PHARAE (city in Messenia)
Ancient city of Messenia
- Kind of place
- City
- Region
- Messenia
- Landmarks
- Temple of Fortune (Tyche) Pausanias 4.30.3; Sanctuary of the healing descendants Pausanias 4.30.3; Stone hearth (Hermes) Pausanias 7.22.2; Hermes image Pausanias 7.22.2; Ancient image (Tyche) Pausanias 4.30.3
- Where
- 37.03° N, 22.13° E
Pherae is described as a holy city located near the sea. Iliad 9 ¶10 A spring dedicated to Hermes is located within the city. Pausanias 7.22.4 Fish in the sacred spring are considered holy and are not caught. Pausanias 7.22.4
Described in the sources
The city of Pherae borders the place known as Thuria. Strabo 8.4.4 +1 Pherae was the location where Diocles, son of Ortilochus, resided. Odyssey 15 ¶16 +1 The city of Pherae is identified as the dwelling place of Ortilochus. Pausanias 4.1.4 +1 Pharae, a city of the Achaeans, was given to Patrae by Augustus and lies 150 stades away. Pausanias 7.22.1 +1 The city is located in the region of Laconia. Pausanias 4.16.8 The city lies within the territory of Messenia. Strabo 8.4.6 Pherae is located five stadia away from the sea. Strabo 8.4.5 The city is located seventy stades away from Abia. Pausanias 4.30.2 The city is situated on the borders of sandy Pylos. Iliad 9 ¶10 The river Pierus flows in the vicinity of the city. Pausanias 7.22.1
Gods and worship
An oracle was established at the location of the Hermes statue. Pausanias 7.22.2 Sacrifices and votive offerings are brought to the sanctuary of the healing descendants here. Pausanias 4.30.3 Residents venerate approximately thirty square stones near a statue, each named after a specific deity. Pausanias 7.22.4
Stories and history
Telemachus and Pisistratus spent the night at Pherae, visited the house of Diocles, and then departed for Sparta. Odyssey 3 ¶37 +1 Agamemnon offers Pherae as part of a gift to Achilles. Iliad 9 ¶10 The inhabitants of Pherae are wealthy in cattle and sheep. Iliad 9 ¶10 The people of this city possess an ancient image of Fortune. Pausanias 4.30.3 Menelaus led companions from Pherae to participate in the war. Strabo 8.4.1 The leader surrounded and began driving off the city's cattle. Pausanias 4.16.8 A Messenian named Simylus dedicated the stone statue of Hermes. Pausanias 7.22.2 The Achaeans settled in Pharae after the Ionians left the area. Pausanias 7.6.1 Images from the local grove were reportedly carried away to Rome. Pausanias 7.22.5 Homer traced the descendants of its founder's daughter in the Iliad. Pausanias 4.30.2