Listed 25 sub titles with search on: Information about the place for wider area of: "KRESTENA Small town ILIA" .
EPY (Ancient city) ILIA
(Aipn: Eth. Aiphutes). A town in Elis, so called from its lofty situation, is
mentioned by Homer, and is probably the same as the Triphylian town Epeium (Epeion,
Epion, Aiphion), which stood between Macistus and Heraea. Leake places it on the
high peaked mountain which lies between the villages of Vrina and Smerna, about
6 miles in direct distance from Olympia. Boblaye supposes it to occupy the site
of Hellenista, the name of some ruins on a hill between Platiana and Barakou.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited May 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
FRIXA (Village) ILIA
Phrixa (Phrixa, Paus. et alii; Phrixai, Herod. iv. 148: Eth. Phrixaios),
a town of Triphylia in Elis, situated upon the left bank of the Alpheius, at the
distance of 30 stadia from Olympia. (Strab. viii. p. 343; Steph. B. s. v.) It
was founded by the Minyae (Herod. l. c.), and its name was derived from Phaestus.
(Steph. B. s. v. Makistos.) Phrixa is rarely mentioned in history; but it shared
the fate of the other Triphylian cities. (Comp. Xen. Hell. iii. 2. 30; Polyb.
iv. 77, 80.) Its position is determined by Pausanias, who says that it was situated
upon a pointed hill, opposite the Leucanias, a tributary of the Alpheius, and
at a ford of the latter river. (Paus. vi. 21. § 6.) This pointed hill is now called
Paleofanaro, and is a conspicuous object from both sides of the river, whence
the city received the name of Phaestus in later times. (Steph. B. s. v Phaistos.)
The city was in ruins in the time of Pausanias, who mentions there a temple of
Athena Cydonia. Upon the summit of the hill there are still remains of Hellenic
walls. (Leake, Morea, vol. ii. p. 210; Boblaye, Recherches &c. p. 136; Ross, Reisen
im Peloponnes, p. 108; Curtius, Peloponnesos, vol. ii. p. 90.)
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited August 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
FRIZA (Ancient city) SKILOUNTA
Phrixa (Paus. et alii); Phrixai (Herod. iv. 148): Eth. Phrixaios.
A town of Triphylia in Elis, situated upon the left bank of the Alpheius, at the
distance of 30 stadia from Olympia. (Strab. viii. p. 343; Steph. B. s. v.) It
was founded by the Minyae (Herod. l. c.), and its name was derived from Phaestus.
(Steph. B. s. v. Makistos.) Phrixa is rarely mentioned in history; but it shared
the fate of the other Triphylian cities. (Comp. Xen. Hell. iii. 2. 30; Polyb.
iv. 77, 80.) Its position is determined by Pausanias, who says that it was situated
upon a pointed hill, opposite the Leucanias, a tributary of the Alpheius, and
at a ford of the latter river. (Paus. vi. 21. § 6.) This pointed hill is now called
Paleofanaro, and is a conspicuous object from both sides of the river, whence
the city received the name of Phaestus in later times. (Steph. B. s. v Phaistos.)
The city was in ruins in the time of Pausanias, who mentions there a temple of
Athena Cydonia. Upon the summit of the hill there are still remains of Hellenic
walls.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
MAKISTOS (Ancient city) ILIA
Macistus. Macistum, Makistos, to Makiston: Eth. Makistios. A town of Triphylia,
in Elis, said to have been also called Platanistus (Platanistous, Strab. viii.
