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[German version] (Γεράνεια; Geráneia). Mountain range formed primarily by lime and dolomites of the Trias and the Lower Jura as well as (in the west) by ophiolites (serpentinites), reaching across today's Nomos boundary between Attica and Corinth. In the west, it flattens out in Akron Melankavi (and Akron Heraion) into the Gulf of Corinth; in the east, it drops off steeply to the Gulf of Megara (part of the Saronic Gulf), forming the Scironian Cliffs. In Makriplagi, at the border between Attica and…

(Ἐνιπεύς; Enipeús). [German version] [1] Tributary to the right of the Alpheius [1] in Elis A tributary to the right of the  Alpheius [1] in Elis, also Βαρνίχιος ( Barníchios, ‘River of Lambs’) [1], modern Lestenitsa west of Olympia (Str. 8,3,32; Hom. Od. 11,238ff.). Olshausen, Eckart (Stuttgart) Lienau, Cay (Münster) Bibliography 1 E. Curtius, Peloponnesos 2, 1852, 71f. [German version] [2] Main river of the West Thessalian plain Main river of the West Thessalian plain, modern Tsanarlis. Its source is in the Othrys range near Melitaea under the name Elipeus (IG IX 2, 205 and add.…

[German version] (ὁ Πάρνων; ho Párnō n), modern term for the entire chain of mountains east of Laconice, which runs from the high plain of Tegea in the P. Peninsula and tapers out far to the south at Cape Malea [1]. P. is attested only once in Antiquity, and only in its northernmost part, the modern Malevo (1935 m elevation), and its northern continuation, over which the road from Argos to Tegea led, with the border region between Arcadia, Argos and Sparta (Paus. 2,38,7). The entire southern continuat…

[German version] [1] Fish Fish (Greek ἰχθῦς/ ichthŷs; Latin piscis) was a common food in Greece and Rome, certain fishes in Rome were even considered a luxury food. This explains the Greek curiosity about neighbouring cultures such as Egypt or Syria, where conspicuous food prohibitions were observed and generalized (priests in Egypt: Hdt. 2,37; Plut. De Is. et Os. 7, 353b; Plut. Symp. 8,8,2; Syria: Ov. Fast. 2,473f.; Porph. De abstinentia 2,61 etc.) that probably relate to the worship of fish in these cu…

(Ὄνειον/ Óneion, Ὄνεια ὄρη/ Óneia órē). [German version] [1] Limestone ridge in the southern part of the Isthmus of Corinth A strategically significant limestone ridge in the southern part of the Isthmus of Corinth, measuring c. 8 km in length and up to 584 m in height (Thuc. 4,44,4; Xen. Hell. 6,5,51ff.; 7,1,15; 41; 2,5; Pol. 2,52,5; Plut. Cleomenes 20,1; Polyaenus Strat. 2,3; 3,9), today again called O. Lienau, Cay (Münster) Bibliography Philippson/Kirsten 3, 82  E. Meyer, s.v. O. (1), RE 18, 438-440. [German version] [2] Mountainous region between Geraneia and Cithaeron Megarian m…

[German version] (Φεά/ Pheá, Φαιά/ Phaiá, Φεαί/ Pheaí). Foothills and port on the coast of Elis [1] on the isthmus of the peninsula of Ichthys (modern Katakolo) (Hom. Od. 15,297; H. Hom. 1,427; Thuc. 2,25,3f.; 7,31,1; Pol. 4,9,9; Diod. Sic. 12,43,4; Xen. Hell. 3,2,30; Str. 8,3,12; 26f.; Paus. 5,18,6; Pol. 4,9,9; Plin. HN 4,13; 22) near modern Katakolo, harbour for Olympia. Traces of a settlement were found on the hill of Pontikokastro (acropolis) and under water in the Bay of Hagios Andreas as well as …

[German version] (Σκιρῖτις; Skirîtis). Northern border region of Laconia (Thuc. 5,33,2) between the eastern Arcadian and Spartan basins, in the north about 13 km wide and in the south about 4 km, a slate region of the northwestern slopes of the northern Parnon mountains without any larger settlements. It was originally counted as part of Arcadia (Steph. Byz. s. v. Σκίρος). In the 5th cent. BC the Sciritae had the status of Spartan períoikoi . In 369 BC it was annexed to Megale polis (Xen. Hell. 6,5,24 ff.; 7,4,21; Diod. Sic. 15,64,3 ff.; Syll.3 665,31 f. from 164 BC). Lienau, Cay (Münst…

[German version] (Ὄφις/ Óphis). River on the plain of Mantinea that originally flowed through the city; when the city was reestablished in 370 BC it was diverted to flow around it (Paus. 8,8,4; 7; Xen. Hell. 5,2,4f.; Diod. Sic. 15,12,1) and into the Katavothras at the western edge of the plain. Lienau, Cay (Münster) Bibliography E. Meyer, s.v. O. (1), RE 18, 649.

[German version] (Μαθία). Chain of mountains above Corone in Messenia (Paus. 4,34,4), modern Likodimo. Lienau, Cay (Münster) Bibliography F. Bölte, s.v. M., RE 14, 2195.

