Taenarum
Taenarum
- Arthur Maurice Woodward,
- William George Forrest
- , and Antony Spawforth
Extract
The central peninsula of the south *Peloponnesus (mod. Mani) and its terminal cape, near which stood an oracle of the dead based on a temple of *Poseidon fronting the sacred cave through which *Heracles traditionally dragged up *Cerberus from *Hades. The sanctuary enjoyed a right of asylum (cf. Thuc. 1. 133; see asylia), and private slaves were manumitted there. In the later 4th cent. the district was an important headquarters for *mercenaries. It contained *quarries of red (rosso antico) and black (‘Taenarian’) *marble; iron was mined near the cape.
(2) A city on the west coast of the above peninsula, later a member of the Eleutherolaconian League (see laconia), alternatively known as Caenepolis. Roman and Byzantine remains survive.
Subjects
- Ancient Geography
