TRAPEZUS (city in Western Arcadia)
Ancient city in Peloponnese, Greece
- Kind of place
- City
- Region
- Western Arcadia
- Where
- 37.45° N, 22.07° E
Trapezus is a free city enclosed by a mountain of vast size. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 6.4 ¶1 Zeus upset a table at this place after being served mixed human bowels. Apollodorus 3.8.1 The location where Zeus overturned a table in disgust is still called Trapezus. Apollodorus 3.8.1
Described in the sources
Trapezus was ruled by Pythodoris after the death of her husband Polemon. Strabo 11.2.18 +1 The Tibareni, Chaldaei, Sanni, and Lesser Armenia are situated above Trapezus. Strabo 12.3.18 +1 It lies approximately 2200 stadia from Amisus by sea. Strabo 12.3.17 The river Pyxites flows on the coast before the city. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 6.4 ¶1 The town of Trapezus was named after a son of Lycaon. Pausanias 8.3.3 The nation of the Armenochalybes lies beyond the city. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 6.4 ¶1 Amiantus, an Arcadian man, originated from this location. Herodotus 6.127.3 A hill in the Tauri mountainous district is named Trapezus. Strabo 7.4.3 Trapezus was a settlement belonging to the Parrhasians in Arcadia. Pausanias 8.27.4 The nation of the Sanni Heniochi is found beyond the river Pyxites. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 6.4 ¶1
Stories and history
The city existed as a settlement that is now in ruins. Pausanias 8.29.1 The people of Trapezus repented and refused to abandon their ancient city. Pausanias 8.27.5 Unlike other Arcadians, the people of Trapezus were not taken to Megalopolis by force. Pausanias 8.27.5 Citizens of the Euxine Trapezus welcomed the refugees as kindred due to their shared name. Pausanias 8.27.6