OETYLUS (town in Laconia)
Ancient town of Laconia, Greece
- Kind of place
- Town
- Region
- Laconia
- Where
- 36.71° N, 22.38° E
Oetylus is a city in Laconia on the Gulf of Messenia, situated between the Thyrides and Leuctrum. Iliad 2 ¶43 A wooden statue of Apollo Carneius stands in the local market-place. Pausanias 3.25.10 A sanctuary dedicated to Sarapis is located within the town. Pausanias 3.25.10
Described in the sources
Oetylus is one of the eighteen cities held by the Free Laconians and is mentioned in the Laconian catalogue. Pausanias 3.21.7 +1 The city was named after a hero who was of Argive descent. Pausanias 3.25.10 Some people refer to the town by the alternative name Beitylus. Strabo 8.4.4 The people of Oetylus were led by Menelaus during the campaign. Iliad 2 ¶43 The town is situated 150 stades away from the previously mentioned harbor. Pausanias 3.25.10 The road from Oetylus to Thalamae measures approximately eighty stades in length. Pausanias 3.26.1
Stories and history
Oetylus was part of Lacedaemon, whose forces included sixty ships. Iliad 2 ¶43