Polyrrhenia
{{Short description|Former town in Greece}}
File:Ancient Polyrrinia acropolis.jpg
Polyrrhenia or Polyrrenia ({{langx|grc|Πολυρρηνία}}; modern {{langx|el|Πολυρρηνία|Polyrrinia}}),{{Cite Ptolemy|3.17.10}} Polyrrhen or Polyrren (Πολύρρην) or Polyren (Πολύρην),{{Cite Stephanus|s.v; different forms in different surviving manuscripts}} or Pollyrrhenia or Pollyrrenia (Πολλύρρηνα),Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax, p. 18 or Polyrrenion (Πολυρρήνιον)Zenob. Prov. 5.50 or Polyrrhenium,{{Cite Pliny|4.12.20}} was a town and polis (city-state) in the northwest of ancient Crete, whose territory occupied the whole western extremity of the island, extending from north to south.
Ancient references
Polyrrhenia was an important Archaic Period settlement co-temporaneous with Lato and Prinias.[http://themodernantiquarian.com/site/10847/lato.html#fieldnotes C. Michael Hogan, "Lato Fieldnotes", The Modern Antiquarian, Jan 10, 2008] Strabo describes it as lying west of Cydonia, at the distance of 30 stadia from the sea, and 60 from Phalasarna, and as containing a temple of Dictynna. He adds that the Polyrrhenians formerly dwelt in villages, and that they were collected into one place by the Achaeans and Lacedaemonians, who built a strong city looking towards the south.{{Cite Strabo|x. p.479}}
History
In the civil wars in Crete in the time of the Achaean League, 219 BCE, the Polyrrhenians, who had been subject allies of Knossos, deserted the latter, and assisted the Lyctians against that city. They also sent auxiliary troops to the assistance of the Achaeans, because the Knossians had supported the Aetolians.{{Cite Polybius|4.53, 4.55}} In a successful campaign they prevented their rival cities Knossos and Gortys from dominating the entire island and brought a large part over to the Macedonian coalition.
Polyrrhenia continued to flourish in the Roman period, when the center shifted to its erstwhile port, Cisamus, and in this urbanistic configuration lasted into Byzantine times. A Roman aqueduct built in the age of Hadrian improved water supplies.
Status
The ruins of Polyrrhenia were discovered at a place called Epano Palaiokastro in the Chania regional unit.{{Cite Barrington|60}}{{Cite DARE|23374}} It is some {{convert|7|km}} inland from modern Kissamos. A village of the same name has been established nearby, and the ruins are an archaeological site. The site exhibits the remains of the ancient walls, from {{convert|10|to|18|feet}} high.Robert Pashley, Crete, vol. ii. p. 46, et seq. Systematic archaeological excavations have been conducted at the site since 1986.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{DGRG|title=Polyrrhenia}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline|Polyrrhenia}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070403194358/http://www.culture.gr/2/21/211/21125a/e211ya05.html Hellenic Ministry of Culture: Polyrrhenia]
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{{Coord|35.4579774|N|23.6556259|E|display=title|format=dms|source:http://dare.ht.lu.se/places/23374}}
Category:Populated places in Chania (regional unit)
Category:Ancient Greek archaeological sites in Crete
Category:Populated places in ancient Crete
Category:Former populated places in Greece
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