.I can't tell you why the School was situated
there, (if what they've found is the school), but
I've been there a few times now & can describe
it tolerable well (I've given road directions to
Ruth/Ruthaki - but I think she didn't manage to
get there last year)!hope this helps in some way...enjoy....wmp

[ruthaki]

Right, I have the road directions and plan to make a point of going there this summer. The school was at a place called Mieza, and you've got the instructions on where it was located. I'd love to visit that area, especially Naoussa so it's my #1 destination this trip round. (I have, however, been to Aigai and the tombs on a couple of occasions.)

[Linda]

RuthI would be interested in seeing your directions - I hope to go this autumn, and haven't done any detective work at all. For Vergina, as well. If it is ok, I'll email you from your website?Linda

[ruthaki]

By all means, email me here or at my website and I will give you the directions. I travel by the buses in Greece, usually, which are very efficient. (I'm an entrepid solo backpacker but this year I'm going to have the honor of showing my best friend the Alexander sites.)

[wmp]

Ruth - I'll be staying for a few days in Vergina in
mid/late May - will you be there around that
time? yours
wmp