Daphnous

The ancient city of Daphnous is known to us chiefly from Strabo [1] who suggests it was founded by the Phocians, as well as from an inscription from 407 BC.[2] It came to be known as a city of the Opuntian Locrians. It was in ruins in Strabo's day when only the harbour was used.

Daphnous lay at the head of a pass that was one of the major arteries from northern to central Greece.[3]

The modern town of Agios Konstantinos is probably the site of the ancient city’s harbour on the Euboean sea.

The ruins of Daphnous were first noted in 1844 by L.Ross [4]

The ancient site was re-discovered in 2005-2007 during the construction of the main road in the area of the Malian Gulf.[5]

The most important discovery is the very well preserved but previously unknown Sanctuary of Asklepios which has turned out to be one of the earliest Asklepieia on the Greek mainland, dating from the 5th century BC.

References

  1. Strabo, Geography, Book 9, chapter 3, section 20
  2. https://www.atticinscriptions.com/inscription/IGI3/119
  3. Studies in Ancient Greek Topography: Passes By William Kendrick Pritchett
  4. Wanderungen in Griechenland, Halle
  5. http://carolynperry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/new-sanctuary-of-asklepios-at-daphnous.html
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