Description : Anciently, Iolcus was situated in Magnesia, ancient Thessaly, and was a polis (city-state). It is rarely mentioned in historical times. It was given by the Thessalians to Hippias, upon his expulsion from Athens in 511/510 BCE, but he rejected it. It is also quoted in the Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax as a city belonging to Magnesia. The town afterwards suffered from the dissensions of its inhabitants, but it was finally ruined by Demetrius Poliorcetes' foundation of Demetrias in 294 BCE, when the inhabitants of Iolcus and of other adjoining towns were removed to that place. It seems to have been no longer in existence in the time of Strabo, since he speaks of the place where Iolcus stood. Strabo states that a festal assembly was held there in honor of Pelias. Site The position of Iolcus is indicated by Strabo, who says that it was on the road from Boebe to Demetrias, and at the distance of 7 stadia from the latter. In another passage he says that Iolcus is situated above the sea at the distance of 7 stadia from Demetrias. Pindar places Iolcus is at the foot of Mount Pelion, consequently a little inland. It might indeed appear, from Livy, that Iolcus was situated upon the coast; but in this passage, as well as in Strabo, the name of Iolcus seems to have been given to this part of the coast as well as to the city itself. Ancient Iolcus' location is at the Volos Kastro, located at 39°21′59″N 22°58′08″E.
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