Lapathus (Cyprus)

Coordinates: 35°21′19″N 33°11′52″E / 35.355404°N 33.197851°E / 35.355404; 33.197851 Lapathus or Lapathos (Ancient Greek: Λάπαθος)[1] or Lapethus or Lapethos (Λάπηθος)[2][3] or Lepethis (Ληπηθίς)[4] or Lapithus or Lapithos (Λάπιθος)[5] was a town of ancient Cyprus, the foundation of which was assigned to the Phoenicians,[6] and which, according to Nonnus, owed its name to the legendary Lapathus, a follower of Dionysus.[7] Strabo says that it received a Spartan colony, headed by Praxander.[1] He adds, that it was situated opposite to the town of Nagidus, in Cilicia, and possessed a harbour and docks.[1] It was situated in the north of the island, on a river of the same name, with a district called Lapethia (Λαπηθία).[8]

In the war between Ptolemy I Soter and Antigonus I Monophthalmus, Lapathus, with its king Praxippus, sided with the latter.[9] The name of this place was synonymous with stupidity.[10]

The site of ancient Lapathus has been located near the village of Lampousa in the town of Karavas.[11][12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Strabo. Geographica. xiv. p.682. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
  2. ↑ Ptolemy. The Geography. 5.14.4.
  3. ↑ Pliny. Naturalis Historia. 5.31.
  4. ↑ Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax, p. 41.
  5. ↑ Hierocles. Synecdemus.
  6. ↑ Stephanus of Byzantium. Ethnica. s.v.
  7. ↑ Nonnus, Dionys. 13.447.
  8. ↑ Ptolemy. The Geography. 5.14.5.
  9. ↑ Diodorus Siculus. Bibliotheca historica (Historical Library). 19.59.
  10. ↑ Suda s.v. Λαπάθιοι.
  11. ↑ Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 72, and directory notes accompanying.
  12. ↑ Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Lapathus". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.