CERYNEIA (town in Achaea)
Town and polis (city-state) of ancient Achaea
- Kind of place
- Town
- Region
- Achaea
- Where
- 38.16° N, 22.14° E
Ceryneia is a town situated on a high rock and mountain overlooking the main road leading to Bura. Pausanias 7.25.5 Orestes is said to have established the local sanctuary of the Eumenides. Pausanias 7.25.7 Visitors guilty of bloodshed or impiety reportedly become insane with fright upon entering. Pausanias 7.25.7
Described in the sources
Ceryneia belongs to the people of Aegium. Strabo 8.7.5 The town contains a sanctuary dedicated to the Eumenides. Pausanias 7.25.7 Its name may derive from a local ruler or the river Cerynites. Pausanias 7.25.5 Ceryneia was one of twelve Achaean cities known to the Greek world. Pausanias 7.6.1 Ceryneia was previously inhabited by Ionians before the Achaean settlement. Pausanias 7.6.1
Stories and history
Mycenaeans from Argolis settled in Ceryneia following a disaster, and the remaining Mycenaeans fled there after leaving their own city, increasing the population and making the city more powerful and renowned for the future. Pausanias 7.25.5 +1 The Achaeans settled in Ceryneia after the Ionians left the area. Pausanias 7.6.1 Access to the sanctuary is restricted and not granted to everyone. Pausanias 7.25.7 The sanctuary features wooden images that are not very large in size. Pausanias 7.25.7 Stone statues of women with artistic workmanship stand at the sanctuary entrance. Pausanias 7.25.7 Locals claim the stone statues are portraits of former priestesses of the Eumenides. Pausanias 7.25.7