ABSTRACT
In classical times, Argos was by far the largest and most populous town in the Argolid, and an account of the towns must naturally begin with it. This was not true of the Bronze Age, when no single community dominated in size the Argive plain and the adjacent regions. On the other hand, after Greece had lost its independence to the Roman conquerors, the predominance of Argos increased still further, as the other small towns were abandoned and totally depopulated. The present town lies to the east of the Larisa and the lower fortified hill on its northern side called in antiquity Aspis, 'the shield'. Aspis still carries the remains of its own circuit, for classical and Hellenistic Argos was exceptional in its possession of two citadels. The original circuit wall on the Aspis was constructed in the Bronze Age. In classical times it was rebuilt, and given additional bastions and towers.
