View source for Lapathus (Cyprus)

{{Short description|Archaeological site in Cyprus}}
{{Infobox ancient site
  |name = Lapathus
  |native_name =Λάπαθος, 𐤋𐤐𐤔 
  |alternate_name = 
  |image = File:Monnaie - Statère, argent, Lapéthos, Chypre, Sidqmelek - btv1b85351446 (2 of 2).jpg
  |alt = 
  |caption = A coins of {{Sc|ṣdqmlk}}, King of Lapathus
  |map_type = Cyprus
  |map_alt = 
  |map_size = 250
  |location = [[Cyprus]]
  |region = 
  |coordinates = {{coord|35.355404|N|33.197851|E|display=title,inline|format=dms|source:http://dare.ht.lu.se/places/22725.html}}
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}}
__NOTOC__
'''Lapathus''' ({{lang-phn|𐤋{{popdf}}𐤐{{popdf}}𐤔|translit={{Sc|LPŠ}}}};<ref name="h">{{harvp|Huss|1985|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=NvEK7kc3qnQC&pg=PA569 569]}}.</ref> {{lang-grc-gre|Λάπαθος}}, ''Lápathos''),<ref name=Strabo>{{Cite Strabo|xiv. p.682}}</ref> also recorded as '''Lapethus''' ({{lang|grc|Λάπηθος}}, ''Lápēthos''),<ref>{{Cite Ptolemy|5.14.4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Pliny|5.31}}</ref> '''Lepethis''' ({{lang|grc|Ληπηθίς}}, ''Lēpēthís''),<ref>''[[Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax]]'', p. 41.</ref> and '''Lapithus''' ({{lang|grc|Λάπιθος}}, ''Lápithos''),<ref>{{Cite Hierocles|}}</ref> was an [[ancient Cyprus|ancient Cypriot]], [[Phoenicians|Phoenician]] and [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] town near present-day [[Lampousa]] and [[Karavas]].<ref>{{Cite Barrington|72}}</ref><ref>{{Cite DARE|22725}}</ref>

== Name ==
Due to lack of evidence, researchers had not been sure weather the [[Phoenician language|Phoenician]] name of the city was {{Sc|LPṬ}} (with [[Teth]]) or {{Sc|LPT}} (with [[Taw]]);<ref>{{Cite book |last=Slouschz |first=Nahoum |author-link=Nahum Slouschz |title=Thesaurus of Phoenician Inscriptions |publisher=Dvir |year=1942 |pages=106 |language=Hebrew}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Masson |first=Olivier |author-link=Olivier Masson |title=Recherches sur les Phéniciens à Chypre |last2=Sznycer |first2=Maurice |author-link2=Maurice Sznycer |publisher=Librairie Droz |year=1972 |pages=99 |language=fr}}</ref> recent findings, such as inscriptions and coins with [[Legend (numismatics)|legends]], provide the clear reading {{Sc|LPŠ}}.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Masson |first=Olivier |author-link=Olivier Masson |title=Recherches sur les Phéniciens à Chypre |last2=Sznycer |first2=Maurice |author-link2=Maurice Sznycer |publisher=Librairie Droz |year=1972 |pages=99 |language=fr}}</ref> The Greek and the Phoenician name record, each in its own way, a [[phoneme]] of a language prior to them both.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Masson |first=Olivier |author-link=Olivier Masson |title=Recherches sur les Phéniciens à Chypre |last2=Sznycer |first2=Maurice |author-link2=Maurice Sznycer |publisher=Librairie Droz |year=1972 |pages=99 |language=fr}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Ancient kingdoms of Cyprus en.svg|thumb|Map showing the ancient city Kingdoms of Cyprus]]
The foundation of Lapathus was credited to the [[Phoenicians|Phoenician]] [[Kition|Kitians]].<ref>{{Cite Stephanus|''s.v.''}}</ref> [[Nonnus]] claimed the name derived from an eponymous [[Lapathus (mythology)|Lapathus]], a follower of [[Dionysus]].<ref>[[Nonnus]], ''Dionys.'' 13.447.</ref> [[Strabo]] said that it received a [[ancient Sparta|Spartan]] [[Greek colony|colony]] headed by [[Praxander]].<ref name="Strabo" /> He adds that it was situated opposite to the town of [[Nagidus]] in [[Cilicia]] and possessed a harbour and docks.<ref name="Strabo" /> It was situated in the north of the island, on a river of the same name and in a district called '''Lapethia''' ({{lang|grc|Λαπηθία}}, ''Lapēthía'').<ref>{{Cite Ptolemy|5.14.5}}</ref>
[[File:Monnaie - Sicle, argent, Lapéthos, Chypre, Démonicos I - btv1b11318126p (1 of 2).jpg|thumb|A coin of {{Sc|dmwnks}} of Lapathus, depicting Heracles]]
The coins of the city from the 5th and 4th canturies BC record rulers of the city, in Phoenician: {{Sc|dmwnks}} the first, {{Sc|ṣdqmlk}}, {{Sc|ʾndr...}} (shorted name), and {{Sc|dmwnks}} the second.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Masson |first=Olivier |author-link=Olivier Masson |title=Recherches sur les Phéniciens à Chypre |last2=Sznycer |first2=Maurice |author-link2=Maurice Sznycer |publisher=Librairie Droz |year=1972 |pages=98–100 |language=fr}}</ref> The coins of the first two depicted the head of [[Athena]], and the coins of the last two depicted Athena standing and [[Heracles]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Masson |first=Olivier |author-link=Olivier Masson |title=Recherches sur les Phéniciens à Chypre |last2=Sznycer |first2=Maurice |author-link2=Maurice Sznycer |publisher=Librairie Droz |year=1972 |pages=98–100 |language=fr}}</ref>

In [[Diadochi wars|the war]] between [[Ptolemy I Soter|Ptolemy]] and [[Antigonus I Monophthalmus|Antigonus]], Lapathus and its king Praxippus sided with the latter.<ref>{{Cite Diodorus|19.59}}</ref>

The name of the place became synonymous with stupidity.<ref>''[[Suda]]'' ''s.v.'' Λαπάθιοι.</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Lapithos]]
* [[Larnakas tis Lapithou]]
* [[Anat Athena bilingual]]
* [[Larnakas tis Lapithou pedestal inscription]]

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
* {{citation |last=Huss |first=Werner |title=Geschichte der Karthager |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NvEK7kc3qnQC |publisher=C.H. Beck |location=Munich |date=1985 |isbn=9783406306549 }}. {{in lang|de}}
* {{DGRG|title=Lapathus}}

{{phoenician cities|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Populated places in ancient Cyprus]]
[[Category:Cities in ancient Cyprus]]
[[Category:Phoenician colonies in Cyprus]]
[[Category:Spartan colonies]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Cyprus]]


{{ancientCyprus-geo-stub}}