DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9840#0278
224
probable site of thenae.
[chap.
The descriptions of Leo Diaconus and Foscarini
seem sufficiently to identify this spot with Temenos35.
Although it is at the most doubtful, notwithstanding
the expression of Foscarini, whether any ancient city
ever occupied the precise site of this Temenos, yet it
is certain that Thenae was somewhere in our imme-
diate neighbourhood. Callimachus fixes the situation
of Thenae as close on the Omphalian plain36. It ap-
pears, moreover, from Stephanus of Byzantium37, that
Thenae was near Cnossus. From Diodorus of Sicily38,
we learn that the city in question, or rather the Ompha-
lion which was very near it, was in the neighbourhood
of the river Triton. Thus all these testimonies agree
with any site which may be found any where in the
neighbourhood, and somewhat to the east of the river.
One argument in favour of this place as the ancient
site would be, that its importance in the middle ages is
a sufficient reason for the disappearance of every vestige,
which one might have hoped to find of more ancient
times.
The elevation of this acropolis is sufficient to bring
into our view the northern sea, part of Dhia, and the
plain about the Kastron, the walls of which are inter-
cepted by the loftier peak of Mount Juktas. Below
us, to the north-west, is the village of Kam-Kasteli.
35 Coronelli, Isolario &c, mentions Temenos as one of the ancient
cities of the island, and says that it had preserved its ancient name " et in
gran parte l'antico splendore." He describes it as situated on a lofty moun-
tain twelve miles from Candia.
36 Callimachus, Hymn to Zeus, 42.
EuTe Qevds dire\enrev, eiri K-VwacroTo (pipovaa,
ZeC iraTeft ?J vvfxcfit) ire, Qeval 8' 'iaav ey/udi KycocrcroC,
tovtukl tol ireae, oaLjxov, air' 6fX(pa\6i' evQev eKeivo
Ofx<pd\i.ov [leTeireiTa ireoov KaXeovai Ku^awes.
37 Stephanus Byzantikus, 'Op.cpd\iov, twos K/oj/tjjs, tt\t]<t'iov
Qevwv Kal Kfojcrcroii.
38 DlODORUS SlCULUS, V. 70. ^epo;xcvov fxev yap vird twv KovprjTwv
avTov (tou Aids) vtyjr'iov, <pacrlii diroirecreiv tov 6p.<pakdv Trepi tod icoTapov
tov Ku\ovp.evov TpiTwva. He adds that the place was called Omphalos, and
the surrounding plain 'O^cpdXiov. The place Omphalos is also recorded by
the Scholiast on Nicander, Alexipharm. 7. See Meursius, p. 64.
probable site of thenae.
[chap.
The descriptions of Leo Diaconus and Foscarini
seem sufficiently to identify this spot with Temenos35.
Although it is at the most doubtful, notwithstanding
the expression of Foscarini, whether any ancient city
ever occupied the precise site of this Temenos, yet it
is certain that Thenae was somewhere in our imme-
diate neighbourhood. Callimachus fixes the situation
of Thenae as close on the Omphalian plain36. It ap-
pears, moreover, from Stephanus of Byzantium37, that
Thenae was near Cnossus. From Diodorus of Sicily38,
we learn that the city in question, or rather the Ompha-
lion which was very near it, was in the neighbourhood
of the river Triton. Thus all these testimonies agree
with any site which may be found any where in the
neighbourhood, and somewhat to the east of the river.
One argument in favour of this place as the ancient
site would be, that its importance in the middle ages is
a sufficient reason for the disappearance of every vestige,
which one might have hoped to find of more ancient
times.
The elevation of this acropolis is sufficient to bring
into our view the northern sea, part of Dhia, and the
plain about the Kastron, the walls of which are inter-
cepted by the loftier peak of Mount Juktas. Below
us, to the north-west, is the village of Kam-Kasteli.
35 Coronelli, Isolario &c, mentions Temenos as one of the ancient
cities of the island, and says that it had preserved its ancient name " et in
gran parte l'antico splendore." He describes it as situated on a lofty moun-
tain twelve miles from Candia.
36 Callimachus, Hymn to Zeus, 42.
EuTe Qevds dire\enrev, eiri K-VwacroTo (pipovaa,
ZeC iraTeft ?J vvfxcfit) ire, Qeval 8' 'iaav ey/udi KycocrcroC,
tovtukl tol ireae, oaLjxov, air' 6fX(pa\6i' evQev eKeivo
Ofx<pd\i.ov [leTeireiTa ireoov KaXeovai Ku^awes.
37 Stephanus Byzantikus, 'Op.cpd\iov, twos K/oj/tjjs, tt\t]<t'iov
Qevwv Kal Kfojcrcroii.
38 DlODORUS SlCULUS, V. 70. ^epo;xcvov fxev yap vird twv KovprjTwv
avTov (tou Aids) vtyjr'iov, <pacrlii diroirecreiv tov 6p.<pakdv Trepi tod icoTapov
tov Ku\ovp.evov TpiTwva. He adds that the place was called Omphalos, and
the surrounding plain 'O^cpdXiov. The place Omphalos is also recorded by
the Scholiast on Nicander, Alexipharm. 7. See Meursius, p. 64.