Pylos
- 1. stad in Z.W.-Messenië, woonplaats v. Neleus, vader v. Nestor;
- 2. stad in Z.-Elis, woonplaats v. Nestor; — adj. Pylius, a, um; subst. ī m = Nestor.
(Πύλος). The name of three towns on the western coast of the Peloponnesus. (1) In Elis, at the foot of Mount Scollis, and about seventy or eighty stadia from the city of Elis on the road to Olympia, near the confluence of the Ladon and the Peneus.
(2) In Triphylia, about thirty stadia from the coast, on the river Mamaüs, west of the mountain Minthé, and north of Lepreum.
(3) In the southwest of Messenia, was situated at the foot of Mount Aegaleos on a promontory at the northern entrance of the basin, now called the Bay of Navarino, the largest and safest harbour in all Greece. This harbour was fronted and protected by the small island of Sphacteria (Sphagia), which stretched along the coast about 1 3/4 miles, leaving only two narrow entrances at each end. Pylos became memorable in the Peloponnesian War, when the Athenians under Demosthenes built a fort on the promontory Coryphasium a little south of the ancient city, and just within the northern entrance to the harbour (B.C. 425). The attempts of the Spartans to dislodge the Athenians proved unavailing; and the capture by Cleon of the Spartans who had landed on the island of Sphacteria was one of the most important events in the whole war (Thuc.iv. 3-13; 29-40).
The Classical town occupied Mt. Koryphasion, a rocky promontory at the N end of the Bay of Navarino. It is chiefly known as the camp fortified by the Athenians in 425 B.C. prior to the battle with the Spartans on the island of Sphakteria. There are traces of Greek walls of various types of masonry both earlier and later than those assigned to the Athenians; some served as foundations for the 13th c. Frankish castle. Also ancient are cisterns and rock-cut steps and the remains of a breakwater at the S tip of the cape. Pausanias (4.36.1-5) mentions a Sanctuary of Athena Koryphasion, unknown today, and within the city a house, tomb, and cave, all supposedly of Nestor. This last has been found to contain sherds dating from Mycenaean to Roman times, but the Mycenaean palace of Nestor has been excavated at Epano Englianos, 10 km to the N.
BIBLIOGRAPHYR. Burrows in JHS 16 (1896) 55-76I; 18 (1898) 148I; G. Grundy in JHS 16 (1896) 1-54M; J. G. Frazer, Paus. Des. Gr. (1898) III 456, v 608.
M. H. MC ALLISTER- Hdt. 9.34, Paus. 4.36.1, Paus. 6.22.5ff.
- founded by Pylas: Apollod. 3.15.5
- mentioned by Homer: Paus. 6.22.6
- its people fight Arcadians at Phea: Paus. 5.18.6, and help Eleans against Herakles: Paus. 5.3.1
- Pylos captured and destroyed by Herakles: Paus. 2.18.7, Paus. 3.26.8, Paus. 5.3.1, Paus. 6.22.5, Paus. 6.25.2
- rebuilt by Eleans: Paus. 6.22.5
- its ruins: Paus. 6.22.5
- Pylians, descendants of Nestor of Pylos, Pisistratus of that family: Hdt. 5.65
- Caucones called Pylians: Hdt. 1.147
- Hdt. 7.168, Paus. 4.18.1, Paus. 4.23.1, Paus. 4.36.1-5
- mentioned by Homer: Paus. 4.1.3
- called sandy by Homer: Paus. 4.36.5
- founded by Neleus: Apollod. 1.9.9
- given to Neleus by Aphareus: Paus. 4.2.5
- captured and ravaged by Herakles: Apollod. 1.9.9, Apollod. 2.7.2
- Amythaon in: Apollod. 1.9.11
- Hermes brings the stolen kine to: Apollod. 3.10.2
- kine of Phylacus brought to: Apollod. 1.9.13
- palace of Nestor and his sons at: Paus. 4.3.7, Paus. 4.31.11
- people of Pylos emigrate from Messenia: Paus. 4.23.1
- Apollod. 1.7.7
- Paus. 4.36.1
- Pylas