38°39′17″N 22°28′12″E / 38.6548°N 22.47°E / 38.6548; 22.47 Charadra (Ancient Greek: Χαράδρα)[1] was a city of ancient Phocis, and one of the Phocian towns destroyed by Xerxes I in 480 BCE during the Greco-Persian Wars.[2] Pausanias describes Charadra as situated 20 stadia from Lilaea, upon a lofty and precipitous rock. He further states that the inhabitants suffered from a scarcity of water, which they obtained from the torrent Charadrus, a tributary of the Cephissus, distant three stadia from the town.[3] Situated in the agora of the town, Pausanias noted altars of heroes; some thought they were of the Dioscuri, others thought they were of local heroes.[4]

The site of Charadra is near modern Mariolata (Mariolates).[5][6] It was rebuilt after the Third Sacred War and some remains of its gates and walls have been found.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ Stephanus of Byzantium. Ethnica. Vol. s.v.
  2. ^ Herodotus. Histories. Vol. 8.33.
  3. ^ Pausanias (1918). "3.2". Description of Greece. Vol. 10. Translated by W. H. S. Jones; H. A. Ormerod. Cambridge, Massachusetts; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann – via Perseus Digital Library.
  4. ^ Pausanias (1918). "33.6". Description of Greece. Vol. 10. Translated by W. H. S. Jones; H. A. Ormerod. Cambridge, Massachusetts; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann – via Perseus Digital Library.
  5. ^ Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.
  6. ^ Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 55, and directory notes accompanying. ISBN 978-0-691-03169-9.
  7. ^ María Cruz Herrero Ingelmo (2008). Pausanias, Descripción de Grecia (in Spanish). Vol. 3, libros VII-X. Madrid: Gredos. p. 449 & accompanying note. ISBN 978-84-249-1650-3.

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