SIGEION (city in Troad)
Ancient city of Thrace, in modern-day Turkey
- Kind of place
- City
- Region
- Troad
- Where
- 39.99° N, 26.18° E
The Greek fleet was stationed near Sigeum during the Trojan War. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 5.33 ¶1 A temple and monument of Achilles are situated near Sigeium. Strabo 13.1.32 The city contained a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. Herodotus 5.95.1
Described in the sources
Sigeum is a promontory located in the Troad region, on the Hellespont, near the southern extremity of the Chersonese. Apollodorus 1.9.1 +4 Sigeum is situated on the river Scamander. Herodotus 5.65.3 +1 Carabi are found off Cape Sigeum. Athenaeus 3.65 The Naustathmus is located near Sigeium. Strabo 13.1.36 It is located after Rhoeteium along the coast. Strabo 13.1.31 Sigeium lies below the present Ilium on the coast. Strabo 13.1.32 It served as a refuge for the Pisistratidae family. Herodotus 5.91.1 Sigeum was placed under the control of the Athenians. Herodotus 5.96.1 A tower is located near the promontory that faces Sigeum. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.18 ¶6 Sigeium is described as a city that is currently in ruins. Strabo 13.1.31
Stories and history
Pisistratus captured Sigeum by force from the Mytilenaeans. Herodotus 5.94.1 The town of Sigeum no longer existed at the time of writing. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 5.33 ¶1 Mytilenaeans demanded the return of Sigeum from the Athenians. Herodotus 5.94.2 Sigeium helped restore the district when the city was rebuilt. Strabo 13.1.42 Pisistratus established his bastard son Hegesistratus as tyrant in Sigeum. Herodotus 5.94.1 Athenians refused to give up Sigeum, citing equal rights with other Greeks. Herodotus 5.94.2 Heracles broke the chains of the maiden after disembarking at this location. Diodorus 4.42 Heracles went from this shore to the nearby city to offer to slay a monster. Diodorus 4.42 The Athenians took possession of the city during a dispute with the Lesbians. Strabo 13.1.38 A maiden named Hesione was found bound in chains upon the shore of this place. Diodorus 4.42