p. 345.) It was originally inhabited by the Paroreatae and Caucones, who were
driven out by the Minyae. (Strab. l. c.; Herod. iv. 148.) It was afterwards subdued
by the Eleians, and became one of their dependent townships. In the time of Strabo,
it was no longer inhabited (viii. p. 349). Macistus was situated upon a lofty
hill in the north of Triphylia, and appears to have been the chief town in the
north of the district, as Lepreum was in the south. That Macistus was in the north
of Triphylia appears from several circumstances. Strabo describes its territory,
the Macistia, as bordering upon Pisatis. (Strab. viii. p. 343.) Agis, in his invasion
of the territory of Elis, in B.C. 400, when he entered Triphylia through the Aulon
of Messenia, was first joined by the Lepreatae, next by the Macistii, and then
by the Epitalii on the Alpheius. (Xen. Hell. iii. 2. 25) Stephanus places Macistus
to the westward of the Lepreatis (Steph. B. s. v.); but this is obviously an error,
as Arcadia bordered upon the Lepreatis in that direction. Macistus would appear
to have been in the neighbourhood of Samicum upon the coast, as it had the superintendence
of the celebrated temple of the Samian Poseidon at this place. (Strab. viii. p.
343.) From these circumstances there can be little doubt that Macistus was situated
upon the heights of Khaiaffa.
It is worthy of notice that Pausanias and Polybius mention only Samicum,
and Xenophon only Macistus. This fact, taken in connection with the Macistians
having the superintendence of the temple of the Samian Poseidon, has led to the
conjecture that upon the decay of Samos upon the coast, the Minyans built Macistus
upon the heights above; but that the ancient name of the place was afterwards
revived in the form of Samicum. The Macistians had a temple of Hercules situated
upon the coast near the Acidon. (Strab. viii. p. 348.)
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
SAMIKON (Ancient city) ILIA
Samikon: Eth. Samikeus. A town of Triphylia in Elis, situated near
the coast about half-way between the mouths of the Alpheius and the Neda, and
a little north of the Anigrus. It stood upon a projecting spur of a lofty mountain,
which here approaches so near the coast as to leave only a narrow pass. From its
situation commanding this pass, it is probable that a city existed here from the
earliest times; and it was therefore identified with the Arene of Homer (Il. ii.
591, xi. 723), which the poet places near the mouth of the Minyeius, a river supposed
to be the same as the Anigrus. According to Strabo the city was originally called
Samos, from its being situated upon a hill, because this word formerly signified
heights, Samicum was at first the name of the fortress, and the same name was
also given to the surrounding plain. (Strab. viii. pp. 346, 347; Paus. v. 5. §
3.) Pausanias speaks (v. 6. § 1) of a city Samia, which he apparently distinguishes
from Samicum; but Samicum is the only place mentioned in history. Samicum was
occupied by the Aetolian Polysperchon against the Arcadians, and was taken by
Philip, B.C. 219. (Paus. v. 6. § 1; Polyb. iv. 77, 80.) The ruins of Samicurn
are found at Khaiaffa (written Chaiappa), which is only the name of the guarded
pass. The ruined walls are 6 feet thick, and about 1 1/2 mile in circumference.
They are of the second order of Hellenic masonry, and are evidently of great antiquity.
The towers towards the sea belong to a later age.
Near Samicumn upon the coast was a celebrated temple of the Samian
Poseidon, surrounded by a grove of wild olives. It was the centre of the religious
worship of the six Triphylian cities, all of whom contributed to its support.
It was under the superintendence of Macistus, the most powerful of the Triphylian
cities. (Strab. viii. pp. 344, 346, 347.) In a corrupt passage of Strabo this
temple is said to be 100 stadia equidistant from Lepreum and the Annius (tou Anniou);
for the latter name we ought to read Alpheius and not Anigrus, as some editors
have done.
In the neighbourhood of Samicum there were celebrated medicinal springs,
which were said to cure cutaneous diseases. Of the two lagoons which now stretch
along the coast, the larger, which extends as far as the mouth of the Alpheius,
begins at the northern foot of the hill upon which Samicum stands; the southern
extends along the precipitous sides of the hill, which were called in antiquity
the Achaean rocks. (Strab viii. p. 347.) The river Anigrus flows into the latter
of these lagoons, and from thence flows out into the sea. The lagoon is deep,
being fed with subterraneous sources; in summer it is said to be very fetid, and
the air extremely unwholesome. Strabo relates that the waters of the lake were
fetid, and its fish not eatable, which he attributes to the Centaurs washing their
wounds in the Anigrus. Pausanias mentions the same circumstances; and both writers
describe the efficacy of the water in curing cutaneous diseases. There were two
caves, one sacred to the Nymphs Anigrides (Anigrides, Paus.; Anigriades, Strab.),
and the other to the Atlantides; the former was the more important, and is alone
mentioned by Pausanias. It was in the cave of the Anigrides that the persons who
were going to use the waters first offered up their prayers to the Nymphs. (Strab.
