AEGEIRA
AEGEIRA (
Αἴγελρα: Eth.
Αἰγελράτης, fem.
Αἰγειρᾶτις), a town of Achaia, and one of the 12 Achaean cities, situated between Aegae and Pellene, is described by Polybius as opposite Mount Parnassus, situated upon hills strong and difficult of approach, seven stadia from the sea, and near a river.
This river was probably the Crius, which flowed into the sea, a little to the W. of the town.
According to Pausanias the upper city was 12 stadia from its port, and 72 stadia from the oracle of Heracles Buraicus. (
Hdt. 1.146;
Strab. viii. p.386; Pol. 2.41, 4.57;
Paus. 7.26.1;
Plin. Nat. 4.6.) Pausanias (
l.c.) relates that Aegeira occupied the site of the Homeric
HYPERESIA (
Ὑπερησίη, Il. 2.573,
15.254; Strab. p. 383: Eth.
Ὑπερησιεύς), and that it changed its name during the occupation of the country by the Ionians.
He adds that the ancient name still continued in use. Hence we find that Icarus of Hyperesia was proclaimed victor in the 23rd Olympiad. (
Paus. 4.15.1.) On the decay of the neighbouring town of Aegae its inhabitants were transferred to Aegeira. (Strab. p. 386.)
In the first year of the Social war (B.C. 220) Aegeira was surprised by a party of Aetolians, who had set sail from the opposite town of Oeantheia in Locris, but were driven out by the Aegiratans after they had obtained possession of the place. (Pol. 4.57, 58.)
The most important of the public buildings of Aegeira was a temple of Zeus.
It also contained a very ancient temple of Apollo, and temples of Artemis, of Aphrodite Urania, who was worshipped in the town above all other divinities, and of the Syrian goddess. (
Paus. 7.26.)
The port of Aegeira Leake places at
Mavra Litharia, i. e., the Black Rocks, to the left of which, on the summit of a hill, are some vestiges of an ancient city, which must have been Aegeira.
At the distance of 40 stadia from Aegeira, through the mountains, there was a fortress called
PHELLOE (
Φελλόη, near
Zakhuli), abounding in springs of water. (
Paus. 7.26.10; Leake,
Morea, vol. iii. p. 387, seq.)
