Mieza (
Ancient Greek: Μίεζα), "shrine of the Nymphs", was a town in
ancient Macedonia, where
Aristotle taught the boy
Alexander the Great between 343 and 340 BCE.[1]Ptolemy classifies Mieza among the cities of
Emathia.[2]Stephanus of Byzantium, on the other hand, deriving his information apparently from
Theagenes, alludes to it as "τόπος Στρυμόνος", and adds that it was sometimes called Strymonium. The site where Mieza once stood is the modern Lefkadia, near the modern town
Náousa,
Imathia,
Central Macedonia,
Greece, and has been the subject of archeological excavations since 1954.[3]
Mieza was named for Mieza, in ancient
Macedonian mythology, the daughter of
Beres and sister of
Olganos and
Beroia. It was the home of Alexander's companion
Peucestas. Aristotle was hired by Alexander's father,
Philip II of Macedon, to teach his son, and was given the Temple of the Nymphs as a classroom. In return, Philip re-built and freed the citizens of
Stagira, Aristotle's hometown, which he had razed in a previous conquest across Greece and Macedon.[4]
The School of
Aristotle in the
Nymphaeum of Mieza (It is located in the "Isvoria" location of Naoussa). It is a landscape rich in water and vegetation where the Nymphaeum, the Sanctuary of the
nymphs, is located. The first signs of use of the area go back to the
Iron Age, but after the middle of the 4th century BC the site was transformed into a school and here the philosopher Aristotle taught the young
Alexanderphilosophy,
ethics, arts and mathematics. Between two natural caves the rock was carved vertically, an
ionic colonnade was added and a C-shaped covered gallery was created. In the Archaeological Museum of
Veria there are tiles and clay tiles from the roof of the gallery.
The ancient theater of Miesza of
Hellenistic period (2nd century BC). It was discovered by chance in 1992. It had a capacity of around 1,500-2,000 spectators. Excavations continue near the theater where the market of Miesza is located).
The great Macedonian tomb "of Judgment" (Early 3rd century BC. Monumental two-chambered Macedonian tomb with a two-story facade and four paintings with scenes of the Judgment of the dead in Hades. Probably tomb of
Peucestas, general of Alexander the Great, from Miesza).
The Macedonian tomb of Lyson and Callicles (Around 200 BC. A small two-chambered Macedonian tomb with a simple facade and colorful paintings. It contains the bones and ashes of four generations of a high-ranking military family and was named after two of the dead) .
The Macedonian tomb of the Anthemians (3rd century BC. Two-chamber vaulted Macedonian tomb).
The Macedonian Tomb of Kinch (Around 310-290 BC. A small two-chambered Macedonian tomb with a simple facade. The painted decoration of the interior is no longer preserved. It was named after the Danish archaeologist Kinch who excavated it at the end of the 19th century).