Lapathus (Cyprus)

Lapathus
Λάπαθος, 𐤋𐤐𐤔
A coins of ṢDQMLK, King of Lapathus
Lapathus (Cyprus) is located in Cyprus
Lapathus (Cyprus)
Shown within Cyprus
LocationCyprus
Coordinates35°21′19″N 33°11′52″E / 35.355404°N 33.197851°E / 35.355404; 33.197851

Lapathus (Phoenician: 𐤋‬𐤐‬𐤔, romanized: LPŠ;[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, Phoenician and Greek town near present-day Lampousa and Karavas.[7][8]

Name

Due to lack of evidence, researchers had not been sure weather the Phoenician name of the city was LPṬ (with Teth) or LPT (with Taw);[9][10] recent findings, such as inscriptions and coins with legends, provide the clear reading LPŠ.[10] The Greek and the Phoenician name record, each in its own way, a phoneme of a language prior to them both.[10]

History

Map showing the ancient city Kingdoms of Cyprus

The foundation of Lapathus was credited to the Phoenician Kitians.[11] Nonnus claimed the name derived from an eponymous Lapathus, a follower of Dionysus.[12] 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).[13]

A coin of DMWNKS of Lapathus, depicting Heracles

The coins of the city from the 5th and 4th canturies BC record rulers of the city, in Phoenician: DMWNKS the first, ṢDQMLK, ʾNDR... (shorted name), and DMWNKS the second.[14] The coins of the first two depicted the head of Athena, and the coins of the last two depicted Athena standing and Heracles.[14]

In the war between Ptolemy and Antigonus, Lapathus and its king Praxippus sided with the latter.[15]

The name of the place became synonymous with stupidity.[16]

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ Huss (1985), p. 569.
  2. ^ a b c Strabo. Geographica. Vol. xiv. p.682. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
  3. ^ Ptolemy. The Geography. Vol. 5.14.4.
  4. ^ Pliny. Naturalis Historia. Vol. 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. ISBN 978-0-691-03169-9.
  8. ^ Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.
  9. ^ Slouschz, Nahoum (1942). Thesaurus of Phoenician Inscriptions (in Hebrew). Dvir. p. 106.
  10. ^ a b c Masson, Olivier; Sznycer, Maurice (1972). Recherches sur les Phéniciens à Chypre (in French). Librairie Droz. p. 99.
  11. ^ Stephanus of Byzantium. Ethnica. Vol. s.v.
  12. ^ Nonnus, Dionys. 13.447.
  13. ^ Ptolemy. The Geography. Vol. 5.14.5.
  14. ^ a b Masson, Olivier; Sznycer, Maurice (1972). Recherches sur les Phéniciens à Chypre (in French). Librairie Droz. pp. 98–100.
  15. ^ Diodorus Siculus. Bibliotheca historica (Historical Library). Vol. 19.59.
  16. ^ Suda s.v. Λαπάθιοι.

Bibliography


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