Myrcinus (or Myrkinos) is an ancient Greek city that was established as a polis in Macedonian Thrace, in the region known as Edonis. It was founded in 497 BCE by colonists from Miletus under the leadership of Histiaios—a decision made possible by an arrangement with Darius of Persia, who had rewarded Histiaios for his assistance. The city’s location on the left bank of the Strymon River, nestled between the Strymon and Nestos rivers, proved strategically advantageous. Its natural resources, including abundant timber for shipbuilding and nearby silver mines, made it a valuable site for settlement and trade.

Myrcinus also played a role in the dynamic historical landscape of ancient Greece. For instance, the city is noted in classical accounts for its connection with Aristagoras, who retired to the area after a failed endeavor, and later for its involvement in the military campaigns of the Peloponnesian War—when Brasidas captured neighboring cities and Myrcinus eventually surrendered. Over time, during the Byzantine era, the city became known as Doxompos (or Doxompus), and today its legacy is commemorated by a nearby modern village that bears the name Myrkinos in honor of the ancient settlement.