Erythrae
(
Ἐρυθραί). One of the twelve cities of Ionia, situated
near the coast opposite Chios (
Herod.i. 142). Its founder was said
to have been Erythrus, the son of Rhadamanthus, who established himself here with a body of
Cretans, Carians, and Lycians. At a later period came Cnopus, son of Codrus, with an Ionian
colony, whence the city is sometimes called Cnopopŏlis
(
Κνωπούπολις). The city did not lie exactly on the coast,
but some little distance inland, and had a harbour on the coast named Cissus (
Livy, xxxvi. 43). Erythrae was famous as the residence of one of the
Sibyls at an early period, and in the time of Alexander we find another making her appearance
here, with similar claims to inspiration. See
Sibylla.