Olous
Olous or Olus (Ancient Greek: Ὄλους,[1][2] or Ὄλουλις[3]) was a city of ancient Crete; now sunken, it was situated at the present day town of Elounda, Crete, Greece. According to the Stadiasmus Maris Magni, it had a harbour and was located 260 stadia from Chersonasus and 15 stadia from Camara.[3]
History[edit]
After continuing boundary disputes with the hillfort of Lato,[4] the citizens of Olous eventually entered into a treaty with those of Lato.[5] There was a temple to Britomartis in the city, a wooden statue of whom was erected by Daedalus, the mythical ancestor of the Daedalidae, and father of Cretan art.[6] Her effigy is represented on the coins of Olous.[7]
The Ptolemaic naval fleet commander Callicrates was honored by the citizens of Olous and received honorary citizenship.
Present conditions[edit]
Archaeologists discovered ancient texts within the ruins linking the town with the ancient cities of Knossos and the island of Rhodes.[8] The sunken city can be visited by tourists swimming in Elounda Bay. Today, the only visible remnants of the city are some scattered wall bases.
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax p. 19, Xenion, ap. Stephanus of Byzantium. Ethnica. Vol. s.v.
- ^ Ptolemy. The Geography. Vol. 3.17.5.
- ^ a b Stadiasmus Maris Magni § 350.
- ^ C.Michael Hogan, Lato Fieldnotes, The Modern Antiquarian, Jan 10, 2008
- ^ Dittenberger, Syll.³, No. 712 - English translation.
- ^ Pausan. ix. 40. § 3.
- ^ Eckhel, vol. ii. p. 316; Théodore Edme Mionnet, Descr. vol. ii. p. 289; Combe, Mus. Hunter.
- ^ SEG_23.547 - treaty between Rhodes and Olous.
References[edit]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Olus". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
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