an ancient name of Peloponnesus, from Argos, one of the kings. Strabo derives the name from a Thessalian word signifying a plain.

Several ancient cities bore the name of Argos, particularly the capital of Argolis or Argelia. Argos was originally the seat of nine petty sovereigns of the family of the Inachides, the last of whom was expelled by Danaïs, whose descendants were termed Belides. Agamemnon was king of Argos during the Trojan war; but 80 years afterwards, his descendants were deposed by the Heraclidae; and Argos assumed a republican form of government, which it retained until the dissolution of the Achaean league. The character of this state contrasts unfavourably with some other of the Grecian republics. It tyrannized over Mycenæ, which it destroyed 568 years B.C.; it did not join the Greek confederacy against Persia, and was constantly opposed to Sparta. The great deity of the city was Hera, or Juno, who had a grand temple there, existing in the time of Pausanias.

Argos was founded by Pelasgians; and remains of the ancient architecture, commonly called Cyclopean, in a fine state of preservation, may still be seen in its acropolis, on the hill of Larissa, and its spur Deiras. The summit of these eminences is crowned by the ruins of a castle, of the times of the Lower Empire, but it has antique substructions. The only other remains of antiquity at modern Argos are inscriptions, fragments of sculpture, and architecture, scattered in the plain, and among the present houses. Argos, as it was, is described in Pausanias; as it is, in Col. Leake's Travels, vol. ii.; and Dodwell's Pelasgic Remains.

The modern Argos is 5 miles north-west of Napoli di Romania, in Lat. 37. 40. N. Long. 22. 44. E. It contains about 8000 inhabitants.

Argos, surnamed Amphilocheicum to distinguish it from the preceding, was the capital of the territory of the Amphiochians. It stood at the eastern extremity of the Ambraian Gulf. When Augustus, after the battle of Actium, founded Nicopolis, he removed the inhabitants of Argos to that city. The modern village of Neokhori is supposed by Col. Leake to occupy the site of this city.