HYMETTUS (mountain in Attica)
Mountain range of Attica
- Kind of place
- Mountain
- Region
- Attica
- Where
- 37.95° N, 23.82° E
The mountain is described as being ever-blooming. Ovid Met. 7.661-793 (2) The mountain produces the finest honey available in the area. Strabo 9.1.23 Altars to Zeus Rain-god and Apollo Foreseer are situated on this mountain. Pausanias 1.32.2
Described in the sources
Hymettus is identified as one of the mountains located in Attica. Pausanias 1.32.1 +2 Athenians gather wild ground thyme on the slopes of this mountain. Athenaeus 15.28 +1 The Pelasgians had a settlement located at the foot of this mountain. Herodotus 6.137.3 +1 Thyme is said to come from this mountain range. Athenaeus 1.50 A statue of Zeus Hymettius is located on this mountain. Pausanias 1.32.2 The land under this mountain was formerly owned by the Athenians. Herodotus 6.137.2 Hymettus is listed among the most celebrated mountains in the region. Strabo 9.1.23 The Athenian wall facing Mount Hymettus was constructed using bricks. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 35.49 ¶2 Cephalus was seen planting deer nets from the highest summit of this mountain. Ovid Met. 7.661-793 (2)
Stories and history
The ploughman of fragrant Hymettus sent troops to battle. Statius, Thebaid 12.605-633 ¶2 Marble from this mountain was used for four columns in Crassus's atrium. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 17.1 ¶3 The Athenians expelled the Pelasgians from the land under this mountain. Herodotus 6.137.2 The honey found in Hymettus is deposited in the calyx of exquisite flowers. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 11.13 ¶1 The mountain provides excellent quarries of Hymettian marble near the city. Strabo 9.1.23 Public buildings did not yet possess pillars made of this material at that time. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 17.1 ¶3 The land under this mountain was previously bad and worthless before being tilled. Herodotus 6.137.2 The Athenians gave the land under this mountain to the Pelasgians as a dwelling place. Herodotus 6.137.2 Crassus ordered the marble to be transported for stage decoration during his aedileship. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 17.1 ¶3 The mountain provides the most suitable pasture for bees, aside from that of the Alazones. Pausanias 1.32.1