Thymoetadae

Thymoetadae or Thymoitadai (Ancient Greek: Θυμοιτάδαι) or Thymaetedae or Thymaitadai (Θυμαιτάδαι), was a deme of ancient Attica. It derived its name from Thymoetas, a king of Attica, possessed a port, from which Theseus secretly set sail on his expedition to Crete.[1] This retired port seems to have been the same as the Phoron Limen (Φώρων λιμήν) or “Thieves' port,” so called from its being frequented by smugglers.[2] It is a small circular harbour at the entrance to the bay of Salamis. Xypete, Peiraeeus, Phalerum, and Thymoetadae formed the τετράκωμοι,[3] which had a temple of Heracles in common (τετράκωμον Ἡρακλεῖον).[4] It was situated on the Attic side of the Strait of Salamis;[5] and it was from the heights of Aegaleos, above this temple, that Xerxes I witnessed the Battle of Salamis.[6] The σισύραι, or garments of goatskins of Thymoetadae, appear to have been celebrated.[7]

The site of Thymoetadae is located near Keratsini.[8][9]

  1. ^ Plutarch, Thes. 19.
  2. ^ Dem. c. Lacrit. p. 932; Strabo. Geographica. Vol. ix. p.395. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
  3. ^ Julius Pollux, Onomasticon 4.105
  4. ^ Stephanus of Byzantium. Ethnica. Vol. sub voce Ἐχελίδαι.
  5. ^ Ctesias, Pers. 100.26, ed. Lion; Diodorus Siculus. Bibliotheca historica (Historical Library). Vol. 11.18.
  6. ^ Phanodemus, ap. Plut. Them. 13; Herodotus. Histories. Vol. 8.90.
  7. ^ Aristophanes, Wasps 1138.
  8. ^ Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 59, and directory notes accompanying. ISBN 978-0-691-03169-9.
  9. ^ Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.