Cyphanta

Cyphanta or Kyphanta (Ancient Greek: τὰ Κύφαντα) was a town on the eastern coast of ancient Laconia, belonging to the Eleuthero-Lacones. It was in ruins in the time of Pausanias (2nd century), but from the notice of it in other writers, it was evidently at one period a place of some importance.[1][2][3][4] Pausanias describes it as situated 6 stadia from Zarax, and 10 stadia inland; and Ptolemy speaks separately of the port-town and city. Pausanias adds that Cyphanta contained a temple of Asclepius, called Stethaeum, and a fountain issuing from a rock, said to have been produced by a blow of the lance of Atalanta. The numbers in Pausanias, however, cannot be correct. At the distance of 6 stadia from Zarax (modern Ierakas), there is no site for a town or a harbour; and it is scarcely conceivable that, on this rocky and little-frequented coast, there would be two towns so close to one another. Moreover, Pausanias says that the distance from Prasiae to Cyphanta is 200 stadia; whereas the real distance from Prasiae (modern Paralio Leonidi) to Zarax is more than 300 stadia. In addition to this Ptolemy places Cyphanta considerably further north than Zarax; and it is not till reaching Cyparissia that there is any place with a harbour and a fountain.

Modern scholars place its site near the modern Kyparissi.[5][6]

References

1. Pausanias. Description of Greece. 3.24.2.
2. Polybius. The Histories. 4.36.
3. Pliny. Naturalis Historia. 4.5.9.
4. Ptolemy. The Geography. 3.16.10, 3.16.22.
5. Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 58, and directory notes accompanying.
6. Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Cyphanta". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.