SKOTOUSSA (town in Pelasgiotis)
Town and polis (city-state) of Pelasgiotis in ancient Thessaly
- Kind of place
- Town
- Region
- Pelasgiotis
- Where
- 39.38° N, 22.57° E
Scotussa is a city located in the plains of the eastern Pelasgiotis region of Thessaly. Strabo 7.fragments.1a The oracle of Dodona was formerly situated near Scotussa before being moved. Strabo 7.fragments.1a Oracular answers at Scotussa were given through signs resembling those used at the oracle of Ammon in Libya, rather than spoken words. Strabo 7.fragments.1a
Described in the sources
Scotussa was the birthplace of the figure Pulydamas. Pausanias 6.5.2 A tract called Cynoscephalae is located near Scotussa. Strabo 9.5.20 Amazonian burial sites are shown in the vicinity of Scotussa. Plutarch, Theseus 27.6 Suidas claims a temple was transported from Scotussa in Thessalian Pelasgiotis, accompanied by a large group of women. Strabo 7.7.12
Stories and history
A second calamity struck the town during a war with Macedonia. Pausanias 6.5.3 Survivors eventually abandoned the city due to severe poverty. Pausanias 6.5.3 The town was left without any inhabitants at the time of writing. Pausanias 6.5.2 The oracle at Scotussa was transferred to Dodona by Apollo's command. Strabo 7.fragments.1a The transfer occurred after some people burned down a tree at the site. Strabo 7.fragments.1a Romans and Aetolians defeated Philip of Macedon in a battle near Scotussa. Strabo 9.5.20 The town suffered a disaster during the second year of the 102nd Olympiad. Pausanias 6.5.3 The descendants of the women who moved the temple became the current prophetesses. Strabo 7.7.12 Alexander the tyrant of Pherae captured the city during a truce, massacred the adult men, and sold the women and children into slavery to pay his mercenaries. Pausanias 6.5.2