TITHOREA (city in Phocis)
Ancient Greek city in Phocis
- Kind of place
- City
- Region
- Phocis
- Where
- 38.58° N, 22.67° E
The city was named after a nymph who grew out of trees. Pausanias 10.32.9 The city holds the tomb of Antiope and Phocus. Pausanias 10.32.10 The city features a grove, temple, and image of Athena. Pausanias 10.32.10
Described in the sources
Tithorea is located in the region of Phocis, which was named after the Corinthian Phocus who migrated there. Pausanias 10.1.1 +2 The city contains the remains of a theater. Pausanias 10.32.10 The city has the enclosure of an ancient market-place. Pausanias 10.32.10 A road connects Tithorea to the location known as Ledon. Pausanias 10.33.1 The town lies on the road crossing the mountain Parnassus. Pausanias 10.32.8 The city was originally named Neon before being renamed Tithorea. Pausanias 10.32.9 The city is located seventy stades away from a temple of Asclepius. Pausanias 10.32.12 The name Tithorea originally referred to a peak of Mount Parnassus. Pausanias 10.32.9 A man from this city performs peace-offerings at the tomb of Phocus. Pausanias 9.17.5 Tithorea is estimated to be about one hundred and eighty stades from Delphi. Pausanias 10.32.8
Gods and worship
The inhabitants of the city honor Asclepius with divine worship. Pausanias 10.32.12
Stories and history
This ritual action causes the local land to yield a harvest. Pausanias 9.17.4 Thebans guard the tomb to prevent the Tithoreans from stealing earth. Pausanias 9.17.4 The city's fortunes declined one generation before the author's birth. Pausanias 10.32.10 Herodotus used a different name for the town than the oracles of Bacis did. Pausanias 10.32.8 Its olive oil has a superior color and pleasantness compared to Iberian oil. Pausanias 10.32.19 The local oil is better in quality than oil produced on the island of Istria. Pausanias 10.32.19 Inhabitants fled to the summit during a barbarian advance according to Herodotus. Pausanias 10.32.9 The city faces disaster and harvest waste when earth is taken from Phocus's tomb. Pausanias 9.17.5 The city produces olive oil that is less abundant than oil from Attica or Sicyon. Pausanias 10.32.19 Its inhabitants steal earth from the shared tomb of Zethus and Amphion and place it on the tomb of Antiope. Pausanias 9.17.4
Myths set at Tithorea
- The Dedication of the Athena of Tithorea. The locals of Tithorea face an invasion by barbarians led by Taxilus. Athena assists them in the fight, leading to the establishment of her grove, temple, and image as the most noteworthy objects in the city. Pausanias 10.32.10 +1 Athena