SESTOS (city in Thracian Chersonese)
Ancient city in Thrace
- Kind of place
- City
- Region
- Thracian Chersonese
- People of myth here
- Hero
- Where
- 40.22° N, 26.38° E
It is described as the finest city in the Cherronesus. Strabo 13.1.22 Its position above the current allows Sestos to command the passage of the strait. Strabo 13.1.22 Sestos was inhabited during the Trojan times, and its people were considered part of the Trojan population. Strabo 13.1.20
Described in the sources
Sestos is located on the Thracian Chersonesus on the Hellespont, at the end of the Propontis coast, near the strait separating Europe and Asia. Athenaeus 5.44 +4 Sestos is located near Abydos, Percote, Practius, Arisbe, Lampsacus, and Parium. Herodotus 7.33.1 +4 Sestos marks one end of the strait separating it from Abydos, which is seven stadia long, with the distance between their harbors being approximately thirty stadia. Strabo 13.1.22 +2 Sestos is reached first when sailing directly south from Byzantium through the middle of the Propontis, and is positioned closer to the Propontis than to the Hellespont, lying above the current issuing from the Propontis. Strabo 13.1.22 +1 Agesilaus crossed from Abydos to Sestos with his fleet. Pausanias 3.9.12 The distance from Sestos to Aegospotamos is 280 stadia. Strabo 7.fragments.56 The treasure was transported from Elaeus to this location. Herodotus 9.116.3 Sestos faces the Asian city of Lampsacus across the channel. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.18 ¶6 Theopompus describes Sestos as a small but well-fortified place. Strabo 13.1.22 The Greeks transported captured Persian prisoners to this location. Herodotus 9.119.2
Gods and worship
The local people erected a monument to commemorate the eagle's death alongside the girl. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 10.6 ¶1
Stories and history
The Athenians captured and crucified the Persian governor of Sestus, Artayctes. Herodotus 7.33.1 +1 The Aeolians of the country held Sestus. Herodotus 9.115.1 Darius marched through Thrace to reach Sestos. Herodotus 4.143.1 Darius crossed from Sestos to Asia using his ships. Herodotus 4.143.1 Sestos is described as a small city that is in ruins. Strabo 7.fragments.56 Writers disagree about the exact situation of Sestos. Strabo 13.1.20 A wall two plethra long connects Sestos to its harbor. Strabo 13.1.22 Artayctes planted and farmed the precinct situated in this city. Herodotus 9.116.3 The governor of Sestus committed impious acts in a nearby temple. Herodotus 7.33.1 The Athenians laid siege to the city while attacking the Chersonesus. Herodotus 9.114.2