Elyros

Elyros

Elyros ("Έλυρος" in Greek) is an ancient city, located in southwest Crete, in Kefala Hill, near the village Rodovani and is presently unexcavated. Elyros was flourishing at least as early as the Greek Classical Period, e.g. 500 to 350 BC. [ [http://www.kairatos.com.gr/thehistoryofcrete1.htm The History of Crete] ] In the Classical Period Elyros was the most important ancient city in southwestern Crete, having about 16,000 inhabitants. It was an industrial and commercial city with large weapons production. Syia and Lissos were its harbours. Apollo, Phylakides and Philandros, sons of Apollo and nymph Akakallida, were worshiped there.

In the third century BC Elyros was at war with Kydonia, an important center of Cretan power in this era. [C.M.Hogan, "Cydonia"] The citizens of Elyros sent to the Delphi Oracle, a bronze votive complex that represents a goat feeding the sons of Apollo when they were infants. It is also one of the thirty cities that signed the decree with Eumenes B’ in 183 BC.

Elyros was also important during Roman times. A Roman statue, the Philosopher of Elyros was recovered here and is now in the Archaeological Museum of Chania.

During Byzantine times, Elyros was the seat of an Archbishop and the remains of the bishopric church, a sixth century basilica, can still be seen in the centre of the old city.

Pashley was the first who identified the location of the city, near village Rodovani. Thenon studied more carefully the ruins of the city and discovered the inscription that says: “it seemed to the city of the Elyrians”.

ee also

*Knossos

Line notes

References

* "The History of Crete: Chronological order of the history of Crete" [http://www.kairatos.com.gr/thehistoryofcrete1.htm]
* C. Michael Hogan, "Cydonia", The Modern Antiquarian, Jan. 23, 2008 [http://letmespeaktothedriver.com/site/10881/cydonia.html#fieldnotes]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Elyros — (a. Geogr.), Stadt im inneren Kreta; beim j. Rhodovani …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Syia — ( Συία in Greek) is an ancient city in south west Crete. It is located in Sougia village, 70 km south of Chania.Like Lissos, Syia was a capacious and safe harbour of Elyros. Strabo calls the town Syba. The name derives probably from the word… …   Wikipedia

  • Sougia — Strand von Sougia Sougia (griechisch Σούγια, (f. sg)) ist ein Ort mit etwa 110 Einwohnern[1] in der Präfektur Chania an der Südwestküste der griechischen Insel Kreta. Verwaltungsmäßig bildet Sougia zusammen mit den Bergdörfern K …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Syia — (griechisch Συία, seltener auch Συγία , bei Strabo als Syba erwähnt) ist eine antike Stadt im Südwesten Kretas. Sie befand sich an Stelle der modernen Siedlung Sougia, etwa 70 Kilometer südlich von Chania. Ähnlich wie Lisos war Syia ein… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Lissos — and Syia was the harbours of the city of Elyros, the most important ancient city of the area, located near the village Rodovani. It was established in the Classical period and flourished until the Late Antiquity. Its name was made certain by… …   Wikipedia

  • List of archaeological sites sorted by country — This is a list of notable archaeological sites sorted by country. For one sorted by continent and time period, see the list of archaeological sites sorted by continent and age.Afghanistan*Buddhas of Bamyan *Haji Piyada mosque in… …   Wikipedia

  • ANEK Lines — Infobox Company company name = ΑΝΩΝΥΜΗ ΝΑΥΤIΛΙΑΚΗ ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΑ ΚΡΗΤΗΣ (Α.Ν.Ε.Κ.) ANEK Lines company company type = Public company slogan = foundation = 1967 location = Κaramanlis Avenue, Chania, Crete, Greece key people = A Holyness Irineos, Chairman …   Wikipedia

  • Anatoliko Selino — Infobox Greek Dimos name = Anatoliko Selino name local = Ανατολικό Σέλινο periph = Crete prefec = Chania population = 1468 population as of = 2001 area = elevation = lat deg = 35 lat min = 16 lon deg = 23 lon min = 51 postal code = 730 09 area… …   Wikipedia

  • Rodovani — (Greek Ροδοβάνι) is a small village in Chania Prefecture on the island of Crete, Greece. It has 122 residents (2001 census [http://www.statistics.gr/gr tables/S1101 SAP 1 TB DC 01 03 Y.pdf source] ) and it s within the municipality of East Selino …   Wikipedia

  • Sougia — (Greek Σούγια ) is a village in Chania Prefecture on the island of Crete, Greece. It is located on the south coast of the island, 70km south of Chania. It has 109 residents (2001 census [http://www.statistics.gr/gr tables/S1101 SAP 1 TB DC 01 03… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”