Elaea (Epirus)

Elaea was located in Thesprotia in antiquity.

Elaea or Elaia (Ancient Greek: Ἐλαία), also Elea (Ἐλέα), was a town of Thesprotia in ancient Epirus toward the mouth of the Acheron river. The town is mentioned by Ptolemy. Thucydides calls the surrounding district Elaeatis (Ἐλαιατις) and indicates that Ephyra was in the territory of Elaea.[1] Its port was Elaias Limen, literally the "Bay of Elaea", which the Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax asserts was the main port of Thesprotia.[2]

Coins ascribed to the town, with the inscription "ΕΛΕΑΤΑΝ" or "ΕΛΕΑΙ", have been found that have been dated c. 360–335 BCE.[3]

The town's site is identified as near Chrysavgi,[4][5] where archaeological exploration has taken place.

  1. ^ Thucydides. History of the Peloponnesian War. Vol. 1.46.
  2. ^ Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax 30.
  3. ^ Mogens Herman Hansen & Thomas Heine Nielsen (2004). "Epirus". An inventory of archaic and classical poleis. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 344–345. ISBN 0-19-814099-1.
  4. ^ Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 54, and directory notes accompanying. ISBN 978-0-691-03169-9.
  5. ^ Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.