[German version] (Λύκαιον; Lýkaion). In the broad sense, the entire mountain mass consisting of various limestones west of the plateau of Megale Polis in Parrhasia (Paus. 8,2,1; 38,2ff.; 4,20,2; 8,41,3; Str. 8,3,22; Paus. 8,2,1; Thuc. 5,54,1). Polybius reckoned the L. to be among the largest mountain ranges of Greece (in Str. 4,6,12; ὤρεα μακρά in Theoc. 1,123). The L. mountain range in antiquity was rich in springs and forests; today it still has extensive fir forests (Paus. 8,38,3f.). It was fam…

(Ἐρύμανθος; Erýmanthos). [German version] [1] Mountain ridge in the north west Pelopponese A mountain range extending up to 2,224 m in height and consisting of several chains stretching north-east to south-west; located in the north-western Peloponnese in the border area between  Elis and  Achaea, the earlier north-western mountain border of  Arcadia. Composed of layers of limestone, it drops away sharply for over 25 km in the north-west towards the flysch hills of Voundoukia; today also Olonos. The setting…

[German version] (Παρθενίας/ Parthenías). Right-bank tributary of the Alpheius [1], rising from the lower slopes of the Foloi, debouching east of Olympia; the present-day Bakireïko. Sources: Str. 8,3,32; Paus. 6,21,7. Lienau, Cay (Münster) Bibliography E. Meyer, s.v. P., RE 18.4, 1886.

[German version] (Ἱρή/ Hirḗ, Ἰρή/ Irḗ, Εἶρα/ Eîra). Mountain stronghold in the inaccessible ravined area in the south of the upper Neda on the northern border of Messenia, possibly on the 864 m high Hagios Athanasios near Kakaletri (traces of ancient fortifications).  Aristomenes [1] led the battle against the Spartans from here in 500-490/489 BC (Third Messenian War). Olshausen, Eckart (Stuttgart) Lienau, Cay (Münster) Bibliography Philippson/Kirsten 3,2, 357 F. Kiechle, Messenische Studien, 1959, 86ff.

(Ἑλισσών; Helissṓn). [German version] [1] River in Arcadia River in Arcadia with abundant water at all seasons, tributary of the Alpheius [1], rises on the north-west slope of the Maenalum range, firstly flows south, then, turning west, in a narrow gorge penetrates the central mountains of Arcadia, composed of lime, flows through the Megalopolis Basin and flows out to the west of this into the Alpheius (Paus. 5,7,1; 8,29,5; 30,1f.). An important connecting route to northern Arcadia (today the Tripolis-Vitina road) runs through the upper valley of the H. Olshausen, Eckart (Stuttgart) Li…

(Σελινοῦς/ Selinoûs). Name of several rivers and towns. [German version] [1] Tributary of the Alpheius [1] Southern tributary of the Alpheius [1] which enters west of Olympia, modern Krestena (Xen. An. 5,3,8; Paus. 5,6,6). Lienau, Cay (Münster) [German version] [2] River in Achaea River in Achaea, which originates on Mount Erymanthus near Leontium close to modern Vlasia, flows through the territory of Aegium and enters the Corinthian Gulf east of modern Valimitika. Today again known as S. (Str. 8,7,5 [1. 82 f.]; Paus. 7,24,5). Lafond, Yves (Bochum) Bibliography 1 R. Baladié, Le P…

(Δρέπανον; Drépanon). Name of several foothills; the external shape of the mountain may have given rise to the name D. (‘sickle’). [German version] [1] Vorgebirge an der Nordküste von Westkreta On the north coast of western Crete (Ptol. 3,15,5), known in antiquity and today as D. Sonnabend, Holger (Stuttgart) Lienau, Cay (Münster) Bibliography M. Guarducci, Inscript. Cret. 2,10. [German version] [2] Nördlichster Vorsprung der Peloponnesos in den Korinth. Golf Northernmost outcrop of the Peloponnese into the Corinthian Gulf, 7 km north-east of Rhion (with which i…

[German version] (Ταΰγετος/ Taýgetos). Mountain range in the south of the Peloponnesus (Str. 4,6,12; 8,5,1; Paus. 3,20,4 ff.; Ptol. 3,16,14; in the Byzantine period and in the modern era Pentedáktylon, 'Five Finger mountain range', present-day again T.). It is c. 110 km long and c. 25 km wide and stretches from the Megale Polis basin to Taenarum (highest elevation: present-day Profitis Elias, 2407 m; the southern part in the Middle Ages Mane, Maïne, present-day Mani). Sloping steeply to the east, it separated Laconica from Messana [2] (M…

This item can be found on the following maps: Theatre (Ἰσθμός; Isthmós, ὁ ( ho) or ἡ ( hē)) means primarily any connecting link between two things (e.g. the neck, Pl. Ti. 69e); in a narrower sense, any strip of land between two seas, as i.e. the Thracian Chersonesus [1] (Hdt. 6,36), but especially the I. of Corinth (e.g. Hdt. 8,40; Thuc. 1,13,5; 108,2; 2,9,2; 10,3). This I. corresponds to the fundamental definition in two respects - it links, on the one hand, the Corinthian Gulf with the Saronic Gulf, on the other hand, central Greece with the Peloponnese. The…

[German version] I. Greece (Νᾶσοι/ Nâsoi). [German version] [I 1] Lowlands in the area of Caphyae in Arcadia Lowlands in the area of Caphyae in Arcadia (Arcadians), to the south of and below the modern village of Daras (known as Dara until 1940), with luxuriant vegetation, as the water of the upper Orchomenian Plain reemerges here in several springs forming the stream Tragus, which flows into the Ladon [2] (Paus. 8,23,2; 8). Olshausen, Eckart (Stuttgart) Lienau, Cay (Münster) Bibliography 1 E. Meyer, s.v. N. (1), RE 16, 1793  Ders., Peleponnesische Wanderungen, 1939, 31f., 34, Taf. XI. Pr…

[German version] (Νέδα; Néda). A river in the western Peloponnese which in historical times formed the border between Triphylia (later Elis) and Messana [2]. Although its main source is close to Hagios Sostis, it actually rises on Mt. Lycaeum, then, after a distance of 37 km, it flows into the Gulf of  Cyparissia. The N. is a raging torrent with many waterfalls which rushes through a narrow, rugged, for the most part, inaccessible valley. The fortress of Hira was situated in the mountainous region …