PATMOS
The Dodecanese, Greece.
An island
located to the S of Samos. Very few ancient authors
mention the island: Thucydides (
3.33.3), Strabo (
10.5.
13, C488), Eust. (
Comm. ad. Dionys. Perieg. 530), an
anonymous author (
Stadiasmus Mans Magni, 283-
GGM,
I 498) and Pliny (
HN 4.70). Patmos was poorly inhabited in antiquity. The early inhabitants were Dorians.
Ionian settlers came later. Political exiles were deported
there during the Roman period. On the coastal area, N
of the isthmus Stavros, are the foundations of the supposed Temple of Aphrodite. Artemis was worshiped in
the place where the Cloister of St. John now stands. The
center of ancient Patmos is situated E of the modern
harbor of Skala, occupying a narrow isthmus. The acropolis (Kastelli) preserves sections of a fortification wall
and three towers, belonging probably to the 3d c. B.C.
and built in isodomic style. An ancient necropolis has
been located in the vicinity of Kastelli, around Nettia.
Tombs have been also reported at Kambos in the N part
of the island.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
N. Chavarias, “The Acropolis of Patmos” (in Greek), “Elpis” of Syme (1916) no. 1; I.
Schmidt,
RE XVIII (1949) 2174-91, s.v. Patmos; P. Bocci,
EAA 5 (1963) 989, s.v. Patmos; G. Manganaro, “Le
Inscrizioni delle Isole Milesie,”
Ann. Atene (1963-64)
329-46; E. Kirsten & W. Kraiker,
Griechenlandkunde
(1967) II 559-60; R. H. Simpson & J. F. Lazenby, “Notes
from the Dodecanese II,”
BSA 65 (1970) 48-51
MP.
D. SCHILARDI
