Cyrtones

Cyrtones or Kyrtones (Ancient Greek: Κύρτωνες),[1] anciently called Cyrtone or Kyrtone (Κυρτώνη), was a city of Boeotia, east of the Lake Copais, and 20 stadia from Hyettus, situated upon a lofty mountain, after crossing which the traveller arrived at Corsia. Cyrtones contained a grove and temple of Apollo, in which were statues of Apollo and Artemis, and a fountain of cold water, at the source of which was a chapel of the nymphs.[2]

Ancient tower of Cyrtones.

The site of Cyrtones is tentatively located at Kastron Kolakas/Karaouli, near the modern village of Kyrtoni, which was renamed from Kolaka to reflect association with the ancient town.[3][4] The remains of a walled enclosure, and of a building, possibly a temple, have been found.[5] This ancient fortification has a square tower made out of 1.5 m thick stones. From the ancient fountain now known as Kamini flows brackish, ice cold water with healing properties (for dysentery).[6]

References

1. Stephanus of Byzantium. Ethnica. s.v.
2. Pausanias. Description of Greece. 9.24.4.
3. Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 55, and directory notes accompanying.
4. Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.
5. Fossey, J. M. (1990). The Ancient Topography of Opountian Lokris. Amsterdam: Gieben. pp. 52–57.
6. Phthiotis Prefectural Council Archived 2009-05-27 at the Wayback Machine (in Greek)

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Cyrtones". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.