DICTAMNUM
DICTAMNUM (
Δίκταμνον,
Ptol. 3.17.8), a town of Crete, which Pomponius Mela (2.7.12), who calls it DICTYNNA, describes as being one of the best known in Crete.
It was situated to the N.E. of Mt. Dictynnaeus, and S.E. of the promontory Psacum, with a temple to the goddess Dictynna. (Dicaearch. 13;
Stadiasm.; Scylax.) Mr. Pashley (
Trav. vol. ii. p. 29) identifies the site with a place called
Kantsillières, about 3 miles from the extremity of Cape
Spâdha.. Pococke (
Trav. vol. ii. pt. i. pp. 244--245) has described the ruins, and speaks of cisterns and columns existing in his time; and in this, his statement agrees with that of the MS. of the 16th century which has been translated (
Mus. Class. Antiq. vol. ii. p. 299), and fixes the site at a place called
St. Zorzo di Magnes, 12 miles W. of
Canea and 6 from
Cape Spádha, on a conspicuous elevation of a lofty mountain. (Höck,
Kreta, vol. ii. p. 158.)
[
E.B.J]