viii. p. 346, seq.; Paus. v. 5. § § 7 - 11.) These two caves are still visible
in the rocks; but they are now accessible only by a boat, as they are immediately
above the surface of the lake. General Gordon, who visited these caverns in 1835,
found in one of them water distilling from the rock, and bringing with it a pure
yellow sulphur.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
SKILLOUS (Ancient city) ILIA
Skillous: Eth. Skillountios. A town of Triphylia, a district of Elis,
situated 20 stadia south of Olympia. In B.C. 572 the Scilluntians assisted Pyrrhus,
king of Pisa, in making war upon the Eleians; but they were completely conquered
by the latter, and both Pisa and Scillus were razed to the ground. (Paus. v. 6.
§ 4, vi. 22. § 4.) Scillus remained desolate till about B.C. 392, when the Lacedaemonians,
who had a few years previously compelled the Eleians to renounce their supremacy
over their dependent cities, colonised Scillus and gave it to Xenophon, then an
exile from Athens. Xenophon resided here more than twenty years, but was expelled
from it by the Eleians soon after the battle of Leuctra, B.C. 371. He has left
us a description of the place, which he says was situ-ated 20 stadia from the
Sacred Grove of Zeus, on the road to Olympia from Sparta, It stood upon the river
Selinus, which was also the name of the river flowing by the temple of Artemis
at Ephesus, and like the latter it abounded in fish and shell-fish. Here Xenophon,
from a tenth of the spoils acquired in the Asiatic campaign, dedicated a temple
to Artemis, in imitation of the celebrated temple at Ephesus, and instituted a
festival to the goddess. Scillus stood amidst woods and meadows, and afforded
abundant pasture for cattle; while the neighbouring mountains supplied wild hogs,
roebucks, and stags. (Xen. Anab. v. 3. 7 - 13.) When Pausanias visited Scillus
five centuries afterwards the temple of Artemis still remained, and a statue of
Xenophon, made of Pentelic marble. (Paus. v. 6. § 5, seq.; comp. Strab. viii.
pp. 344, 387; Plut. de >Exsil. p. 603.) There are no remains to identify Scillus,
but there can be no doubt that it stood in the woody vale, in which is a small
village called Rasa, and through which flows a river falling into the Alpheius
nearly opposite the Cladeus. (Leake, Morea, vol. ii. p. 213, seq., Peloponnesiaca,
p. 9; Boblaye, Recherches, &c. p. 133; Curtius, Peloponnesos, vol. ii. p.
91.)
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
STYLANGION (Ancient city) ILIA
Stullangion, Stullagion, Eth. Stullagios, Stullagieus. A town of Triphylia in
Elis of uncertain site, which surrendered to Philip in the Social War.
TYPANEES (Ancient city) ILIA
Typaneae (Tupaneai, Polyb. Steph. B.; Tumpaneai, Strab.; Tumpaneia,
Ptol.: Eth. Tupaneates), a town of Triphylia in Elis, mentioned by Strabo along
with Hypana. It was taken by Philip in the Social War. It was situated in the
mountains in the interior of the country, but its exact site is uncertain. Leake
supposes it to be represented by the ruins near Platiana; but Boblaye supposes
these to be the remains of Aepy or Aepium, and that Typaneae stood on the hill
of Makrysia. (Strab. viii. p. 343; Polyb. iv. 77-79; Steph. B. s. v. Ptol. iii.
16. § 18; Leake, Morea, vol. ii. p. 82; Boblaye, Recherches, &c. p. 133; Ross,
Reisen im Peloponnes, p. 105; Curtius, Peloponnesos, vol. ii. p. 89.)
