LE´BEDOS
LE´BEDOS (
Λέβεδος: Eth.
Λεβέδιος), an ancient city on the western coast of Asia Minor, 90 stadia to the east of Cape Myonnesus, and 120 to the north-west of Colophon. (
Strab. xiv. p.643.)
The place was originally inhabited by Carians, until, on the immigration of the Ionians into Asia, it was taken possession of by them under the guidance of Andraemon, a son of Codrus. (
Paus. 7.3.2.) Strabo (
xiv. p.633), however, in speaking of the foundation of the Ionian cities, states that it was colonised by Andropompus and his followers, having previously borne the name of Artis: the tomb of Andraemon, moreover, was shown in the neighbourhood of Colophon, on the road crossing the river Hales. (Paus.
l.c.) For a long time Lebedos continued to be a city flourishing by its commerce, the fertility of its territory, and the excellent hot mineral springs in its neighbourhood, which still exist. (Hecat.
Fragm. 219;
Hdt. 1.142;
Thuc. 8.19.)
It was afterwards nearly destroyed by Lysimachus, who transplanted its population to Ephesus (Paus.
l.c. 1.9.8); after which time Lebedos appears to have fallen more and more into decay, so that in the days of Horace it was more deserted than Gabii or Fidenae. (
Epist. 1.11. 7.)
It is mentioned, however, as late as the 7th century of the Christian era (Aelian,
Ael. VH 8.5;
Ptol. 5.2.7; Mela, 1.17;
Plin. Nat. 5.31; Hierocles, p. 660); and the Romans, in order to raise the place in some measure, established there the company of actors (
τεχνῖται περὶ τὸν Δίονυσον) who had formerly dwelt in Teos, whence during a civil commotion they withdrew to Ephesus. Attalus afterwards transplanted them to Myonnesus; and the Romans, at the request of the Teians, transferred them to Lebedos, where they were very welcome, as the place was very thinly inhabited. At Lebedos the actors of all Ionia as far as the Hellespont had ever after an annual meeting, at which games were celebrated in honour of Dionysus. (
Strab. xiv. p.643.)
The site of Lebedos is marked by some ruins, now called
Ecclesia or
Xingi, and consisting of masses of naked stone and bricks, with cement.
There also exists the basement and an entire floor of a small temple; and nearer the sea there are traces of ancient walls, and a few fragments of Doric columns. (Chandler's
Asia Minor, p. 125.)
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