PALLENE (peninsula in Chalcidice)
Peninsula of Chalkidiki, Greece
- Also called
- Kassandra Peninsula
- Kind of place
- Peninsula
- Region
- Chalcidice
- Where
- 40.02° N, 23.45° E
Giants were said to have lived on the peninsula in ancient times. Strabo 7.fragments.25 The giants living there were destroyed by Hercules. Strabo 7.fragments.27 Pallene is a coastal region adjacent to the Thermaic gulf. Herodotus 7.123.2
Described in the sources
The isthmus of Pallene was once inhabited by giants. Georgics 4.387 +3 Pallene is a peninsula in the Chalkidiki region of Greece. Strabo 7.fragments.25 +1 The peninsula contains the cities of Aphytis, Mende, Scione, and Sana. Pausanias 3.18.3 +1 The city of Potidaea, later renamed Cassandria, is located on the isthmus of the Pallene peninsula. Strabo 7.fragments.25 +1 Proteus traveled from Egypt to Pallene. Lycophron, Alexandra ¶5 The area was formerly known by the name Phlegra. Strabo 7.fragments.27 Troops were taken from towns located near Pallene. Herodotus 7.123.2 Pallene was a location across the sea from Potidaea. Herodotus 8.129.1 The territory of cities near Pallene is called Crossaea. Herodotus 7.123.2 The peninsula features an isthmus that is five stadia wide. Strabo 7.fragments.25
Stories and history
Proteus married Torone while residing in Pallene. Lycophron, Alexandra ¶5 A ditch was cut across the isthmus of the peninsula. Strabo 7.fragments.25 Pallene trembles in fear as the giants rise in arms. Seneca, Hercules Furens act 4 ¶4 The people of Pallene openly revolted against the barbarians. Herodotus 8.126.3 King Cassander restored the city after it had been demolished. Strabo 7.fragments.25 Foreigners planned to cross the exposed seabed to reach Pallene. Herodotus 8.129.1 The ship sailed past Pallene during the night while the wind blew. Argonautica 1 ¶71 Trojan women burned ships on the peninsula to avoid becoming slaves. Strabo 7.fragments.25 The region was historically called Phlegra according to some accounts. Strabo 7.fragments.25 The people of Pallene hate the word 'Akouete leo' due to the treachery of Leos. Plutarch, Theseus 13.3
Myths set at Pallene
- The Battle of the Giants. Zeus summons Heracles to help fight the giants, a trial engineered by Hera. Heracles uses his bow to kill numerous giants, including Alkyoneus and Porphyrion, securing victory. Aeneid 8.280 +5 Heracles
- The Death of Proteus's Sons. hook: Proteus's sons, living in Pallene, kill strangers through wrestling. goal: Heracles sets out to kill the sons. outcome: Heracles kills the sons, and Proteus asks Poseidon for a way to travel under the sea back to Egypt. Lycophron, Alexandra ¶5 Proteus