Pherae
Pherae was a city and polis in southeastern Ancient Thessaly. One of the oldest Thessalian cities, it was located in the southeast corner of Pelasgiotis. According to Strabo, it was near Lake Boebeïs 90 stadia from Pagasae, its harbor on the Gulf of Pagasae. The site is in the modern community of Velestino.
In Homer Pherae was the home of King Admetus and his wife, Alcestis,, as well as their son Eumelus .
Thucydides lists Pherae among the early Thessalian supporters of Athens at the beginning of the Peloponnesian War. Toward the end of the war Lycophron established a tyranny at Pherae. On his death his son Jason became dictator and by around 374 B.C.E. extended his rule throughout Thessaly. After Jason's assassination and that of his two successors Alexander ruled Pherae with great harshness until he was killed by his wife, Thebe, in 359 B.C.E., and Thessaly was conquered by the Thebans. Philip of Macedon conquered Pherae in 352 B.C.E. and subjected Thessaly to Macedonian rule.
In Roman times Pherae was conquered by Antiochus the Great of Syria in 191 B.C.E., but lost it that same year to the Roman consul of the year Manius Acilius Glabrio. The famous Messeis spring was probably at Pherae.
