Opuntian Locris orEastern Locris was anancient Greek region inhabited by the eastern division of theLocrians, the so-called tribe of theLocri Epicnemidii (Greek:Λοκροὶ Ἐπικνημίδιοι) orLocri Opuntii (Greek:Λοκροὶ Ὀπούντιοι).
Opuntian Locris consisted of a narrow slip upon the eastern coast of central Greece, from the pass ofThermopylae to the mouth of the riverCephissus. The northern frontier town wasAlpeni, which bordered upon theMalians, and the southern frontier town wasLarymna, which at a later time belonged toBoeotia. The Locrians, however, did not inhabit this coast continuously, but were separated by a narrow slip ofPhocis, which extended to theNorth Euboean Gulf, and contained the Phocian seaport town ofDaphnus. The Locrians north of Daphnus were calledEpicnemidii, fromMount Cnemis; and those south of this town were namedOpuntii, fromOpus, their principal city. On the west, the Locrians were separated from Phocis and Boeotia by a range of mountains, extending fromMount Oeta and running parallel to the coast. The northern part of this range, called Mount Cnemis,[1] nowTalanda, rises to a considerable height, and separated the Epicnemidii Locri from the Phocians of the upper valley of the Cephissus; the southern portion, which bore no specific name, is not so lofty as Mount Cnemis, and separated the Opuntian Locrians from the north-eastern parts of Boeotia. Lateral branches extended from these mountains to the coast, of which one terminated in the promontoryCnemides, opposite the islands calledLichades; but there were several fruitful valleys, and the fertility of the whole of the Locrian coast is praised both by ancient and modern observers.[2] In consequence of the proximity of the mountains to the coast there was no room for any considerable rivers. The largest, which, however, is only a mountain torrent, is theBoagrius (Βοάγριος), called alsoManes (Μάνης) by Strabo, rising in Mount Cnemis, and flowing into the sea betweenScarpheia andThronium.[3] The only other river mentioned by name is thePlatanius,[4] a small stream, which flows into the Opuntian gulf near the Boeotian frontier: it is the river which flows from the modern village ofProskyná.[5]
The Opuntian Gulf,[6] at the head of which stood the town of Opus, is a considerable bay, shallow at its inner extremity. In this bay, close to the coast, is the small island ofAtalanta.
The Eastern Locrians, are mentioned byHomer, who describes them as followingAjax, the son ofOïleus, to theTrojan War in forty ships, and as inhabiting the towns ofKynos, Opus,Calliarus,Besa,Scarphe,Augeiae,Tarphe, andThronium.[7] Neither Homer,Herodotus, Thucydides, norPolybius, make any distinction between the Opuntii and Epicnemidii; and, during the flourishing period of Greek history, Opus was regarded as the chief town of the Eastern Locrians. Even Strabo, from whom the distinction is chiefly derived, in one place describes Opus as the metropolis of the Epicnemidii (ix. p. 416); and the same is confirmed by Pliny (iv. 7. s. 12) andStephanus.[8] In thePersian War the Opuntian Locrians fought withLeonidas at theBattle of Thermopylae, and also sent seven ships to the Greek fleet.[9] The Locrians fought on the side ofSparta in thePeloponnesian War.[10] The Locri Opuntii also minted coins in antiquity, some of which survive. A number of authors refer to earthquakes which occurred in the area in 426 BC, causing significant damage.[11]
The cities and towns of the Locri Epicnemidii, along the coast from north to south, were:Alpenus,Nicaea,Scarphe (Scarpheia),Thronium,Cnemis (Cnemides), more inland,Tarphe laterPharygae, andAugeiae. The cities and towns of the Locri Opuntii, along the coast from north to south, were:Alope,Kynos,Opus,Halae,Larymna which later belonged to Boeotia, more inland,Calliarus,Naryx, andCorseia.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Locris".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.