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Πτῴου. Mount Ptous was said to be named from a son of Athamas and Themisto (Apollodorus i. 9. 2). It is a range with three peaks (τρικάρηνον, Pind. fr. 70 ap. Strabo 412) between Lake Copais and the Euboic sea. On a conspicuous hill connected with it by a ridge is the ruined acropolis of Acraephia (Paus. ix. 23. 5 with Frazer), north of the Athamantian plain (cf. vii. 197. 1 n.). Fifteen stadia away from Acraephia, in a little valley beneath the true summit of Mount Ptous (Mount Palagia), was the temple of Apollo, excavated by the French School (1885-6, 1891). For an account of it cf. Frazer, v. 100-3.

The oracle declined after the destruction of Thebes (335 B. C., Paus. ix. 23. 6), and disappeared before the days of Plutarch (Mor. 412-14).


The miracle lay in the fact that the god answered the inquirer in his own tongue, which was doubtless unknown to the Promantis. He also apparently answered so clearly that there was no need of skilled priests to interpret the wild and whirring words. Pausanias (l. c.) spoils the story by making Mys inquire of the god in Carian.

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  • Commentary references from this page (2):
    • Pausanias, Description of Greece, 9.23.5
    • Pausanias, Description of Greece, 9.23.6
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