Λάπαθος, 𐤋𐤐𐤔 | |
.jpg) A coins ofṢDQMLK, King of Lapathus | |
  Shown within Cyprus | |
| Location | Cyprus |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 35°21′19″N33°11′52″E / 35.355404°N 33.197851°E /35.355404; 33.197851 |
Lapathus,[a] also recorded asLapethus,[b]Lepethis,[c] andLapithus,[d] was anancient Cypriot,Phoenician andGreek town near present-dayLampousa andKaravas.[7][8]
Due to lack of evidence, researchers had not been sure whether thePhoenician name of the city wasLPṬ (withTeth) orLPT (withTaw).[9] Recent findings, such as inscriptions and coins withlegends, provide the clear readingLPŠ. The Greek and the Phoenician name record, each in its own way, aphoneme of a language prior to them both.[10]
The foundation of Lapathus was credited toPhoenicians fromKition.[11]Nonnus claimed the name derived from an eponymousLapathus, a follower ofDionysus.[12]Strabo said that it received aSpartancolony headed byPraxander. He adds that it was situated opposite to the town ofNagidus inCilicia and possessed a harbour and docks.[2] It was situated in the north of the island, on a river of the same name and in a district calledLapethia (Λαπηθία,Lapēthía).[13]
.jpg)
The coins of the city from the 5th and 4th centuries BC record rulers of the city, in Phoenician:DMWNKS the first,ṢDQMLK,ʾNDR... (shorted name), andDMWNKS the second. The coins of the first two depicted the head ofAthena, and the coins of the last two depicted Athena standing andHeracles.[14]
Inthe war betweenPtolemy andAntigonus, Lapathus and its king Praxippus sided with the latter.[15]
The name of the place became synonymous with stupidity.[16]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Lapathus".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray. | This article aboutCypriot history is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |