Pelodes
Encyclopedia
In Antiquity, Pelodes or Palodes was a site that cannot be identified with any certainty. One obscure Palodes was a minor port site on the eastern side of the Bosporus
, about half-way up, a little south of Amycus
.
A reference to another Palodes is in Plutarch
's De defectu oraculorum ("Obsolescence of Oracles") of which a common reading is that the Greek god Pan
is dead. During the reign of Tiberius
(AD 14-37), Plutarch records, the news of Pan's death came to one Thamus, a sailor on his way to Italy by way of the island of Paxi
. A divine voice hailed him across the salt water, "Thamus, are you there? When you reach Palodes, take care to proclaim that the great god Pan is dead." Which Thamus did, and the news was greeted from shore with groans and laments. But see Pan (mythology)
.
In Plutarch's context, Epitherses was sailing up the western coast of Greece, presumably intending to cross to Italy once he reached Corfu
, following a standard Roman sea-route between Italy and Greece. The ship had already drifted from the Echinades
(near Ithaca) up to Paxi. Strabo
(6.324) mentions "the mouth of the so-called Pelodes Limen as the location of Buthrotum (modern Butrint
in southern Albania
, opposite the northern end of Corfu.
Bosporus
The Bosphorus or Bosporus , also known as the Istanbul Strait , is a strait that forms part of the boundary between Europe and Asia. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with the Dardanelles...
, about half-way up, a little south of Amycus
Amycus (disambiguation)
Amycus may refer to:* Amycus, a Trojan hero and son of Poseidon* Amycus , a centaur* USS Amycus , an Acheron class repair ship of the US Navy during World War II* Amycus , a genus of jumping spiders...
.
A reference to another Palodes is in Plutarch
Plutarch
Plutarch then named, on his becoming a Roman citizen, Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus , c. 46 – 120 AD, was a Greek historian, biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonist known primarily for his Parallel Lives and Moralia...
's De defectu oraculorum ("Obsolescence of Oracles") of which a common reading is that the Greek god Pan
Pan (mythology)
Pan , in Greek religion and mythology, is the god of the wild, shepherds and flocks, nature, of mountain wilds, hunting and rustic music, as well as the companion of the nymphs. His name originates within the Greek language, from the word paein , meaning "to pasture." He has the hindquarters, legs,...
is dead. During the reign of Tiberius
Tiberius
Tiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian...
(AD 14-37), Plutarch records, the news of Pan's death came to one Thamus, a sailor on his way to Italy by way of the island of Paxi
Paxi
Paxi or Paxoi is the name given to the smallest group of the Ionian Islands . In Greek it is a plural form and it refers to a complex of islands, the largest of which are Paxos and Antipaxos...
. A divine voice hailed him across the salt water, "Thamus, are you there? When you reach Palodes, take care to proclaim that the great god Pan is dead." Which Thamus did, and the news was greeted from shore with groans and laments. But see Pan (mythology)
Pan (mythology)
Pan , in Greek religion and mythology, is the god of the wild, shepherds and flocks, nature, of mountain wilds, hunting and rustic music, as well as the companion of the nymphs. His name originates within the Greek language, from the word paein , meaning "to pasture." He has the hindquarters, legs,...
.
In Plutarch's context, Epitherses was sailing up the western coast of Greece, presumably intending to cross to Italy once he reached Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
, following a standard Roman sea-route between Italy and Greece. The ship had already drifted from the Echinades
Echinades
thumb|300px|The EchinadesThe Echinades are a group of islands in the Ionian Islands, off the coast of Acarnania, Greece...
(near Ithaca) up to Paxi. Strabo
Strabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
(6.324) mentions "the mouth of the so-called Pelodes Limen as the location of Buthrotum (modern Butrint
Butrint
Butrint was an ancient Greek and later Roman city in Epirus. In modern times it is an archeological site in Sarandë District, Albania, some 14 kilometres south of Sarandë and close to the Greek border. It was known in antiquity as Βουθρωτόν Bouthroton or Βουθρώτιος Bouthrotios in Ancient Greek...
in southern Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
, opposite the northern end of Corfu.