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(μαχαιροφόροι; machairophóroi). [German version] [1] In the Ptolemaic period, part of the royal guard and especially used for rural policing purposes and for the protection of high civil officials (later also for the kōmárchēs or the práktōr laographías); the members of the guard did not necessarily have to be Egyptians (cf. e.g. OGIS 737). In the Imperial period the term is often simply used as a synonym for ‘soldier(s)’; there were machairophóroi in the service of the imperial household and as bodyguards for officials who had to handle taxes and other monies. To …

(Φαρνάκης; Pharnákēs). [German version] [1] Ph. I. King of Pontus, 2nd cent. BC King of Pontus (185-160/154 BC), son of Mithridates [3] III. After the conquest of Sinope in 183 BC, Ph. fought in 182-179 BC (Pontian War Pol. 25,2; Diod. Sic. 29,24) together with the dynast Mithridates of Armenia Minor against a gradually emerging coalition of the kings Eumenes [3] II, Ariarathes IV (Cappadocia), Prusias II and Artaxias [1] I, the dynasts Acusilaus (territory unknown), Gatalos (Sarmate) and Morzius (Paphlagone…

[German version] [1] Modern Enez This item can be found on the following maps: Byzantium | Thraci, Thracia | | | Colonization | Moesi, Moesia | Pergamum | Persian Wars | Pompeius | Delian League | Athenian League (Second) (Αἶνος; Aînos). The place today known as Enez on the Turkish bank of the Maritza, mentioned by Hom. Il. 4,520 as the home of  Peirous. The name Poltymbria (Str. 7,7,1) is a later construct. Systematic archaeological investigation is not possible because of buildings built over the relevant sites. Traces of a prehisto…

This item can be found on the following maps: Thraci, Thracia | Christianity | | Daci, Dacia | Commerce | Moesi, Moesia | Pilgrimage | Rome | Rome | Balkans, languages (Σερδική/ Serdikḗ, modern Sofia). [German version] I. Early history until the Roman Period Settlement of the Thracian Serdi on the Oescus [1] between the Scombrus and Haemus mountain ranges, a nodal point of roads (It. Ant. 135,4; Tab. Peut 7,5; Ptol. 3,11,8); modern Sofia. Settled since the 8th/7th centuries BC, in the 5th/4th centuries BC S. developed under the kings of t…

(Μαρώνεια; Marṓneia). [German version] [1] North Aegaean city This item can be found on the following maps: Thraci, Thracia | Colonization | Persian Wars | Punic Wars | Athenian League (Second) | Education / Culture North Aegaean city on the southwest slopes of the Ismarus, today's Maronia. Founded by Chios (1st half of the 7th cent. BC; Scyl. 678) in the tribal lands of the Cicones. Mythography associates M. with the Homeric Márōn (Hom. Od. 9,197); first mentioned by Hecat. FGrH 1 F 159. The most important occupations were viticulture and sheep breeding. As of 529 …

This item can be found on the following maps: Theatre | Thraci, Thracia | Christianity | | Coloniae | Alexander | Moesi, Moesia | Rome | Rome | Balkans, languages (Φιλιππόπολις/ Philippópolis, Φιλιπούπολις/ Philipoúpolis). [German version] I. Location and history up to conquest by the Goti City in Thrace (Thraci), founded by Philip (Philippus [4]) II in the immediate vicinity of a fortified settlement of the Bessi on the right bank of the Hebrus in 341 BC. An important road and river transport junction between the Ister [2], the Black Sea, …

(Δύμη; Dýmē). [German version] [1] City on the west coast of Achaea This item can be found on the following maps: Coloniae | Dark Ages | Achaeans, Achaea | Macedonia, Macedones | Education / Culture City on the west coast of Achaea near the modern Kato-Achaia, on a broad plateau on the left bank of the Peirus, protected on three sides by precipices. Protected by a fortress (Pol. 4,59,4), D. was able to exploit the natural riches of the land on Cape Araxus. One of the old 12 cities of Achaea (Hdt. 1,145), D. arose from the amalgamation of eight villages (δῆμοι; dêmoi) (Str. 8,3,2), among them Pal…

