Corinthian capitals from Hierapytna
Bronze statue from Hierapytna

Hierapytna (Ancient Greek: Ἱεράπυτνα[1][2] or Ἱερὰ Πύτνα[3][4]), also Hierapydna (Ἱεράπυδνα),[5] Hierapydnes (Ἱερά Πύδνης),[6] or Hiera,[7] was a town of ancient Crete. Strabo says that it stood in the narrowest part of the island, opposite Minoa.[1] Hierapytna, according to the Stadiasmus Maris Magni, was 180 stadia from Biennus, which agrees with the distance of 20 M.P. assigned to it by the Peutinger Table. It was a town of great antiquity, and its foundation was ascribed to the Corybantes; it bore the successive names of Cyrba, Pytna, Camirus, and Hierapytna.[8][4] From an inscription preserved among the Oxford marbles, it appears that the Hierapytnians were at one time allied with the neighbouring city of Priansus.[9] There are both autonomous and Roman Imperial coins belonging to Hierapytna; the symbol on the former is generally a palm tree.[10]

Its site is located near modern Ierapetra.[11][12]

References

  1. 1 2 Strabo. Geographica. Vol. ix. p.440, x. pp. 472, 475. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
  2. ↑ Pliny. Naturalis Historia. Vol. 4.20.
  3. ↑ Ptolemy. The Geography. Vol. 3.17.4. , although some manuscripts have Ἱερὰ Πέτρα.
  4. 1 2 Stephanus of Byzantium. Ethnica. Vol. s.v.
  5. ↑ Dio Cassius 36.8; Hierocles. Synecdemus.
  6. ↑ Stadiasmus Maris Magni §§ 319-320.
  7. ↑ Peut. Tab.
  8. ↑ Strabo. Geographica. Vol. x. p. 472. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
  9. ↑ Böckh, Corp. Inscrip. Graec. n. 2556; Höck, Kreta, vol. iii. p. 472.
  10. ↑ Eckhel, Doctrina numorum veterum, vol. ii. p. 313.
  11. ↑ Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 60, and directory notes accompanying.
  12. ↑ 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). "Hierapytna". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.

35°00′24″N 25°44′14″E / 35.0067°N 25.73712°E / 35.0067; 25.73712


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