Ancient city, eastern Macedonia, near the mouth of the Struma River .
Amphipolis was a strategic transportation centre, controlling the bridge over the river and the route from northern Greece to the Dardanelles. Colonized by Athens in 437 BC, it was taken by Sparta in 424 BC. It soon received its independence, only to be taken by Philip II of Macedon in 358 BC. Later, under Roman rule, it was the headquarters of the Roman governor of Macedonia.