PHRIXA
PHRIXA (
Φρίξα, Paus. et alii;
Φρίξαι,
Hdt. 4.148: Eth.
Φριξαῖος), a town of Triphylia in Elis, situated upon the left bank of the Alpheius, at the distance of 30 stadia from Olympia. (
Strab. viii. p.343;
Steph. B. sub voce It was founded by the Minyae (Herod.
l.c.), and its name was derived from Phaestus. (
Steph. B. sub voce Μάκιστος.) Phrixa is rarely mentioned in history; but it shared the fate of the other Triphylian cities. (Comp.
Xen. Hell. 3.2. 30;
Plb. 4.77,
80.) Its position is determined by Pausanias, who says that it was situated upon a pointed hill, opposite the Leucanias, a tributary of the Alpheius, and at a ford of the latter river. (
Paus. 6.21.6.)
This pointed hill is now called
Paleofánaro, and is a conspicuous object from both sides of the river, whence the city received the name of Phaestus in later times. (
Steph. B. sub voce s. v Φαιστός.) The city was in ruins in the time of Pausanias, who mentions there a temple of Athena Cydonia. Upon the summit of the hill there are still remains of Hellenic walls. (Leake,
Morea, vol. ii. p. 210; Boblaye,
Récherches &c. p. 136; Ross,
Reisen im Peloponnes, p. 108; Curtius,
Peloponnesos, vol. ii. p. 90.)
