Gergis (Troad)

Coordinates: 39°53′55″N 26°36′33″E / 39.898491°N 26.609255°E / 39.898491; 26.609255
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Gergis (Ancient Greek: Γέργις), also known as Gergithus (Γέργιθος) or Gergitha (Γέργιθα) or Gergithes (Γέργιθες), and later Kerge,[1] was a town in ancient Troad, on the north of the Scamander River. It was inhabited, according to Herodotus, by descendants of the mythical Teucrians.[2] Herodotus also records that it was passed by the Persian army of Xerxes I on the way to Abydos in 480 BCE.[3] In the time of Xenophon Gergis is called a strong place;[4] it had an acropolis and strong walls, and was one of the chief towns of the Dardanian princess Mania.[5][6][7][8][9][10] King Attalus of Pergamus transplanted the inhabitants of Gergis to a place near the sources of the Caicus, whence we afterwards find a place called Gergetha or Gergithion, near Larissa Phrikonis, in the territory of Cyme.[11] The old town of Gergis was believed by some to have been the birthplace of the Sibyl, whence coins found there have the image of the prophetess impressed upon them.

Cephalion (Κεφαλίων) or Cephalon (Κεφάλων) of Gergis was a rhetor and historian during the reign of Hadrian. He left his city because of enmity with its rulers and went to Sicily. He wrote many works in Ionic Greek.[12]

Its site is located near Karınkalı, Asiatic Turkey.[1][13]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 56, and directory notes accompanying. ISBN 978-0-691-03169-9.
  2. ^ Herodotus. Histories. Vol. 5.122.
  3. ^ Herodotus. Histories. Vol. 7.43.
  4. ^ Xenophon. Hellenica. Vol. 3.1.15.
  5. ^ Plutarch, Phoc. 18; Livy. Ab urbe condita Libri [History of Rome]. Vol. 38.39.
  6. ^ Strabo. Geographica. Vol. xiii. p.589. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
  7. ^ Pliny. Naturalis Historia. Vol. 5.32.
  8. ^ Stephanus of Byzantium. Ethnica. Vol. s.v. Γέργις.
  9. ^ Athenaeus. Deipnosophistae. Vol. 6.256.
  10. ^ Strabo. Geographica. Vol. xii. p. 524. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
  11. ^ Strabo. Geographica. Vol. p. 616. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
  12. ^ Suda, kappa, 1449
  13. ^ Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainSmith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Gergis". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.

39°53′55″N 26°36′33″E / 39.898491°N 26.609255°E / 39.898491; 26.609255