LISSUS
LISSUS (
Λίσσος,
Ptol. 3.17.3), a town on the S. coast of Crete, which the anonymous Coastdescriber places between Suia and Calamyde. (
Stadiasm.) The Peutinger Table gives 16 M. P. as the distance between Cantanum and Liso. This Cretan city was an episcopal see in the time of Hierocles. (Comp. Cornel.
Creta Sacra, vol. i. p. 235.)
The order in which he mentions it with the other bishoprics
[p. 2.197]in the W. part of the island agrees very well with the supposition that its site was on the spot now called
Hághio Kýrko. This place occupies a small hollow of the hills facing the sea, like a theatre. Near the church of the
Panaghía are what appear to be vestiges of an ancient temple, consisting of granite columns, and white marble fragments, architraves, and pediments. Further on, appears to have been another temple, and a theatre.
The tombs are on the SW. side of the plain. They are worked independent of the rock, with arched roofs.
There are perhaps fifty of them. (Pashley,
Trav. vol. ii. p. 88;
Mus. Class. Ant. vol. ii. p. 298.)
Of all the towns which existed on this part of the coast, Lissue alone seems to have struck coins, a fact which agrees very well with the evidence supplied by its situation, of its having been a place of some trading importance.
The harbour is mentioned by Scylax (p. 18), and the types of the coins are either maritime, or indicative of the worship of Dictynna, as might have been expected on this part of the island.
The obverse of one coin bears the impress of the caps and stars of the Dioscuri, and its reverse a quiver and arrow. On the second coin the caps and stars are replaced by a dolphin, and instead of the quiver a female head, probably that of Artemis or Dictynna. (Comp. Eckhel, vol. ii. p. 315.)
[
E.B.J]
