Page:Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography Volume I Part 1.djvu/348

 

51.  was situated near the entrance of the eastern pass across Mount Parnes, which leads from the north-eastern part of the Athenian plain to Oropus, and from thence both to Tanagra on the one hand, and to Delium and Chalcis on the other. It was originally one of the twelve cities of Attica. (Strab. ix. p. 397.) It was situated about 120 stadia from Athens, and the same distance from the frontiers of Boeotia: it was visible from Athena, and from its heights also might be seen the ships entering the harbour of Peiraeus. (Thuc. vii. 19; Xen. Hell. i. 1. § 25.) It was by the pass of Deceleia that Mardonius retreated from Athens into Boeotia before the battle of Plataeae (Herod. ix. 15); and it was by the same road that the grain was carried from Euboea through Oropus into Attica. (Thuc. vii. 28.) In B.C. 413 Deceleia was occupied and fortified by the Lacedaemonians under Agia, who kept possession of the place till the end of the war; and from the command which they thus obtained of the Athenian plain, they prevented them from cultivating the neighbouring land, and compelled them to bring the com from Euboea round Cape Sunium. (Thuc. ii. 27, 28.) The pass of Deceleia is now called the pass of Tatóy. Near the village of this name there is a peaked height, which is a conspicuous object from the Acropolis: the exact site of the demus is probably marked by a fountain, near which are many remains of antiquity. (Leake.)

52., of unknown site, but near Decelcia, so called to distinguish it from the Oeum Cerameicum. (Harpocrat.; Suid.) [No. 17.] 53., a demus, at which Mardonius halted on his route from Deceleia to Tanagra. (Herod, ix. 15; Steph.; Hesych.) "Hence it appeals to have stood not far from the church of Aio Merkúrio, which now gives name to the pass leading from Deceleia through the ridges of Parnes into the extremity of the Tanagraean plain. But as there is no station in the pass where space can be found for a demus, it stood probably at Malakása, in a plain where some copious sources unite to form the torrent, which joins the sea one mile and a half east of the Skala of Apostólus." (Leake.) In the territory of Sphendale there waa a hill, named Hyacinthus. (Suid. s. v., where should be read instead of .)

54., was originally a Boeotian town, and though afterwards included in Attica, was not an Attic demus. This place, together with its harbour Delphinium, and Amphiaraeium, in its neighbourhood, is spoken of separately. [.]

55., originally a town of the Oropia, but subsequently an Attic demus, lay between Oropus and Brauron, and was the last demus in the north-eastern district of Attica. (Strab. ix. p. 399.)

56., south of Psaphia, on the coast of the Euripus, requires a separate notice on account of its celebrated temples. [.]

57., one of the twelve ancient cities of Attica, lay between Deceleia and Rhamnus. It is also spoken of separately. 58, 59, 60. (TiToiclSai),  (n6/}/^i5ai), and  (OvpT^WSat), were probably all in the neighbourhood of Aphidna. These three demi, together with Aphidna, are said to have been removed from the Aeantis to another tribe. (Harpocr. s. v. 0i;/>y«y{3a<.) Perrhidae is describedas a demus in Aphidna (Hesych. Phavor. Znfun i^ 'A^Smut); and that Titaddae was in the same loojility may be inferred from the story of the capture of Apiiidna by tha Dioscuri in consequence of the treachery of Titacna. (Herod, ix. 73; Steph. «. v, TiroKiSai.)

61. TBUnoaoA (TptW/Mia), at which one of the minor branches of the Ce|^iissus takes its rise, and therefore probably rituated at the modern village of Bu^ti. (Strab. ix. p. 400; Steph. B. t. v.)

62, 63, 64, 65. Marathon {MapaBtii'), Pboba- usTRus (n^6eUiy0otX Tricortthds (Tpurtlpv- the small plain open to the sea between Mt Pames and Mt. Pentelicus, originally formed the Tetrapolisy one of the twelve ancient divisions of Attica. The whole district was generally known under the name of Marathon, under which it is described in this work. [^Iarathoh.'}
 * or), and Oenob (Oltfiiii), four demi situated in

66. Kpacria ('Eiraicpfa), one of the twelve an- cient districta of Attica (Strab. ix. p. 397), and subsequently, as appears finom an inscription, a demus near Ploiheia and Ualae Arapkenides. (Bockh, Inter, No. 82.) As the name of a district, it was probably synonymous with Diacria. (Etym. M. *£vai^{a; Steph. Siifusx^^ai.) An ancient grammarian describes the district of £pacria as bordering upon that of the Tetrapolis of Marath<Hi. (Bekker, Anecd. L p. 259.) Finlay and Leake place the town of tlus name at Pikirmi, upon the south-eastern heights of Pentelicus, ** where a strong position on a perennial stream, added to some ves- tiges of buildings, and several inscriptions, are proofii of an Hellenic site."

67. SEKACHmAB (2ii/«ax^'»)y described by Philochoms (ap. Steph. », v.) as a demus in the district of Epacria, but its exact site is uncertain. (Hesych.; Phot)

68. PlotheiA (liXMtia) appears to have be- longed to the district of Epacria, and to have been not far from Halae Araphenides. (Harpocr.; Suid.; Steph.; Phot; Bockh, /fucr. No. 82.)

69, 70. Phboaea (^iryota), the name of two demi of uncertain site. (Steph.; Harpocr.; Suid.; Etym. &L; Phot; Hesych.) It is probable, how- ever, that Stephanua speaks of one of these doni, under the name of Pheoeus^ when he describes Halae Araphenides as lying between Pb^os near Marathon and Braaron. (Steph. «. v. 'AAoT.)

71. Hegalb ('EiraAi)), probably near Marathon, since this demus is said to have <^tained its name from a woman who hospitably received Theseos inte her house, when he had set out to attack the Mara- thonian bull,, which was ravaging the TetrapoliB. It contained a sanctuary of Zeus Hecaleius. (Phi* lochor. 9^, Pkit The; 14; Suid. », m, 'ENIU17, Km- uiSf *£irauAia; Steph. «. w. 'Ek«Ui}, 'knr(r, Tpi- yffi€ls; Schol. ad Ari»topk. Acham. 127.)

72. Elaeus (^EAcuoSs, Steph.; Bekker, Aneod, i. p. 249), of uncertain site, but placed by Leake at Liosioj a village two miles to the west ci Aphidna, because he considers this name a oorruptian of Ebeus; but this is not probableir

D. The Demi of Paraua and Mesooaea.

Mount Hymettus, which bounded the Athenian plain on the south, terminated in the promontory of Zoster (ZaKrr^p), opposite to which was a small island called Phaura (Mipa). At Zoster, upon the sea, stood four altars^ sacred respectively to Athena, Apollo, Artemis, and Leta (Strab. ix.