Settlements > Arsinoe in Northwest Cyprus

Arsinoe in Northwest Cyprus

Background

Arsinoe (Greek: Ἀρσινόη) was an ancient city in northwestern Cyprus, near the promontory of Akamas (Acamas) (Strabo xiv. p. 682; Ptol. v. 14. § 4), near the older city, Marion (Greek: Μάριον); some ancient writers conflate the two cities (Steph. B. s. v.; comp. Scylax, s. v. Cyprus). A city was extant on the site before the Ptolemies took control of the region. Ptolemy I Soter destroyed the town of Marion in 312BC, and removed the inhabitants to Paphos (Diod. xix. 89). The city was refounded by Ptolemy Philadelphus and named after his sister/wife Arsinoe. Hierocles and Const. Porphyr. (Them. i. 15) place it between Paphos and Soloi.

The modern name is Polikrusoko (Πολικρυσοκο) or Xrisopeou (Ξρισοπηου), from the gold mines in the neighborhood. According to Strabo (l. c.) there was a grove sacred to Zeus. Cyprus, from its subjection to the kings of the Lagid family, had more than one city of this name, which was common to several princesses of that house; see Arsinoe for other cities so named.

Sources

Richard Talbert, Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World, (ISBN 0-691-03169-X), p. 72.

Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "article name needed". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.