Thessaloniki is the second most populous city in Greece. From its foundation by Kassandros,
Thessaloniki as a flourishing Hellenistic city until the Ottoman rule, it takes advantage
of its strategic position and develops into a multicultural city. Since 1912 with the end
of the Balkan wars and the integration of the region into the modern Greek State,
Thessaloniki has been the second most populous city in Greece.
The prevailing view of the foundation of Thessalonica in 316/315 BC by the usurper
Cassander of the Macedonian throne, relates his choice to the perception of the strategic
position of this indented hollow of the Macedonian coastline, which could easily to connect
the hinterland with the sea, creating the conditions for a flourishing commercial movement,
while at the same time providing security from raids. In addition, Kassandros considered
the arming of Thessaloniki as a second act, which would legitimize his claims to the
Macedonian throne after his marriage to a scion of the royal dynasty. In Hellenistic
Thessaloniki, as far as we know, there were the clans: Antigonis, Dionysias and
Asclepias and the municipalities of Voukefalia and Kekropis.
With the ancient city of Thermi as its main axis, Kassandros forced the population
of 26 local, coastal cities to relocate, creating the new state, which he named in
honor of his wife, Thessaloniki. The commercial importance of the city attracted
various settlers (Egyptians, Syrians, Jews) early on (3rd century BC), increasing
its population and topographical size.
