APHIDNA (town in Attica)
Ancient Athenian deme
- Also called
- Aphidnae
- Kind of place
- Town
- Region
- Attica
- People of myth here
- Aethra, Aphidnus, Menestheus
- Where
- 38.19° N, 23.88° E
Aphidna is a town in Attica. Diodorus 4.63 Theseus transported Helen to Aphidna to hide her from the angry Athenians. Diodorus 4.63 The Dioscori retrieved Helen from Aphidna and returned her to Lacedaemon. Diodorus 4.63
Described in the sources
Theseus and the Dioscuri campaigned against Aphidna. Pausanias 1.41.3 +1 Theseus killed Alycus in the vicinity of Aphidna. The Cypria fr. 11 (2)
Stories and history
The Dioscuri seized and sacked the place to recover their sister after failing to find Theseus. Pausanias 2.22.6 +2 The sons of Tyndareus captured the location while Theseus was held captive. Pausanias 1.17.5 The spoils from Aphidna were intended to fund the completion of the sanctuary. Pausanias 3.17.2 The sons of Tyndareus restored Menestheus to the kingdom after taking the place. Pausanias 1.17.5 The Dioscori attacked Aphidna with armed forces and destroyed the city completely. Diodorus 4.63 Theseus placed his mother Aethra and his bravest friends in Aphidna to guard Helen. Diodorus 4.63