BOZCAADA (island in Tenedos)
Island off the northwestern coast of Turkey
- Also called
- Tenedos
- Kind of place
- Island
- Region
- Tenedos
- Patron
- Zeus
- People of myth here
- Tenes, Hestia
- Where
- 39.82° N, 26.05° E
Apollo is worshipped on the island under names such as Smintheus, Cillaeus, and Gryneus, and a temple dedicated to Apollo Smintheus stands there. Strabo 13.1.46 Tennes founded a city on the island and named it after himself. Diodorus 5.83
Described in the sources
The Argive fleet departed from this island to attack Troy. Aeneid 2.250 +2 Apollo is described as ruling the island with his might and is held in the highest veneration along the coast extending to it. Iliad 1 ¶39 +2 The island was visible from the area where the fire of Troy was burning. Quintus 13 ¶24 +1 The island was formerly known by the names Leucophrys, Phœnice, and Lyrnesos. Lycophron, Alexandra ¶10 +1 An Aeolian city is situated on the island. Strabo 13.1.46 Several small islands surround the main island. Strabo 13.1.46 Tenes, son of Cycnus and Proclia, ruled the island. Apollodorus, Epitome 3.23 The island is near the scene of the story of Cycnus. Strabo 13.1.46 The island was named after Tennes, who landed there. Lycophron, Alexandra ¶10 It lies no more than forty stadia away from the mainland. Strabo 13.1.46
Gods and worship
The inhabitants built a sacred precinct for Tennes, offered him sacrifices as a god, and continued these sacrifices down to modern times. Diodorus 5.83
Stories and history
Achilles captured the island during the war. Iliad 11 ¶47 +1 Achilles killed Tennes while he was defending the island during the Trojan War when the Greeks sacked it. Diodorus 5.83 +1 The island possesses two harbours. Strabo 13.1.46 Other writers call the island Leucophrys. Strabo 13.1.46 The island is named after the figure Tennes. Strabo 13.1.46 Some writers refer to the island by the name Calydna. Strabo 13.1.46 Achilles killed Tenes with a sword wound to the chest. Apollodorus, Epitome 3.26 The island has a circumference of approximately eighty stadia. Strabo 13.1.46 Nestor received a slave woman from the island after its capture. Iliad 11 ¶47 The women of Tenedos are considered the most beautiful anywhere. Athenaeus 13.89
Myths set at Bozcaada
- Sinon's Beacon Signal to the Greek Fleet. Sinon is left behind by the Greeks to light a beacon as a signal for their return. He successfully displays the signal from Achilles' grave, allowing the Greek fleet to depart Tenedos. Apollodorus, Epitome 5.15 +5 Sinon
- The Arrival at Tenedos. Agamemnon arrives at Tenedos with his fleet after leaving a guest on Lemnos due to divine constraint. He speaks to the guest about past events in Lemnos. Quintus 12 ¶19 +1 Agamemnon
- The Departure from Tenedos. Nestor, the commander of the youths, is told to go to the shore of Tenedos. He arrives with the fleet and orders the troops to burn their tents. Quintus 12 ¶14 +1 Nestor
- The Sack of Tenedos. Achilles joins the Greek forces to sack the island of Tenedos. He kills Tennes, leading to a ban on speaking his name in the sacred precinct. Diodorus 5.83 +1 Achilles
- The Storm at Tenedos. Agamemnon's fleet is struck by a storm at Tenedos after Athena asks Zeus to send a tempest against his group. The story ends with the fleet encountering the storm, though the specific resolution is not detailed in the facts. Apollodorus, Epitome 6.5 Agamemnon