POLYRRHE´NIA
POLYRRHE´NIA (
Πολυρρηνία,
Ptol. 3.17.10;
Πολύρρην,
Πολύρην,
Steph. B. sub voce corrected by Meineke into
Πολυρρηνία; Πολλύρρηνα,
Scylax, p. 18, corrected by Gail;
Πολυρρήνιον, Zenob.
Prov. 5.50; Polyrrhenium,
Plin. Nat. 4.12. s. 20: Eth.
Πολυρρήνιος,
Plb. 4.53,
55;
Strab. x. p.479), a town in the NW. of Crete, whose territory occupied the whole western extremity of the island, extending from N. to S. (
Scylax, p. 18.) Strabo describes it as lying W. of Cydonia, at the distance of 30 stadia from the sea, and 60 from Phalasarna, and as containing a temple of Dictynna.
He adds that the Polyrrhenians formerly dwelt in villages, and that they were collected into one place by the Achaeans and Lacedaemonians, who built a strong city looking towards the south. (
Strab. x. p.479.)
In the civil wars in Crete in the time of the Achaean League, B . C. 219, the Polyrrhenians, who had been subject allies of Cnossus, deserted the latter, and assisted the Lyctians against that city. They also sent auxiliary troops to the assistance of the Achaeans, because the Gnossians had supported the Aetolians. (
Plb. 4.53,
55.)
The ruins of Polyrrhenia, called
Palaeókastro, near
Kísamo-Kastéli, exhibit the remains of the ancient walls, from 10 to 18 feet high. (Pashley,
Crete, vol. ii. p. 46, seq.)
