CARPA´SIA
CARPA´SIA (
Καρπασία, Strab., Ptol., Diod.,
Steph. B. sub voce Καρπασεία, Stadiasm.;
*karpa/sion, Hierocl.;
Plin. Nat. 5.31. s. 35;
Κάρπασος, Const. Porph.: Eth.
Καρπασεῶτης, Eth.
Καρπασεύς,
Steph. B. sub voce:
Carpas), a town and port of Cyprus, to the NE. of the island, facing the promontory of Sarpedon on the Cilician coast. (
Strab. xiv. p.682;
Ptol. 5.14.4; Scylax.)
According to legend, it was founded by Pygmalion. (
Steph. B. sub voce It was taken by Demetrius Poliorcetes, together with a neighbouring place called Urania. (
Diod. 20.48.) Pococke (
Trav. vol. ii. p. 219) speaks of remains at
Carpas, especially of a wall nearly half a mile in circumference, with a pier running into the sea. (Engel,
Kypros, vol. i. pp. 83, 174;
Mém. de l'Acad. des Inscrip. vol. xxxii. p. 543; Mariti,
Viaggi, vol. i. p. 163.)
[
E.B.J]
