TEGEA (city in Mantinike and Tegeatis)
Ancient polis and archaeological site in Peloponnese, Greece
- Kind of place
- City
- Region
- Mantinike and Tegeatis
- Landmarks
- Temple of unknown name Pausanias 8.41.8; Leuconian Pausanias 8.44.8; Tomb of Leucone Pausanias 8.44.8
- People of myth here
- Aleus, Amphidamas, Ancaeus, Auge, Echemus, Marpessa
- Where
- 37.46° N, 22.42° E
The temple of Alaean Minerva is located within the city. Strabo 8.8.2 Tegea was promised by Athena that it would never be captured. Pausanias 8.47.5 Tegea possesses a fair plain that can be measured with a rope. Herodotus 1.66.2
Described in the sources
Tegea is located in the smooth plain of Arcadia and was considered part of the region, with its towns contributing troops to the war. Argonautica 1 ¶27 +4 A battle between Lacedaemonians and Tegeans and Argives took place at this location. Herodotus 9.35.2 +1 A sanctuary of Pan is located ten stades from the river Garates, along the road leading from Tegea to Laconia. Pausanias 8.53.11 +1 Micythus fled to Tegea after the death of Anaxilas and resided there, as indicated by inscriptions on his offerings. Pausanias 5.26.4 +1 Tegea is situated along the road connecting Megalopolis and Pallantium, on the opposite side of the Dyke from Megalopolis. Pausanias 8.44.1 +1 Chryseis traveled to Tegea to supplicate the goddess Athena Alea, and the city was the destination for a robe sent as a gift to her. Pausanias 2.17.7 +1 A highway from Mantineia leads to Tegea, passing through a grove of oak trees, and a round altar on this highroad marks the boundary between Mantineia and Tegea. Pausanias 8.10.1 +1 Ancaeus resided in the city of Tegea. Argonautica 1 ¶54 The tomb of Echemus is situated in Tegea. Pausanias 8.53.10 Poets refer to Tegea as the lot of Apheidas. Pausanias 8.4.3
Gods and worship
The sanctuary is named Eryma, which means Defence. Pausanias 8.47.5 The Tegeans claim Ares mated with Aerope, daughter of Cepheus. Pausanias 8.44.7 A priest enters the sanctuary of Athena Poliatis once every year. Pausanias 8.47.5 The temple of Alaean Minerva continues to receive some veneration. Strabo 8.8.2 The Gorgon hair lock could turn enemies to flight if held from the walls. Apollodorus 2.7.3 The Tegeans name Eileithyia after Auge, who knelt there during childbirth. Pausanias 8.48.7
Stories and history
Tegea was an enemy of the Lacedaemonians during a specific war. Herodotus 9.37.4 +1 The Tegeans were the first to charge the barbarians. Herodotus 9.62.1 Tegeates is credited with founding the city of Tegea. Pausanias 8.3.4 Restoring the son of Agamemnon grants lordship over Tegea. Herodotus 1.67.4 Men and women from Tegea took up arms to fight the invaders. Pausanias 8.5.9 The Tegeans defeated the attacking Lacedaemonians in battle. Herodotus 1.66.3 The city was glorified by the wrestler Echemos in the games. Pindar, Olympian 11 ¶10 Agamemnon provided the ships for the Tegeans to cross the sea. Iliad 2 ¶45 Athena gave Cepheus a piece of Medusa's hair to protect the city. Pausanias 8.47.5 A truce existed between Tegea and the Lacedaemonians at one point. Pausanias 3.3.5
Myths set at Tegea
In the age of the gods
Before the heroes. In Godsunder these are history: everyone in the world knows them.
- The Discovery of the Cattle. Hermes steals a herd of heifers and hides them in a cave, but is spotted by Apollo. He denies the theft but eventually leads Apollo to the hidden cattle. Apollodorus 3.10.2 +5 Hermes
In the age of heroes
- The Seduction of Auge by Heracles. hook: Heracles passes through Tegea and seduces Auge, who is unaware of his identity. goal: Auge secretly bears a son who resembles Heracles. outcome: Her father Aleus discovers the act of violation. Apollodorus 2.7.4 +5 Auge
- The Discovery of Orestes' Bones. Lichas travels to Tegea during a truce to find an item the Lacedaemonians seek. He identifies a tomb in a blacksmith's shop as the resting place of Orestes' bones by interpreting tools as prophetic symbols. Herodotus 1.67.5 +4 Lichas
- The Affair with Aerope. Ares mated with Aerope, the daughter of Cepheus, in Tegea. Ares caused a newborn to cling to and suckle from his deceased mother's body. Pausanias 8.44.7 +2 Ares
- The Death of Phegeus at Tegea. hook: "Phegeus, a youth from Tegea, engaged in combat with Aconteus and Agreus.", "goal: "", "outcome: "Phegeus died on the bodies of sacred beasts, leaving his severed arm to grip a sword."} Statius, Thebaid 7.582-610 ¶1 +1 Phegeus
- The Division of Arcadia. Arcas divides the land of Arcadia among his sons, naming districts after them. He assigns specific regions and establishes tribal names through casting lots. Pausanias 8.4.3 +1 Arcas
- The Punishment of the Men of Tegea. The Tegeans ignored Leto during her wanderings, prompting divine retribution. Apollo and Artemis punished the men, leading the Tegeans to erect images of Apollo in commemoration. Pausanias 8.53.1 +1 Apollo
- The Vengeance of Alcmaeon's Sons. Alcmaeon's sons, pursued by the Psophidians, are saved by the Tegeans and Argives. They then return to Psophis to kill Phegeus and his wife, the men who murdered their father. Apollodorus 3.7.5 +1 Alcmaeon
- The Battle of Tegea. Hercules defends Tegea from a Molossian hound and secures the city's safety. He gives the Gorgon's hair to Sterope to protect the city. Apollodorus 2.7.3 Heracles
- The Dedication of the Athena of the City. Athena grants Cepheus a boon and Medusa's hair to protect Tegea. The city is secured by these divine gifts. Pausanias 8.47.5 Athena