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited September 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
YPANA (Ancient small town) ILIA
Hypana (Hupana: Eth. Hupaneus), a town in the interior of Triphylia
in Elis, which surrendered to Philip V. in the Social War. Its inhabitants had
been transferred to Elis when Strabo wrote. Hypana is mentioned along with Typaneae.
Both these towns must have been situated in the mountains of Triphylia, but their
site is uncertain. Leake places Hypana at Alvena in the heights above the maritime
plain of Lepreum; but Boblaye more to the north, at Mundritza, in the hills above
Samicum. (Strab. viii. p. 343; Polyb. iv. 77, 79; Steph. B. s. v.; Ptol. iii.
16. § 18, who calls it Hupaneia; Leake, Morea, vol. ii. p. 85; Boblaye, Recherches,
&c. p. 133; Curtius, Peloponnesos, vol. ii. p. 89.)
FRIXA (Village) ILIA
A town of Elis, on the borders of Pisatis, founded by the Minyae, and traditionally deriving its name from Phrixus.
FRIZA (Ancient city) SKILOUNTA
A town of Elis, on the borders of Pisatis, founded by the Minyae, and traditionally deriving its name from Phrixus.
MAKISTOS (Ancient city) ILIA
A town of Elis, originally called Platanistus.
SKILLOUS (Ancient city) ILIA
A town of Elis in the district Triphylia, on the river Selinus, twenty stadia south of Olympia. Here Xenophon, when banished from Athens, lived for more than twenty years, and built a sanctuary to Artemis.
YPANA (Ancient small town) ILIA
(ta Hupana) and Hypane (Hupane). A town in Elis belonging to the so-called Pentapolis.
EPY (Ancient city) ILIA
One of the six Minyan foundations (Hdt. 4.148), between Heraia and
Makistos (Xen. Hell. 3.2.30), was a natural stronghold in Makistia (Strab. 8.3.24),
continually threatened with Elean domination (Xen. 3.2.30, Polyb. 4.77, 80). There
is considerable uncertainty about the name, Herodotos giving Epion, Xenophon Epeion,
Polybios Aipion, whereas Strabo identifies it with Homeric Aipu (Il. 2.592), thus
including it in Nestor's realm. This identification is unlikely to be correct
and it is perhaps best to follow Xenophon, a near neighbor, and adopt Epeionas
the correct spelling. The location is also uncertain. The usual assumption has
been that Epeion is to be identified with the remains in a place called Eliniko
(now Epio) above Platiana just off the modern road from Andritsena to Pyrgos.
However, good reasons have been advanced for identifying this site with Trypaneae,
and also for placing Epeionat modern Mazi, which is usually identified with ancient
Skillous. Though the former is likely to be correct, it has seemed best here to
retain the traditional identification, and to describe the remains at Eliniko.
The town lies on an exposed hill in a position commanding the entire
area at an altitude of ca. 600 m above sea level, and is unusually long and narrow
(680 x 60-80 m). It is divided into three parts: an upper acropolis area separated
by terrace walls from a lower area still included within the fortification walls,
and a NW extension of the walls which guards a relatively easy approach to the
walls. The acropolis is itself divided into a number of terraces, of which the
highest (to the W) has its own wall, and must have served as the citadel. The
terrace next to the one farthest E contains a theater, while the next seems to
have served as an agora. The main entrance to the town was a gate in the imposing
E wall at its SE corner. The walls all seem of Hellenistic, possibly 3d c., date,
and are very well preserved in parts, particularly in the area of the citadel.
W. F. Wyatt, Jr., ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
SAMIKON (Ancient city) ILIA
A few km from Olympia. The ruins of the city have been identified
on a broad upland to the S of Mt. Makistos (or Lapithos). Inhabited by the Epeans
who named it Samos, and then by the Pylians, from whom it took the name Arene,
the city later passed to the Minii who called it Makistos; only under the Eleans
did it retake the original name of Samia or Samikon (cf. Paus. 5.6.1; Ptol. 4.80.12;
Strab. 8.148; Herod. 4.148). It was the seat of the religious confederation of
the six cities of Triphylia, and there was erected a Temple to Poseidon, whose
cult was greatly renowned. A vast wall enclosed the S, where two types of masonry
are found: polygonal blocks already in the 5th c. B.C., which were also used in
several towers; and a trapezoidal technique with squared face, perhaps dating
prior to the 3d c. B.C. In 1825, Fort Klidi (The Key), taking advantage of the
ancient foundations, was erected on the site. A tumulus with pottery from the
Middle Helladic period to Mycenaean II has been found at the NE base of the rocky
hill on which stands Klidi.
