CLEONAE (city in Corinthia)
Ancient polis between Argos and Corinth
- Kind of place
- City
- Region
- Corinthia
- Where
- 37.82° N, 22.78° E
The city is described as well built and well fortified. Strabo 8.6.19 Cleonae is located on the road connecting Argos and Corinth, 120 stadia away from Argos. Strabo 8.6.19 Hercules carried the dead Nemean lion back to this location after killing it. Apollodorus 2.5.1
Described in the sources
Cleonae is situated on the road connecting Corinth and Argos, at a distance of eighty stadia from Corinth. Pausanias 2.15.1 +1 The city is visible from the Acrocorinthus. Strabo 8.6.19 It is positioned seaward of the town of Sane. Herodotus 7.22.3 Two distinct roads connect this city to Argos. Pausanias 2.15.2 A temple of Heracles stands near this location. Diodorus 4.33 One route is direct but only suitable for active men. Pausanias 2.15.2 The town sits on an eminence surrounded by dwellings. Strabo 8.6.19 Alcmena considers seeking out Thebes, her husband's city. Seneca, Hercules Oetaeus act 5 ¶9 Alcmena considers seeking out Cleonae as a potential refuge. Seneca, Hercules Oetaeus act 5 ¶9 The city is characterized by a large, stacked mass of towers. Statius, Thebaid 4.46-67 ¶1
Stories and history
Heracles murdered the sons of Actor at this place. Pausanias 5.2.1 The city possesses the burial sites of Eurytus and Cteatus. Pausanias 2.15.1 The Persian intended to convert Cleonae into an island town. Herodotus 7.22.3 Men from Kleonai achieved four victories in athletic competitions. Pindar, Nemean 10 ¶8 A huge lion that terrified the city's walls was killed by Hercules. Seneca, Hercules Oetaeus act 5 ¶13 The sacrifice of the he-goat successfully ended the plague in Cleonae. Pausanias 10.11.5 The sanctuary holds a statue created by the sculptors Scyllis and Dipoenus. Pausanias 2.15.1 Hercules sacrificed to Saviour Zeus here upon his safe return from the hunt. Apollodorus 2.5.1 The citizens sent a bronze he-goat to Apollo as a result of the plague's end. Pausanias 10.11.5 Eurytus and Cteatus were shot by Heracles while visiting the city as ambassadors. Pausanias 2.15.1
Myths set at Cleonae
- The Lament for Heracles' Ashes. hook: "An old and hated woman clutches the ashes of her dead son, lamenting that his remains occupy a tiny space in a funeral urn." goal: "She seeks a place to rest, considering returning to her native shores, Thebes, or Cleonae, while asking for protection from vengeful orphans." outcome: "She continues to mourn, asserting her grief surpasses all other mothers and remembering how her son granted wishes even Jupiter denied."} Seneca, Hercules Oetaeus act 5 ¶10 +4
- The Battle of Calydon. Heracles engages in a series of violent confrontations, including the ambush of Eurytus and the slaying of the Centaur Eurytion. The episode concludes with his marriage to Deïaneira following the death of Meleager. Diodorus 4.33 +1 Heracles
- The Slaying of Eurytus. Heracles attempts to marry Iole but is rejected by her father, Eurytus. In retaliation, Heracles steals Eurytus's mares and ambushes him, killing him near Cleonae. Diodorus 4.31 +1 Heracles