Antissa

Antissa
Άντισσα
Orpheus' oracle near Antissa
Orpheus' oracle near Antissa
Antissa is located in Greece
Antissa
Antissa
Coordinates: 39°17′29″N 26°01′08″E / 39.2914°N 26.0190°E / 39.2914; 26.0190
CountryGreece
Administrative regionNorth Aegean
Regional unitLesbos
MunicipalityWest Lesbos
Municipal unitEresos-Antissa
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Community823
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

Antissa (Ancient Greek: Ἄντισσα) was a city of the island Lesbos (Lesvos), near to Cape Sigrium, the western point of Lesbos.[2] The place had a harbour. The ruins found by Richard Pococke at Calas Limneonas, a little NE. of cape Sigri, may be those of Antissa. This place was the birthplace of Terpander, who is said to be the inventor of the seven-stringed lyre. According to the local historian Myrsilus of Methymna, local tradition held that the head of Orpheus had floated south from the Hebros after he was decapitated and floated south to land on the shore of Antissan territory: the spot was marked by a tomb where, according to Myrsilus, the nightingales sang more sweetly than they did elsewhere.[3][4]

Antissa exists nowadays as a village on Lesbos. Nearby the village is the cave of Orpheus. The village has an alternative old name, it is called "Τελώνια" [5] which may be translated as sprite.

  1. ^ "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
  2. ^ Steph. B. s. v. Antissa, following Strabo, p. 618.
  3. ^ Myrsilus of Methymna FGrHist 477 F 2 = Antigonus of Carystus, Historiarum Mirabilium 5.
  4. ^ Foss, C., G. Reger, S. Mitchell (2019-08-28). "Places: 550435 (Antissa)". Pleiades. Retrieved August 28, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Αρχαία Άντισσα". 23 May 2017.