CYRTO´NES
CYRTO´NES (
Κύρτωνες: Eth.
Κυρτώνιος), anciently called CYRTONE (
Κυρτώνη), a city of Boeotia, east of the lake Copais, and 20 stadia. from Hyettus, situated upon a lofty mountain, after crossing which the traveller arrived at Corsia. Cyrtones contained a grove and temple of Apollo, in which were statues of Apollo and Artemis, and a fountain of cold water, at the source of which was a chapel of the nymphs. Forchhammer places Cyrtones on the hill of the church of St. Athanasius between the villages of
Paula and
Luki, and the Metókhi of
Dendra. Here is celebrated every spring a great festival, which Forchhammer regards as the remains of the ancient festival of Apollo and Artemis. (
Paus. 9.24.4;
Steph. B. sub voce Forchhammer,
Hellenika, p. 197.)