(Ἱερὸν ὄρος; Hieròn óros). [German version] [1] Holy mountain Holy mountain, name of a mountain range on the  Propontis, modern Tegirdağ. Religious centre of the  Thraci (Str. 7, fr. 55). The fortress of the Odrysae bearing the same name (Xen. An. 7,1,14) was situated there. Cotys I entrenched himself there in 362 BC at the time of the revolt of Miltocythes (Dem. Or. 23,104). Philip II conquered H. in 346 (Dem. Or. 9,15; Aeschin. Leg. 2,82f.; 3,73f.). von Bredow, Iris (Bietigheim-Bissingen) Bibliography C. Danov, Altthrakien, 1976, 122f. [German version] [2] Foothills on the south …

( Constantinopolis). [German version] I. Site Imperial residence, founded in 324 by  Constantine [1] the Great on the site of  Byzantium. Bounded to the north by the Golden Horn, with the  Bosporus [1] to the east and the  Hellespont to the south, the city could only be attacked from one side by land. By virtue of its site it dominated trade and commerce between Europe and Asia, between the Aegean and the Black Sea ( Pontos Euxeinos; Hdn. 3,1,5; Pol. 4,38-45). von Bredow, Iris (Bietigheim-Bissingen) [German version] II. Topography The city plan did not follow the customary imperial…

[German version] (Αἷμος; Haîmos). Mountain range in Thrace, the Balkan mountains (Turkish Balkan, Bulgarian Stara Planina. The name is probably Thracian). The H. stretches from Timacus to Pontus and represents a distinctive watershed. According to ancient opinion the H. began at the Adriatic (Str. 7, fr. 10). As it is not very high but hard to cross it was often also an ethnic and political border. The first mention is in Hecataeus (FGrH 1 F 169). Numerous myths are connected with the H. (Apollod. 1,6,3; Ps.-Plut. De fluviis 11,3; Serv. Aen. 1,317; 321; Steph. Byz. s.v. Αἷ.). Ovid gives th…

(Νέον τεῖχος; Néon teîchos). [German version] [1] Fortified town on the northern coast of the Propontis Fortified town on the northern coast of the  Propontis, south of  Bisanthe (Ps.-Scyl. 67). It was founded by  Bisanthe or by  Samos, and from the end of the 5th cent. BC it was  in the hands of the Odrysae. NT was said  to have belonged  to Alcibiades [3] temporarily (Nep. Alcibiades 7,4). Seuthes offered  Xenophon the gift of N. together with  Bisanthe and Ganos (Xen. An. 7,5,8). von Bredow, Iris (Bietigheim-Bissingen) Bibliography U. Kahrstedt, Beiträge zur Geschichte der thraki…

(Ξυλίνη; Xylínē). [German version] [1] Coastal town in Colchis Coastal town in Colchis between the mouths of the Archabis (modern Arhavi) and the Cissa (modern Kise; Ptol. 5,6,6), not locatable more precisely. von Bredow, Iris (Bietigheim-Bissingen) Bibliography H. Treidler, s. v. X., in: RE 9 A, 2163 f. [German version] [2] Settlement in Pisidia to the north of Termessus [1] Settlement in Pisidia to the north of Termessus [1], to the south of Cormasa (not located with certainty: [1. 67]); precise location unclear. Cn. Manlius [I 24] Vulso stayed there in 189 BC (Liv. 38,15,7). Bran…

(Λυσιμάχεια; Lysimácheia). [German version] [1] City on the Thracian Chersonesus This item can be found on the following maps: Diadochi and Epigoni | Natural catastrophes City founded by one of the Diadochi Lysimachus, in 309 BC - in place of the city of Cardia destroyed by him - as the capital city of Thracian Chersonesus and the seat of government (Str. 7, fr. 51; Liv. 23,38,11; Ptol. 3,11) there on the southern coast of Melas Kolpos near modern Bakla Burnu. In the Hellenistic period L. was the most important trans-sh…

