37°38′02″N21°28′54″E / 37.633865°N 21.481638°E /37.633865; 21.481638Epitalium orEpitalion (Ancient Greek:Ἐπιτάλιον)[1] was a town ofTriphylia inancient Elis, near the coast and a little south of the riverAlpheius. It was identified with theHomericThryon (Θρύον) orThryoessa (Θρυόεσσα), a town listed in theCatalogue of Ships in theIliad as in the dominions ofNestor, which the poet describes as a place upon a lofty hill near the ford of the river Alpheius.[2][3]
Epitalium was an important military post, because it commanded the ford of the Alpheius and the road leading along the coast.Xenophon relates that, like the other dependent townships of Triphylia, it revolted from Elis whenAgis II, theSpartan king, invaded the country in 401 BCE; and when Agis returned home, after ravaging Elis, he left a garrison in Epitalium.[4] It is also mentioned byPolybius; in the year 218 BCE,Philip V of Macedon took several cities of Elis among which was Epitalium.[5]
The site of Epitalium is at the modern town ofEpitalio, which was renamed to reflect the association with the ancient town.[6]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Epitalium".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
Authority control databases: Geographic |
|---|
 | This article about a location inancient Elis is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |