Syrna
Town in Caria on the Loryma peninsula SW of Marmaris. Founded, according to the legend (Steph. Byz. s.v.), by Podaleirios son of Asklepios and named after his wife Syrna. The site was determined in 1948 by a decree of the Syrnians, found near Bayir, recording a donation for the celebration of sacrifices in the precinct of Asklepios. An Asklepieion at Bayir was previously known from another inscription listing contributions to some building connected with it. Both inscriptions date from the 2d c. B.C. when Syrna was included in the Rhodian Peraea, though not actually a deme. The ruins are scanty, almost entirely isolated ancient stones; the site of the Asklepieion has not been located. The former identification of Bayir with the deme of Hygassos on the strength of an epitaph of husband and wife, both Hygassians, found there, is now superseded.
BIBLIOGRAPHYG. Cousin & R. Dechamps in BCH 18 (1894) 30; E. Hula & E. Szanto, SBWien 132 (1894) 32-33; P. M. Fraser & G. E. Bean, The Rhodian Peraea (1954) 28-32, 57.
G. E. BEAN