APHIDNA (ancient Athenian deme)
Wonder of myth · ancient Athenian deme
- Haunts and cult places
- Attica
- In the sources
- 11 ancient passages
Aphidna is a town in Attica.1,2 Theseus transported Helen to Aphidna to hide her from the angry Athenians.1,3 He placed his mother Aethra and his bravest friends in the town to guard Helen.1 In the vicinity of Aphidna, Theseus killed Alycus.4
While Theseus was held captive, the sons of Tyndareus captured the location.5 Theseus and the Dioscuri campaigned against Aphidna, and the Dioscuri attacked the town with armed forces, destroying it completely.6,7,1 They seized and sacked the place to recover their sister after failing to find Theseus.8,3 The Dioscuri retrieved Helen from Aphidna and returned her to Lacedaemon.1 After taking the place, the sons of Tyndareus restored Menestheus to the kingdom.5 The spoils from Aphidna were intended to fund the completion of the sanctuary.9
The codex facts behind this entry
In the myths
The Dioscuri seized and sacked the place to recover their sister after failing to find Theseus. Pausanias 2.22.6 +2 Theseus transported Helen to Aphidna to hide her from the angry Athenians. Diodorus 4.63 +1 The sons of Tyndareus captured the location while Theseus was held captive. Pausanias 1.17.5 The sons of Tyndareus restored Menestheus to the kingdom after taking the place. Pausanias 1.17.5 Theseus placed his mother Aethra and his bravest friends in Aphidna to guard Helen. Diodorus 4.63 The Dioscori attacked Aphidna with armed forces and destroyed the city completely. Diodorus 4.63 The Dioscori retrieved Helen from Aphidna and returned her to Lacedaemon. Diodorus 4.63
