Anagyros

Anagyrus or Anagyrous ( grc, Ἀναγυροῦς), also Anagyruntus or Anagyrountos (), was a deme of ancient Attica, belonging to the ''phyle'' Erechtheis, situated in the south of Attica near the promontory Zoster. Pausanias mentions at this place a temple of the mother of the gods.

The ruins of Anagyrus have been found near Vari.

The ancient name was maintained until 600 AD, as mentioned by geographer and historian Stephanus of Byzantium.

Anagyrous is an important archaeological site that still remains unexplored, with traces of human habitation dating back to 3rd millennium BCE, that include:

* The fortification and acropolis of Lathouriza (7th - 3rd century BC)
* The remains of 25 small houses
* A sacred altar
* Ten funerary precincts
* A major Mycenaean cemetery
* A cemetery and Palestrina of the Classical period
* The Cave of the Nymphs and Pan (converted to a sanctuary by Archedimus with statues of Cybele, Hermes, Pan and others)

Eumenes of Anagyrus and the Anagyrus Painter were from the town.

Etymology

From name of hero Anagyrous

According to one version, the name derives from the mythical Anagyrous, whose temple was located in the region. Anagyrous made the homes near his sacred grove tremble and collapse. He once exterminated an entire family who had cut trees from his sacred grove—hence the ancient proverb, "Anagryasion Daimon". Offerings and sacrifices were brought to Anagryous as attempts to appease his anger.

From plant name ''Anagyris''

Another version derives from the plant Anagyris ''Anagyris foetida'', the ''stinking bean trefoil '', referred to as emetic and laxative by Dioscorides (9-79 AD) in his monumental ''De materia medica''
, and as an exorcism of ill fate by the Byzantine Suidas dictionary. The plant grows abundantly in the valley, exuding a terrible stench when touched or shaken. Aristophanes (Lysias 68) cites the following humorist dialogue:

()

(Where are you from? From Anagyron, By Zeus, better not shake the Anagyron.)

In this context may also be mentioned a punning exchange near the beginning of Aristophanes’s comedy Lysistrata:

everal women enter, headed by MYRRHINA, from the deme of Anagyrous. Others soon follow.
CALONICE: Hi ! but they're coming now : here they all are : First one,and then another - hoity-toity!
Where’s this lot from?

LYSISTRATA: From Anagyrous.

CALONICE: Aha! Well, at any rate we’ve "stirred up Anagyrous" omophonic pun upon the plant name "Anagyris" *

* Note: () "To stir up hakethe Anagyris" (meaning the nauseous-smelling shrub ''Anagyris foetida'') was a proverb, used of persons who brought some unpleasantness on themselves ompare "Let sleeping dogs lie" Calonice applies the proverb to the imilarly namedAnagyrous, meaning that the influx of Anagyrasian women proved that the deme Anagyrous was thoroughly stirred up .e. "in uproar" / "out on the street" he Works ofAristophanes in Three Volumes
With English translation f 1924, language updated slightlyby
Benjamin Bickley Rogers M.A., D.Litt ., Barrister-at-Law, sometime fellow of Wadham College Oxford
Pub. London
William Heinemann Ltd. MCMXLVI (1946) lines 65-7 pps. 12-13 (original Ancient Greek followed by translation). https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Aristophanes%3B_with_the_English_translation_of_Benjamin_Bickley_Rogers_%28IA_aristophaneswith03arisuoft%29.pdf

A further layer of meaning can be guessed at in the pun: some commentators have inferred that a playful (possibly traditional) jibe at the inhabitants of Anagyrous may have been intended - to the effect that the Anagyrasians were notably smelly, because their personal hygiene was poor. ristophanes may here be referencing an in-joke that his Athenian audience would have appreciated">in-joke.html" ;"title="ristophanes may here be referencing an in-joke">ristophanes may here be referencing an in-joke that his Athenian audience would have appreciated

Association with infancy of Plato

According to Aelian, the countryside near Anagyrous was where Aristion and Periktyoni (Plato's parents) used to lull baby Plato.

"... "

().

"... nearby the Myrtus, myrtle plants, dense and leafy as they were, and while he was sleeping, a swarm of bees sat peacefully on his lips, thus surmising the eloquence of Plato."

References

Populated places in ancient Attica
Former populated places in Greece
Demoi
Archaeological sites in Greece

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