This item can be found on the following maps: Pontos Euxeinos | Thraci, Thracia | | Commerce | Hellenistic states | Colonization | Apollo | Moesi, Moesia (Ὀδησσός; Odēssós). [German version] I. Development up to the 3rd century AD Greek city on the western coast of the Pontos Euxeinos (Ptol. 3,10,8; 8,11,6), modern Varna (in Bulgaria); Milesian foundation (beginning of the 6th cent. BC; Ps.-Scymn. 748-750; Plin. HN 4,45; Colonization, with map and overview). Member of the Delian League (ATL 1, 116, 157, fr. 38 for 425 BC). After an u…

(Γελωνός; Gelōnós). [German version] [1] Son of Heracles and the snake maiden Echidna Son of Hercules and the snake maiden  Echidna, brother of Agathyrsus and of  Scythes, eponym of the Graeco-Scythian Geloni (Hdt. 4,10). Scherf, Johannes (Tübingen) [German version] [2] City of the Butini City of the Budini, mentioned only by Hdt. 4,108, according to the context of the highly contested passage, north of the Melanchlaeni on the upper Donec. Herodotus describes a city built of wood with Greek architecture and a Greek life-style. The inhabit…

(Γόργιππος; Górgippos). [German version] [1] Eponym of  Gorgippia, regent of the Sindian region after his father  Satyrus I 's war against the Maeotae (Polyaenus, Strat. 8,55). High government official at the time of his uncle  Paerisades. A statue was erected for him in Athens (Din. in Demosthenem 43).  Maiotae,  Sindi von Bredow, Iris (Bietigheim-Bissingen) Bibliography V. F. Gaidukevič, Das Bosporanische Reich, 1971, 72; 43; 232. [German version] [2] Author of satyr plays Son of Pythippos, author of satyr plays. His victory at the Soteria in Acraephia in the 1st…

[German version] [1] Tribe, Mares [1] (Μᾶρες; Mâres). One of the five tribes which formed the 19th tax district under Darius [1], probably west of Colchis. Mentioned only by Hecataeus (FGrH 1 F 205) and Hdt. 3,94,2; 7,79 where they are described together with the Moschi, Tibareni, Macrones and Mossynoeci as lightly armed soldiers with small leather shields and javelins. von Bredow, Iris (Bietigheim-Bissingen) [German version] [2] Progenitor of the Ausones, Mares [2] (Μάρης; Márēs). Progenitor of the Ausones. Because his Centaur-like figure appears too fabulous, he is …

(Ἐλαιοῦς; Elaioûs). [German version] [1] City on the south of the Thracian Chersonesus This item can be found on the following maps: Colonization | Athenian League (Second) City in the south of the Thracian Chersonesus near modern Eceabat (Turkey), foundation of the Athenians in the 6th cent. BC to control the southern access to the Propontis, important port town. Used by Militiades the Younger as the base for expeditions against Lemnos and Lesbos (Hdt. 6,140). E. was used as an achorage by Xerxes (Hdt. 7,22). The sanctua…

[German version] [1] City on Cape Bouloustra This item can be found on the following maps: Thraci, Thracia | Colonization | Macedonia, Macedones | Moesi, Moesia | Peloponnesian War | Pergamum | Persian Wars | Pompeius | Punic Wars | Athenian League (Second) (Ἄβδηρα; Ábdēra). City on Cape Bouloustra, in the Aegean, 16 km north-east of the mouth of the Nestus; founded and fortified in 656 BC by Ionian  Clazomenae; destroyed by Thracians at the beginning of the 6th cent. BC. Archaeologically attested archaic graves. From 545 BC, a second fou…

(Βρῖσαι). [English version] [1] Nymphen auf Keos Nymphen auf Keos; lehrten die ländliche Gottheit Aristaios den Umgang mit Olivenöl und Honig (Hesych s.v. B. 348; schol. Theokr. 5,53). Schon in der Ant. brachte man sie mit dem lesbischen Dionysos Brisaios in Verbindung, den eine Nymphe Brisa genährt haben soll (schol. Pers. 1,76). Bloch, René (Princeton) [English version] [2] Thrakischer Teilstamm Thrakischer Teilstamm oberhalb des unteren Nestos, Nachbarn der Sintoi und Mygdones; nur einmal lit. belegt (Plin. nat. 4,40), häufig zu Brigas konjiziert (Bri…