Cyretiae

Map showing ancient Thessaly. Alope is shown to the top center, north of Mylae.

Cyretiae or Chyretiai or Kyretiai (Greek: Χυρετίαι) was a town and polis (city-state) of Perrhaebia in ancient Thessaly, frequently mentioned in the Roman wars in Greece. It was plundered by the Aetolians in 200 BC, was taken by Antiochus III, 191 BC, but recovered by Marcus Baebius Tamphilus and Philip V of Macedon in the same year, and was attacked by Perseus of Macedon, following the surrender of nearby Doliche, Pythium, and Azorus in 171 BC. In the last event, after a first assault attempt was repulsed, the attackers on the second day of the siege obtained the surrender of the defenders.

Cyretiae appears in several inscriptions that have come down to us, among which stand out: one dated between 375-350 BC, containing a joint dedication to Apollo of the cities of Perrhaebia, a letter from Titus Quinctius Flamininus to the Cyretiaeans that can be dated to 195 BC, and a decree of proxeny dated to 191 BC that contains the names of several tagoi.

Cyretiae is located at a site in the modern village of Domeniko. Its acropolis occupied the hill, on which now stands the church of St. George, and excavations have been undertaken.

References

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