Semystra
Semystra (Ancient Greek: Σημύστρα, romanized: Sēmústra) or Semestra was a nymph in Greek mythology. There was a sanctuary of the same name dedicated to her at the head of the Golden Horn, at the confluence of the rivers Kydaros and Barbyses.[1][2]
Mythology
[edit]Semystra nurtured Keroessa, daughter of Io and Zeus. Keroessa's mother gave birth at Semystra's altar and left the baby there in order to protect her from Hera. Semystra found the infant and raised her.[3][4]
According to a legend, Semystra was also the mother of Byzas, who was the founder of Byzantium.[5][6][7]
Town
[edit]Semystra (Ancient Greek: Σημύστρα) was also the name of a town in ancient Thrace.[8] Dionysius of Byzantium wrote that there was an altar of the nymph Semystra (nymph)|Semystra there, whence the name of the town. Dionysius added that Semystra nearly became a big city during the Greek colonization, since the leaders of the colonization tried to found the city, but during the sacrifices, a crow snatched one of the thighs from the middle of the flames and carried it to the Bosporion promontory. The rest of the Greeks saw this as a sign from Apollo and went to the spot were the crow left the thigh.[3][4]
Its site is located at the head of the Golden Horn in European Turkey.[8][9]
References
[edit]- ^ Dionysius of Byzantium, Anaplous of the Bosporos, §24
- ^ Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.
- ^ a b Dionysius of Byzantium, Anaplous of the Bosporos, §24
- ^ a b Anaplous Bosporou. Dionysii Byzantii De Bospori navigatione quae supersunt; una cum supplementis in geographos graecos minores aliisque ejusdem argumenti fragmentis e codicibus MSS. edidit Carolus Wescher, p.12
- ^ Byzantion: A Foundation Legend, from Myth into History, p. 40[dead link]
- ^ FGrHist 390 F7.
- ^ Anca Dan. The Europeans Shores of the Bosporus. I∆ΥMA MEIZOOΣ EΛΛHIΣMOΥ. Eγκυκλoπαιδϵια M ϵιζoνoς Eλληνισμoυ, Kωνσταντ ινoυπoλη, 2008. ffhal-02435580f, p. 4
- ^ a b Talbert, Richard, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 53. ISBN 978-0-691-03169-9, with accompanying Map-by-Map Directory.
- ^ Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.
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41°03′55″N 28°56′43″E / 41.065398°N 28.94536°E
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