39°11′25″N 23°13′03″E / 39.19027°N 23.21758°E / 39.19027; 23.21758
Spalathra (Ancient Greek: Σπάλαθρα)[1] or Spalauthra (Σπάλαυθρα),[2] also called Spalethre (Σπαλέθρη)[3] and Spalathron (Σπάλαθρον),[3] was a town and polis (city-state)[4] of Magnesia, in ancient Thessaly, upon the Pagasetic Gulf. It is conjectured that this town is meant by Lycophron,[5] who describes Prothous, the leader of the Magnetes in the Iliad, as ὁ ἐκ Παλαύθρων (Σπαλαύθρων).[6] The town is also mentioned in the Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax as a city in Magnesia, together with Iolcus, Coracae, Methone and Olizon.[7]
The toponym is related to the Greek word "σπάλαθρον", meaning fire poker.[8] Perhaps from the shape of the peninsula on which it sat.[9]
Spalathra was located within the limits of modern Chorto.[10][11]
References
- Pliny. Naturalis Historia. Book 4.9.16.
- Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax, p. 25.
- Stephanus of Byzantium. Ethnica. Vol. sub voce Σπάλαθρον.
- Mogens Herman Hansen & Thomas Heine Nielsen (2004). "Thessaly and Adjacent Regions". An inventory of archaic and classical poleis. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 721. ISBN 0-19-814099-1.
- Lycophron, Alexandra 899.
-
Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Spalathra". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray. - Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax, 65.
- Jorge Martínez de Tejada Garaizábal, Instituciones, sociedad, religión y léxico de Tesalia de la antigüedad desde la época de la independencia hasta el fin de la edad antigua (siglos VIII AC-V DC), doctoral thesis, p.936. Madrid: Universidad Complutense de Madrid (2012). (in Spanish)
- Lycophron, Alexandra.
- Talbert, Richard, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-691-03169-9, with accompanying Map-by-Map Directory.
- 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). "Spalathra". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.