Ephyra (Elis)

Ephyra (Ancient Greek: Ἐφύρη, Ἔφυρα, Ἐφύρα, or Εφύρα) was town of ancient Elis, situated upon the river Selleeis, and the ancient capital of Augeias, whom Heracles conquered. Homer, in the Catalogue of Ships[1] and elsewhere[2] in the Iliad, mentions Ephyra and writers have debated which Ephyra is meant.[3]

Strabo describes Ephyra as distant 120 stadia from Elis, on the road to Lasion, and says that on its site or near it was built the town of Oenoe or Boeonoa.[4] Stephanus of Byzantium also speaks of an Ephyra between Pylos and Elis, Pylos being the town at the junction of the Ladon and the Peneius.[5] From these two accounts there can be little doubt that the Ladon, the chief tributary of the Peneius, is the Selleeis,[6] which Strabo describes as rising in Mount Pholoë.[7]

Ephyra's site is tentatively located within the bounds of modern Efyra.[8]

References

1. Homer. Iliad. 2.659.
2. Homer. Iliad. 15.531.
3. compare Emilio Crespo Güemes (1991). Homero: Ilíada (in Spanish). Madrid: Editorial Gredos. p. 42, and note. ISBN 978-84-249-1446-2. with Strabo. Geographica. 8.3.5. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
4. where, for the corrupt κειμένη τῆ ἐπιθαλασσίωνα, we ought to read, with August Meineke, κειμένη τἧ ἐπὶ Λασίωνα. Strabo. Geographica. 8.3.5. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
5. Stephanus of Byzantium. Ethnica. Ἐφύρα.
6. Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 58, and directory notes accompanying.
7.  Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Ephyra". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
8. 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). "Ephyra". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.