POLEMO´NIUM
POLEMO´NIUM (
Πολεμώνιον), a town on the coast of Pontus, at the mouth of the small river Sidenus, 10 stadia from Phadisane, and 130 from Cape Iasonium. (Arrian,
Peripl. p. 16; Anonym.
Peripl. p. 11, &c.;
Ptol. 5.6.4;
Steph. B. sub voce Pliny (
6.4) places the town 120 Roman miles from Amisus, which seems to be too great a distance. (Comp.
Amm. Marc. 22.8; Hierocl, p. 702, where it is erroneously called
Τολεμόνιον; Tab. Peuting.) Neither Strabo nor any writer before him mentions this town, and it is therefore generally believed that it was built on the site of the town of Side, which is not noticed by any writer after Strabo. Its name intimates that it was founded, or at all events was named, after one Polemon, perhaps the one who was made king of that part of Pontus, about B.C. 36, by M. Antonius.
It had a harbour, and seems to have in the course of time become a place of considerable importance, as the part of Pontus in which it was situated received from it the name of Pontus Polemoniacus.
The town was situated on the western bank of the Sidenus, where its existence is still attested by the ruins of an octagon church, and the remains of a massive wall; but the ancient name of the place is preserved by the village of
Ponleman, on the opposite side of the river. (Hamilton,
Researches, vol. i. p. 270.)
[
L.S]
