Athenae (Pontus)
Athenae or Athenai (Ancient Greek: Ἀθῆναι) was a city and port of ancient Pontus,[1] with a Greek temple of Athena.[2] According to Arrian, it was 180 stadia east of the river Adienus, and 280 stadia west of Apsarus.[3]
According to Arrian, the place got its name from the sanctuary of Athena.[3] Procopius, on the other hand, writes that some believe the town was named because colonists from Athens settled there. However, he states that the it actually took its name from a woman called Athenaea (Ancient Greek: Ἀθηναία), who ruled the land in early times. He also adds that her tomb was still there during his time.[4]
Arrian speaks of the place as a deserted fort, but Procopius describes it as a populous place in his time.[5] Konrad Mannert assumes it to be the same place as the Odeinius of the Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax.[6]
Its site is located near the modern town of Pazar, in Turkey.[7][8]
References
[edit]- ^ Stephanus of Byzantium. Ethnica. Vol. s.v.
- ^ Arrian, Periplus of the Euxine Sea, § 6
- ^ a b Arrian, Periplus of the Euxine Sea, p. 4, et seq.
- ^ Procopius, History of the Wars, § 8.2
- ^ Procopius, Bell. Pers. 2.29, Bell. Goth. 4.2.
- ^ Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax p. 32.
- ^ Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.
- ^ Talbert, Richard, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-691-03169-9, with accompanying Map-by-Map Directory.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Athenae". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
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41°10′52″N 40°53′20″E / 41.18111°N 40.88889°E
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