MALLUS
MALLUS (
Μαλλός: Eth.
Μαλλώτης), an ancient city of Cilicia, which, according to tradition, was founded in the Trojan times by the soothsayers Mopsus and Amphilochus. (
Strab. xiv. p.675, &c.; Arrian,
Arr. Anab. 2.5.)
It was situated near the mouth of the river Pyramus, on an eminence opposite to Megarsus, as we must infer from Curtius (
3.7), who states that Alexander entered the town after throwing a bridge across the Pyramus. Mallus therefore stood on the eastern bank of the river.
According to Scylax (p. 40) it was necessary to sail up the river a short distance in order to reach Mallus; and Mela (1.13) also states that the town is situated close upon the river; whence Ptolemy (
5.8.4) must be mistaken in placing it more than two miles away from the river. Mallus was a town of considerable importance, though it does not appear to have possessed any particular attractions. Its port-town was Magarsa [
MAGARSA], though in later times it seems to have had a port of its own, called Portus Palorum (Geogr. Nub. p.195; Sanut.
Secret. Fid. 2.4, 26, whence we learn that in the middle ages it continued to be called
Malo; comp. Callim.
Fragm. 15; Appian,
App. Mith. 96; Dionys. Per. 875;
Ptol. 8.17.44;
Plin. Nat. 5.22;
Stadiasm. Mar. M. §§ 151, 152; Leake,
Asia Minor, pp. 216, &c.)
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| COIN OF MALLUS IN CILICIA. |
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