Pyrrha or Pyrra () was a town on the coast of the deep bay on the west of the island of
Lesbos
Lesbos or Lesvos ( ) is a Greek island located in the northeastern Aegean Sea. It has an area of , with approximately of coastline, making it the third largest island in Greece and the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, eighth largest ...
, which had so narrow an entrance that it was called the Euripus of Pyrrha. It was situated at a distance of 80
stadia from
Mytilene
Mytilene (; ) is the capital city, capital of the Greece, Greek island of Lesbos, and its port. It is also the capital and administrative center of the North Aegean Region, and hosts the headquarters of the University of the Aegean. It was fo ...
and 100 from
Cape Malea. In the Lesbian revolt the town sided with Mytilene, but was reconquered by
Paches. In
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 ...
's time the town no longer existed, but the suburbs and port were still inhabited.
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23/24 79), known in English as Pliny the Elder ( ), was a Roman Empire, Roman author, Natural history, naturalist, and naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and a friend of the Roman emperor, emperor Vesp ...
reports that Pyrrha had been swallowed up by the sea.
The site of Pyrrha is located near modern
Megale Limne.
References
Populated places in the ancient Aegean islands
Former populated places in Greece
Ancient Lesbos
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