Lapathus (Cyprus)

Lapathus (Phoenician: 𐤋‬𐤐‬𐤈, LPṬ;[1] Greek: Λάπαθος, Lápathos),[2] also recorded as Lapethus (Λάπηθος, Lápēthos),[3][4] Lepethis (Ληπηθίς, Lēpēthís),[5] and Lapithus (Λάπιθος, Lápithos),[6] was an ancient Cypriot town near present-day Lampousa and Karavas.[7][8]

Lapathus

Map showing the ancient city Kingdoms of Cyprus
Shown within Cyprus
Location	Cyprus
Coordinates	35°21′19″N 33°11′52″E

History

The foundation of Lapathus was credited to the Phoenicians.[9] Nonnus claimed the name derived from an eponymous Lapathus, a follower of Dionysus.[10] Strabo said that it received a Spartan colony headed by Praxander.[2] He adds that it was situated opposite to the town of Nagidus in Cilicia and possessed a harbour and docks.[2] It was situated in the north of the island, on a river of the same name and in a district called Lapethia (Λαπηθία, Lapēthía).[11]

In the war between Ptolemy and Antigonus, Lapathus and its king Praxippus sided with the latter.[12] The name of the place became synonymous with stupidity.[13]

References

Citations

1. Huss (1985), p. 569.
2. Strabo. Geographica. xiv. p.682. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
3. Ptolemy. The Geography. 5.14.4.
4. Pliny. Naturalis Historia. 5.31.
5. Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax, p. 41.
6. Hierocles. Synecdemus.
7. Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 72, and directory notes accompanying.
8. Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.
9. Stephanus of Byzantium. Ethnica. s.v.
10. Nonnus, Dionys. 13.447.
11. Ptolemy. The Geography. 5.14.5.
12. Diodorus Siculus. Bibliotheca historica (Historical Library). 19.59.
13. Suda s.v. Λαπάθιοι.

Bibliography

• Huss, Werner (1985), Geschichte der Karthager, Munich: C.H. Beck. (in German)
•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Lapathus". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.