Σκῆψις or Σκέψις | |
 View of the village of Kurşuntepe from the highest point of the site of ancient Scepsis. | |
  Shown within Turkey | |
| Location | Kurşuntepe,Çanakkale Province,Turkey |
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| Region | Troad |
| Coordinates | 39°48′40″N26°42′23″E / 39.81111°N 26.70639°E /39.81111; 26.70639 |
| Type | Settlement |
Scepsis orSkepsis (Ancient Greek:Σκῆψις or Σκέψις) was an ancient settlement in theTroad,Asia Minor that is at the present site of the village of Kurşunlutepe, near the town ofBayramiç inTurkey. The settlement is notable for being the location where the famous library ofAristotle was kept before being moved toPergamum andAlexandria.[1] It was also home toMetrodorus of Scepsis andDemetrius of Scepsis.
The city of Scepsis was situated in two different, non-contemporary sites onMount Ida, Palea-Scepsis and the settlement of Scepsis proper.Strabo writes that Anaximenes of Lampsacus said thatMiletus colonized the place.[2]
Palea-Scepsis (Old Scepsis) is notable for the native tradition that it was once the "capital ofAeneas's dominions."[3] It was situated near the source of theAesepus, high up on Mount Ida. William Vaux was able to note in 1877 that a village in the neighborhood still bore the name ofEski Skisepje, which inTurkish corresponds to "Palea-Scepsis."[3]
Dr. Andreas David Mordtmann, the discoverer of the settlement, is quoted on his discovery by Dr. Archibald Ross Colquhoun in a reference by Vaux.
I did discover a most ancient city with itsacropolis, towers and walls built of hewn stone, and furnished with four gates. The antiquity of the place was manifested by anoak having fixed its roots in the wall, and by its trunk having grown to a girth of 530 centimeters (about 17 feet). On reference toStrabo, I first became aware that I had discovered, probably, the most ancient ruin inAsia Minor, for I hold this can be no other than Palae-Scepsis.[3]
The city was given toThemistocles byArtaxerxes I of Persia in order to provide him with clothes.[4]
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The later Scepsis was about sixtystadia (7.5 miles) lower downMount Ida from Palae-Scepsis. Its acropolis occupied the hill north of the modern village of Kurşuntepe. This later town of Scepsis is memorable for the discovery there, during the time ofSulla, of the works ofAristotle andTheophrastus, which had been buried by the illiterate relations of oneNeleus (a pupil of Aristotle and friend of Theophrastus), so that they would not be carried off byAttalus I, who was then founding theLibrary of Pergamum.[3]
Several times in its history, the citizens of Scepsis were forced to move elsewhere. When citizens of surrounding cities were forced to migrate toTroy, citizens of Scepsis were also forced to relocate. The city was again evacuated while the residents of surrounding cities were made to move toAlexandria Troas.[5]
Certain traditions hold thatSaint Cornelius the Centurion, the firstPagan convert toChristianity, became the firstbishop of Scepsis in theearly days of Christianity. Scepsis remains atitular see in theRoman Catholic Church.[6]
scepsis.
Media related toScepsis at Wikimedia Commons
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