Maroneia

Maroneia Μαρώνεια
Maroneia
Location within the regional unit
Coordinates: 40°54′N 25°31′E / 40.900°N 25.517°E / 40.900; 25.517Coordinates: 40°54′N 25°31′E / 40.900°N 25.517°E / 40.900; 25.517
Country	Greece
Administrative region	East Macedonia and Thrace
Regional unit	Rhodope
Municipality	Maroneia-Sapes
• Municipal unit	287.2 km2 (110.9 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Municipal unit	6,350
• Municipal unit density	22/km2 (57/sq mi)
Community
• Population	570 (2011)
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Vehicle registration	ΚΟ

Maroneia (Greek: Μαρώνεια, Bulgarian: Марония) is a village and a former municipality in the Rhodope regional unit, East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Maroneia-Sapes, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an area of 287.155 km². Population 6,350 (2011). The seat of the municipality was in Xylagani.

In legend, it was said to have been founded by Maron, a son of Dionysus, or even a companion of Osiris. According to Pseudo-Scymnus it was founded by Chios in the first half of the 6th century BC. According to Pliny, its ancient name was Ortagures. It was located on the hill of Aghios Gheorgis, and archaeological findings date it as a much older and as a pure Thracian city.

Maroneia was close to the Ismaros mentioned by Homer in the Odyssey. Some scholars identify Maroneia with his Ismaros. Homer has Odysseus plundering the city but sparing Maron, whom he identifies as a priest of Apollo. Maron presents Odysseus with a gift of wine, as well as with gold and silver.

In the era of Ancient Greece and Rome, Maroneia was famous for its wine production. The wine was esteemed everywhere; it was said to possess the odor of nectar, and to be capable of mixture with twenty or more times its quantity with water. That the people of Maroneia venerated Dionysus, we learn not just from its famous Dionysian Sanctuary, the foundations of which can still be seen today, but also from the city's coins.