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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…

[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] (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] (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] (Ἀραχναῖον; Arachmaîon). Bleak range of limestone mountains, running east to west between the plain of  Argos [II 1] and  Epidaurus; highest peak nowadays called Profitis Elias (1199 m), with altars to  Zeus and  Hera (Paus. 2,25,10). Named in Aesch. Ag. 309 as the site of the last beacon for the signals from Troy. Other names for A. (literally ‘spider mountains’) in Paus. loc. cit. (Sapyselaton) and Hsch. s. v. Hysselinon. Lienau, Cay (Münster) Bibliography Philippson/Kirsten 3, 1, 1959,97 f.

[German version] (Λούσιος; Loúsios). This northern tributary of the Alpheius [1], whose source is associated with the legend of the birth of Zeus, rises near Dimitsana. According to Paus. 8,28,2f., in its lower reaches it was called Gortynius; cf. Pol. 16,17,7. Modern Dimitsana. Lienau, Cay (Münster) Bibliography F. Bölte, s.v. L., RE 13, 1867.

[German version] (Μήνιος; Mḗnios). A small tributary of the Peneius in the territory of the city of Elis, which Hercules was said to have diverted in order to clean the stables of Augias. It cannot be identified with certainty as a tributary of the modern Revmata. Attested in Paus. 5,1,10; 6,26,1; Theoc. 25,15. Lienau, Cay (Münster)

[German version] [1] Mountain range in Triphylia (Μίνθη; Mínthē). Mountain range in Triphylia, 1344 m high, composed of chalk, modern Alivaina. Traces of a sacrificial site on its peak; Str. 8,3,14 mentions sanctuaries of Hades and Demeter on the slopes. Cf. Ptol. 3,14,35. Lienau, Cay (Münster) Bibliography E. Meyer, s.v. M., RE 15, 1934. [German version] [2] see Mint see Mint

[German version] (Ὀλίγυρτος; Olígyrtos). Mountain range in north-eastern Arcadia (Pol. 4,11,5; 70,1; Plut. Cleomenes 26,3), whose highest mountain is Skipiza (1934 m); it is the meeting-point of the borders of Argolid, Corinthus and Arcadia. Important crossings from the plateau of Orchomenus [3] and Caphyae to Stymphalus and Phlius. Lienau, Cay (Münster) Bibliography E. Meyer, s.v. Oligyrtos, RE 17, 2477-2479  Id., Peloponnesische Wanderungen, 1939, 276f.

[German version] (Ἀροάνια ὄρη; Aroánia órē). Massif (highest peak: Helmos, 2341 m) in northern  Arcadia between Erymathus and Cyllene; for the role of Aroania ore in the legend of the Protides, see  Proetus (Paus. 8,18,7). Lienau, Cay (Münster)

(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] (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] (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.

[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 …

[German version] (Ἥραιον; Hḗraion). The outermost cape (today Cape Melangavi) of the peninsula that is formed by the foothills of the Geraneia opposite Corinth with a settlement, fort and sanctuary of Hera Akraia and Limenia (rich finds from the 9th cent. BC onwards) on a small bay on the south side of the cape (Xen. Hell. 4,5,5ff.; Xen. Ages. 2,18f.; Str. 8,6,22; Plut. Cleomenes 20,3; Liv. 32,23,10). Olshausen, Eckart (Stuttgart) Lienau, Cay (Münster) Bibliography H. Payne et al. (ed.), The Sanctuaries of Hera Akraia and Limenia, 2 vols., 1940/1962.

[German version] (Μαίναλον, Μαίναλος, Μαινάλιον; Maínalon, Maínalos, Mainálion). Limestone mountain range about 30 km long between the eastern Arcadian plain and the Helisson valley, up to 1981 m high, with extended fir woods; in modern times without a standardized name; modern Tripolis is at its southern foot. Sacred to Pan, who was called ‘Maenalian’ after it; in poets often in the genitive, hence it also means ‘Arcadian’. The mountains also appear as the hunting grounds of Atalante and Artemis. M. i…