THORICUS (town in Attica)
Ancient Athenian deme
- Kind of place
- Town
- Region
- Attica
- Where
- 37.74° N, 24.05° E
Thoricos is a promontory in Attica where silver mines are situated. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 37.18 ¶4 The island of Helena lies in front of the coast near Thoricus and extends from Thoricus to Sunium. Strabo 10.5.3 Cephalus is identified as being from Thoricus in Attica. Apollodorus 2.4.7
Described in the sources
Thoricus is located within the region of Attica. Herodotus 4.99.4 Thoricus is located on the coast after the deme of Sunium. Strabo 9.1.22 Pirates brought the speaker's ship to this location after taking her from Crete. Hymn II to Demeter ll. 118-144 Thoricus marks the starting point of a stretch of heights extending to Anaphlystus. Herodotus 4.99.4 Thoricus was one of twelve cities settled by Cecrops after coastal and inland invasions. Strabo 9.1.20
Stories and history
The silver mines at Thoricos contain emeralds that are found there. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 37.18 ¶4 Theseus later merged the inhabitants of Thoricus into the single city of Athens. Strabo 9.1.20 Women and men landed on the shore there to prepare a meal by the ship's stern-cables. Hymn II to Demeter ll. 118-144