ORNEAE (city in Argolis)
Ancient city of the Argolid
- Kind of place
- City
- Region
- Argolis
- Where
- 37.71° N, 22.56° E
Homer identifies Orneae as the home of Agamemnon's subjects, who were led by King Agamemnon, son of Atreus, and the city sent a hundred ships to the war. Iliad 2 ΒΆ42 The city was located above the plain of the Sicyonians, and the regions of Sicyonia and Phliasia lie beyond it. Pausanias 2.25.6 A sanctuary and a wooden statue of Artemis are located there. Pausanias 2.25.6
Described in the sources
Orneae is located near Corinth, within the region of Argolis and the Argian territory. Pausanias 10.18.5 +2 The city's name comes from Orneus, a son of Erechtheus. Pausanias 2.25.6 A temple dedicated to all gods together stands in the city. Pausanias 2.25.6 The city shares its name with the river that flows next to it. Strabo 8.6.24 The Argives were the masters of the country where the city stood. Strabo 8.6.24 The distance from Lyrcea to Orneae is approximately sixty stades. Pausanias 2.25.5 The land was renamed Araethyrea by Aoris in memory of his sister. Pausanias 2.12.5 Orneae shares its name with a location situated between Corinth and Sicyon. Strabo 8.6.17 Homer lists Orneae before Phlius and Sicyon in his poem, and the order of towns in his list matches their positions in Argive territory. Pausanias 2.25.5
Gods and worship
The worship of Priapus was transferred from Orneae to the city of Priapus. Strabo 13.1.12
Stories and history
The Argives reduced Orneae and expelled all its citizens to increase the population of Argos. Pausanias 2.25.6 +1 Homer did not mention Orneae in his works. Strabo 8.6.17 It contained a temple dedicated to the god Priapus. Strabo 8.6.24 The Sicyonians waged war against the men of this city. Pausanias 10.18.5 The city's people defeated the Sicyonian army in battle. Pausanias 10.18.5 The expelled citizens subsequently moved to live in Argos. Pausanias 2.25.6 The settlement is currently deserted but was once well populated. Strabo 8.6.24 The inhabitants vowed to Apollo to hold daily processions if they won the war. Pausanias 10.18.5 They dedicated bronze figures to Apollo to avoid the cost of daily sacrifices. Pausanias 10.18.5