🧿 Elyrus

Elyrus or Elyros was a town of ancient Crete, which the Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax places between Cydonia and Lissus. It had a harbour, Syia (Συΐα), situated on the south coast of the island, 60 stadia west of Poecilassus. Pausanias states that the city existed in his time in the mountains of Crete. He adds that he had seen at Delphi the bronze goat which the Elyrians had dedicated, and which was represented in the act of giving suckle to Phylacis and Phylander, children of Apollo and the nymph Acacallis, whose love had been won by the youthful god at the house of Casmanor at Tarrha. It was the birthplace of Thaletas, who was considered as the inventor of the Cretic rhythm, the national paeans and songs, with many of the institutions of his country. Elyrus appears in Hierocles' list of Cretan cities, then reduced in number to twenty-one. The coins of this city have the type of a bee upon them.