Crithote or Krithote ( grc, Κριθωτή or Κριθώτη) was an
ancient Greek city located in Thrace, located in the region of the
Thracian Chersonesos
The Gallipoli peninsula (; tr, Gelibolu Yarımadası; grc, Χερσόνησος της Καλλίπολης, ) is located in the southern part of East Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles ...
. It was on the
Hellespont
The Dardanelles (; tr, Çanakkale Boğazı, lit=Strait of Çanakkale, el, Δαρδανέλλια, translit=Dardanéllia), also known as the Strait of Gallipoli from the Gallipoli peninsula or from Classical Antiquity as the Hellespont (; ...
north of
Gallipolis
Gallipolis ( ) is a chartered village (United States)#Ohio, village in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Gallia County, Ohio, Gallia County. The municipality is located in Southeast Ohio along the Ohio River about 55 miles southeast of ...
, and was an Athenian colony founded by
Miltiades
Miltiades (; grc-gre, Μιλτιάδης; c. 550 – 489 BC), also known as Miltiades the Younger, was a Greek Athenian citizen known mostly for his role in the Battle of Marathon, as well as for his downfall afterwards. He was the son of Cimon C ...
.
It is cited in the ''
Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax'' among the cities of the Thracian Chersonesos:
Aegospotami
Aegospotami ( grc, Αἰγὸς Ποταμοί, ''Aigos Potamoi'') or AegospotamosMish, Frederick C., Editor in Chief. “Aegospotami.” '' Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary''. 9th ed. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster Inc., 1985. , (in ...
,
Cressa, Crithote, and
Pactya.
At the time of
Strabo
Strabo''Strabo'' (meaning "squinty", as in strabismus) was a term employed by the Romans for anyone whose eyes were distorted or deformed. The father of Pompey was called "Pompeius Strabo". A native of Sicily so clear-sighted that he could see ...
it was in ruins. The geographer places it between the cities of
Callipolis and Pactya.
Pliny the Elder, for his part, says it was adjacent to the
Propontis
The Sea of Marmara,; grc, Προποντίς, Προποντίδα, Propontís, Propontída also known as the Marmara Sea, is an inland sea located entirely within the borders of Turkey. It connects the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea via the ...
, where were also the cities of
Tiristasis
Tyrodiza ( grc, Τυρόδιζα) was a Greek city in ancient Thrace, located in the region of the Propontis. It appears to have flourished between 550 BCE and 330 BCE, and is identified with the place called Tiristasis (Τειρίστα ...
and
Cissa.
Isocrates
Isocrates (; grc, Ἰσοκράτης ; 436–338 BC) was an ancient Greek rhetorician, one of the ten Attic orators. Among the most influential Greek rhetoricians of his time, Isocrates made many contributions to rhetoric and education throu ...
highlights the excellent situation, from the strategic point of view, of the city, as a point of control of the
Hellespont
The Dardanelles (; tr, Çanakkale Boğazı, lit=Strait of Çanakkale, el, Δαρδανέλλια, translit=Dardanéllia), also known as the Strait of Gallipoli from the Gallipoli peninsula or from Classical Antiquity as the Hellespont (; ...
. Wherefore, the year 365 BCE, it was conquered, along with
Sestos
Sestos ( el, Σηστός, la, Sestus) was an ancient city in Thrace. It was located at the Thracian Chersonese peninsula on the European coast of the Hellespont, opposite the ancient city of Abydos, and near the town of Eceabat in Turkey.
In ...
, by the Athenians under the command of
Timotheus.
Bronze coins minted by Crithote are preserved, dated between 350 BCE and 281 BCE, with the inscriptions ΚΡΙ, ΚΡΙΘΟ o ΚΡΙΘΟΥΣΙΩΝ.
[
Its site is located 2 miles (3 km) east of Gelibolu, in European Turkey.]
See also
* Greek colonies in Thrace
References
Populated places in ancient Thrace
Former populated places in Turkey
Greek colonies in the Thracian Chersonese
Cities in ancient Greece
History of Çanakkale Province
Athenian colonies
{{Çanakkale-geo-stub