LARISSA (city in Pelasgiotis)
City and capital of Thessaly region, Greece
- Kind of place
- City
- Region
- Pelasgiotis
- People of myth here
- Pirithous, Teutamides
- Where
- 39.64° N, 22.41° E
The city is described as fertile. Iliad 2 ¶74 Pirithous, son of Ixion, is identified as coming from Larissa. Apollodorus 1.8.2 The tomb of Admetus' wife is located beside the road leading to Larissa. Euripides, Alcestis 816-860
Described in the sources
Pelasgian spearmen lived in this location. Iliad 2 ¶74 A lake was drained in the vicinity of this city. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 17.3 ¶4 Pallas prefers this city over the Munychian hills. Statius, Thebaid 2.240-265 ¶2 Larissa is situated within the fifth zone of the world. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 6.39 ¶6 Athenion worked as a sophist in this city during his career. Athenaeus 5.48 The route to Tegea passed through Larissa after leaving Corinth. The Great Eoiae fr. 16 (2) A second city named Larissa also existed in the district of Æolis. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 5.32 ¶1 Philenora, a woman from this city, bore Philip a son named Aridaeus. Athenaeus 13.5 Thorax, a figure associated with this city, opened a passage for Mardonius into Hellas. Herodotus 9.1.1
Gods and worship
Daughters of Iasus offered their virgin tresses here by ancestral rite. Statius, Thebaid 2.240-265 ¶2 Women prayed for pardon regarding their first marriage bed at this location. Statius, Thebaid 2.240-265 ¶2
Stories and history
Larissa armed its men to support King Adrastus. Statius, Thebaid 4.21-45 ¶2 A brazen shield taken from Arcadian Euhippus hung in the temple here. Statius, Thebaid 2.240-265 ¶2 The district became much colder after the lake near the city was drained. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 17.3 ¶4 Olive trees near the city stopped bearing fruit after the lake was drained. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 17.3 ¶4 Larissa would have mourned the subject by cutting hair in a suppliant manner. Statius, Thebaid 6.482-507 ¶3 The inhabitants of Larissa suffered almost the same misfortune as the Lamians during the earthquake. Strabo 1.3.20