Alyzeia ()
or Alyzia (Ἀλυζια),
was a town on the west coast of
ancient Acarnania
Acarnania () is a region of west-central Greece that lies along the Ionian Sea, west of Aetolia, with the Achelous River for a boundary, and north of the gulf of Calydon, which is the entrance to the Gulf of Corinth. Today it forms the western part ...
. According to
Strabo
Strabo''Strabo'' (meaning "squinty", as in strabismus) was a term employed by the Romans for anyone whose eyes were distorted or deformed. The father of Pompey was called "Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo, Pompeius Strabo". A native of Sicily so clear-si ...
it was distant 15
stadia from the sea, on which it possessed a harbour and a sanctuary, both dedicated to
Heracles
Heracles ( ; ), born Alcaeus (, ''Alkaios'') or Alcides (, ''Alkeidēs''), was a Divinity, divine hero in Greek mythology, the son of ZeusApollodorus1.9.16/ref> and Alcmene, and the foster son of Amphitryon.By his adoptive descent through ...
. In this sanctuary were some works of art by
Lysippus
Lysippos (; ) was a Greek sculptor of the 4th century BC. Together with Scopas and Praxiteles, he is considered one of the three greatest sculptors of the Classical Greek era, bringing transition into the Hellenistic period
In classical a ...
, representing the
Labours of Heracles, which a
Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of Roman civilization
*Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...
general caused to be removed to Rome on account of the deserted state of the place. The remains of Alyzia are still visible in the valley of
Kandila. The distance of the bay of Kandila from the ruins to
Leucas
''Leucas'' is a genus of plants in the family Lamiaceae, first described by Robert Brown (Scottish botanist from Montrose), Robert Brown in 1810. It contains over 200 species, widespread over much of Africa, and southern and eastern Asia (Iran, ...
corresponds with the 120 stadia which
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero ( ; ; 3 January 106 BC – 7 December 43 BC) was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, orator, writer and Academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises tha ...
assigns for the distance between Alyzia and Leucas. Alyzia is said to have derived its name from
Alyzeus, a son of
Icarius In Greek mythology, there were two people named Icarius (; ''Ikários'').
* Icarius, a Spartan prince, son of Perieres.
* Icarius, an Athenian who received Dionysus.Apollodorus, 3.14.7
See also
*Icarus, whose wings failed in flight
Notes
Ref ...
.
[ It is first mentioned by ]Thucydides
Thucydides ( ; ; BC) was an Classical Athens, Athenian historian and general. His ''History of the Peloponnesian War'' recounts Peloponnesian War, the fifth-century BC war between Sparta and Athens until the year 411 BC. Thucydides has been d ...
; in 375 BCE, a naval battle was fought in the neighbourhood of Alyzia between the Athenians
Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...
under Timotheus
Timotheus is a masculine given name. It is a latinized version of the Greek name (Timόtheos) meaning "one who honours God", from τιμή "honour" and θεός "god"., . The English version ''Timothy'' (and its variations) is a common name in s ...
and the Lacedaemonians
Sparta was a prominent city-state in Laconia in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (), while the name Sparta referred to its main settlement in the valley of Evrotas river in Laconia, in southeastern Pe ...
under Nicolochus. The Athenians, says Xenophon
Xenophon of Athens (; ; 355/354 BC) was a Greek military leader, philosopher, and historian. At the age of 30, he was elected as one of the leaders of the retreating Ancient Greek mercenaries, Greek mercenaries, the Ten Thousand, who had been ...
, erected their trophy at Alyzia, and the Lacedaemonians in the nearest islands. According to the ''Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax
The ''Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax'' is an ancient Greek periplus (περίπλους ''períplous'', 'circumnavigation') describing the sea route around the Mediterranean and Black Sea. It probably dates from the mid-4th century BC, specifically t ...
'' that the island immediately opposite Alyzia was called Carnus, the modern Kalamos
Kalamos (; ) is a Greek mythological figure. He is son of Maiandros, the god of the Maeander river.
Mythology
A story in Nonnus's ''Dionysiaca'' tells about the love of two youths, Kalamos and Karpos. Karpos drowned in the Meander river whil ...
.
Its site is located near the modern Kandila, Xiromero.
References
See also
* List of cities in ancient Acarnania
Populated places in ancient Acarnania
Cities in ancient Epirus
Former populated places in Greece
Corinthian colonies
{{AncientEpirus-geo-stub