Astyra (Ancient Greek: Ἀστυρα), also known as Astyrum or Astyron (Ἄστυρον), and perhaps also Andeira (Ἀνδειρα),[1] was a small town of ancient Aeolis and of Mysia, in the Plain of Thebe, between Antandrus and Adramyttium. It had a temple of Artemis, of which the Antandrii had the superintendence.[2] Artemis had hence the name of Astyrene or Astirene.[3] There was a lake Sapra near Astyra, which communicated with the sea. Pausanias, from his own observations, describes a spring of black water at Astyra; the water was hot. But he places Astyra in the territory of Atarneus.[4] There was, then, either a place in Atarneus called Astyra, with warm springs, or Pausanias has made some mistake; for there is no doubt about the position of the Astyra of Strabo and Pomponius Mela.[5] Astyra was a deserted place, according to Pliny's authorities; he calls it Astyre.[6] There are said to be coins of Astyra.
It was a member of the Delian League.[7]
Its site is tentatively located near Büyük Çal Tepe, Balıkesir Province, Turkey.[1][8]
References
- 1 2 Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 56, and directory notes accompanying.
- ↑ Strabo. Geographica. Vol. p. 613. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
- ↑ Xenophon. Hellenica. Vol. 4.1.41.
- ↑ Pausanias (1918). "35.10". Description of Greece. Vol. 4. Translated by W. H. S. Jones; H. A. Ormerod. Cambridge, Massachusetts; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann – via Perseus Digital Library.
- ↑ Pomponius Mela. De situ orbis. Vol. 1.19.
- ↑ Pliny. Naturalis Historia. Vol. 5.32.
- ↑ Athenian Tribute Lists
- ↑ 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). "Astyra". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.