Cythera
place · 6 works · 10 mentions · 12 anchored passages
Cythereans · city of the Cytherians · island of Cythera
in the texts
History of the Peloponnesian War
Island off the Laconian coast, a Spartan dependency valuable as a trade landing-place, captured by the Athenians under Nicias.
This Cythera is an island lying off Laconia, opposite to Malea.
while with the rest of their forces they landed on the side of the island looking towards Malea, and advanced against the lower town of Cythera, and at once found all the inhabitants encamped there.
The Athenians in the same summer made an expedition against Cythera, with sixty ships, two thousand heavy-armed, and a few cavalry, taking with them also from amongst the allies the Milesians and some others;
Iliad
Home island of Amphidamas, recipient of the stolen helmet.
He gave it to Amphidamas of Cythera to take to Scandea, and Amphidamas gave it as a guest-gift to Molos, who gave it to his son Meriones;
He then aimed a spear at Ajax, and missed him, but he hit Lykophron a follower [ therapôn] of Ajax, who came from Cythera, but was living with Ajax inasmuch as he had killed a man among the Cythereans.
The Histories
An island off the Laconian coast that Demaratus recommends Xerxes seize as a naval base to threaten Sparta.
There is an island lying off their coasts called Cythera.
Let them then make that island their station and set out from there to strike fear into the Lacedaemonians.
Odyssey
An island near which Odysseus' fleet is driven off course by contrary winds.
I should have got home at that time unharmed had not the North wind and the currents been against me as I was doubling Cape Malea, and set me off my course hard by the island of Cythera.
Panegyricus
An island off the Laconian coast taken by storm by Persian-backed forces after Athens's naval defeat.
In fact, after the disaster which befell us in the Hellespont, when our rivals took our place as leaders, the barbarians won a naval victory, became rulers of the sea, occupied most of the islands, made a landing in Laconia, took Cythera by storm, and sailed around the whole Peloponnesus, inflicting damage as they went.
Hellenica
Island and city taken by Pharnabazus after its defenders abandon the walls; he repairs the wall and installs a garrison.
But being fearful because the country was destitute of harbours, because the Lacedaemonians might send relief forces, and because provisions were scarce in the land, he quickly turned about, and sailing away, came to anchor at Phoenicus in the island of Cythera.
And when those who held possession of the city of the Cytherians abandoned their walls through fear of being captured by storm, he allowed them to depart to Laconia under a truce, and having repaired the wall of the Cytherians, left in Cythera a garrison of his own and Nicophemus, an Athenian, as governor.