Ithōmé
（
Ἰθώμη).
1.
A town of Thessaly, in the vicinity of Metropolis.
2.
A fortress of Messenia, on a mountain of the same name. It was celebrated for the long and
obstinate defence (ten years) which the Messenians there made in their last revolt against
the Spartans. The mountain was said to have derived its name from Ithomé, one of
the nymphs that nourished Zeus. On the summit was the altar of Zeus Ithometes, to whom the
mountain was especially dedicated. Strabo compares the Messenian Acropolis to the
Acrocorinthus, being situated, like that citadel, on a lofty and steep mountain, enclosed by
fortified lines which connected it with the town. Hence these were justly deemed the two
strongest places in the Peloponnesus. When Philip, the son of Demetrius, was planning the
conquest of the peninsula with Demetrius of Pharos, the latter advised him to seize first the
horns of the heifer, which would secure to him possession of the animal. By these enigmatical
expressions he designated the Peloponnesus and the two strongholds above mentioned (Polyb.
vii. 11). Remains of the ancient fortress still exist, the towers being magnificent specimens
of military architecture and engineering.