N. Bonacasa, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
SKILLOUS (Ancient city) ILIA
City in Triphylia, 20 stades (3.5 km) S of Olympia, on the Selinus
River (Xen. Anab. 5.3.11; Strab. 8.343; Paus. 5.6.4). The land of Skillous was
fertile, as it is today, and also abounded with game (Xen. Anab. 5.3.7; Paus.
5.6.5). In the 7th and early 6th c. B.C., Skillous, a close friend and ally of
Pisa, which at that time assumed control of the Olympic sanctuary, built the heraion
at Olympia (Paus. 5.16.1). In 570 B.C. the people of Skillous were evicted from
the city after the total defeat of their allies the Pisaians in battle with the
Eleians (Paus. 5.6.4, 6.22.4). In 400 B.C. Skillous was resettled by Sparta. After
the peace of Antalkidas (King's Peace) the city was proclaimed free (Xen. Hell.
6.5.2) but shortly afterwards it came under the control of Sparta. The farm assigned
by Sparta to the Athenian exile, Xenophon, was in the territory of Skillous. Xenophon
erected a shrine there which was a copy of the Temple of Ephesian Artemis (Xen.
Anab. 5.3.7f; Paus. 5.6.4). A short distance from the shrine, Pausanias (5.6.6)
saw the tomb of Xenophon with his statue. In the area of Skillous was also a remarkable
Temple of Skillountian Athena (Strab. 8.343). After the battle of Leuktra (371
B.C.) Skillous again came under Eleian control. Skillous was probably deserted
in the Hellenistic period and for this reason is not mentioned at all by Polybios.
Pausanias, on the road to Olympia after Samikon, mentions the uninhabited remains
of Skillous in the distance to the left; that is, in the area between the present
communities of Krestaina, Makrysia, and Ladikou, where the city must have been.
N. Yalouris, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
The boundaries of the territory of Skillous are not known. To the N, however, they extended to the mountainous area S of Olympia, today known by the name Babes. Apparently the Temple of Skillountian Athena was located there (Strab. 8.343). On the heights of Babes, which even today are fertile, are located 17 settlements: in the areas of Mazi and Phanari, Arnokatarrhako, Gemkovouni, Rhasa, Haghios Elms, Haghios Triphonas, Vageni, Louzi, and Rhethi, notable finds dating from the prehistoric to the Roman period have been made. On the hill of Ainokatarrhako a Doric shrine of Zeus has been uncovered dating to the beginning of the 5th c. B.C. Around the hill a settlement extends for some distance. A section of this, where there are clusters of large houses with roads between, has been excavated. Another Doric temple has been found NE of Arnokatarrhako on the peak of the hill Haghios Elias, just opposite Olympia. In the same area, architectural fragments of other Doric temples (?) have been collected. The remains preserved at the village of Haghios Triphonas at the highest point of Babes belong to monumental building. The remains of the settlement in the area near the town of Mazi are extensive and also monumental. On the hill, Kastro, which dominates this ancient settlement, is preserved a temple of the 4th c. B.C. with pedimental sculptures (on display in the Patras museum). Finally, the remains of a settlement and acropolis near the town of Phanari probably belong to ancient Phrixa. These settlements in Babes perhaps belong to the territory of Skillous at the period of its greatest extent. Ancient sources mention the cities of Phrixa, Aipion, Pyrgos, and Bolax in this area. Three of these may be identified with some probability: Phrixa with the settlement at Phanari, Aipion with the settlement at Mazi, and Pyrgos with the settlement at Arnokatarrhako.
N. Yalouris, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
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