Oesyme or Oisyme ( grc-x-attic, Οἰσύμη, grc-x-doric, Οἰσύμα) and Aisyme or Aesyme ( grc, Αἰσύμη) was an ancient Greek '' polis'' (city-state) located in ancient Thrace and later in

Macedonia Macedonia most commonly refers to: * North Macedonia, a country in southeastern Europe, known until 2019 as the Republic of Macedonia * Macedonia (ancient kingdom), a kingdom in Greek antiquity * Macedonia (Greece), a traditional geographic reg ...

. It was within the region of Pieras or

Edonis The B Engineering Edonis is a sports car developed in the year 2000 and manufactured by Italian automobile manufacturer B Engineering with overall engineering by Nicola Materazzi (ex Lancia, Ferrari & Bugatti) and styling by Marc Deschamps ( ...

between the river Strymon and the river Nestos. Thucydides mentions it with Galepsus and notes that both were colonies of Thasos that sided with the Spartan army of Brasidas after it had taken Amphipolis in 424 BCE.

Stephanus of Byzantium Stephanus or Stephan of Byzantium ( la, Stephanus Byzantinus; grc-gre, Στέφανος Βυζάντιος, ''Stéphanos Byzántios''; centuryAD), was a Byzantine grammarian and the author of an important geographical dictionary entitled ''Ethni ...

identifies it as the same Aesyme or Aisyme (Αίσύμη) named by Homer in the Iliad as the place of origin of Castianeira, mother of Gorgythion, who was fathered by

Priam In Greek mythology, Priam (; grc-gre, Πρίαμος, ) was the legendary and last king of Troy during the Trojan War. He was the son of Laomedon. His many children included notable characters such as Hector, Paris, and Cassandra. Etymology Mo ...

, king of Troy. The town is mentioned by several ancient geographers including Ptolemy and Pliny the Elder. Diodorus notes the town under the misspelling Σύμη - Syme (omitting the initial vowels). The town also appears in the '' Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax'' as Σιούμη - Sioume. It is also mentioned in the Delphic Theorodochoi inscription. It was later renamed to Emathia (Ἠμαθία) after its occupation by Philip II of Macedon. According to Pseudo-Scymnus, it was named Emathia after the daughter of Makesse. It was considered a ''polis'' and an ''emporion'' at the same time. Athenaeus quotes a passage from Armenidas where Oesyme is mentioned among the places of Thrace famous for the quality of their wines. It is also mentioned in the

Lexicon of the Ten Orators __NOTOC__ Valerius Harpocration ( grc-gre, Οὐαλέριος or , ''gen''. Ἁρποκρατίωνος) was a Greek grammarian of Alexandria, probably working in the 2nd century AD. He is possibly the Harpocration mentioned by Julius Capitolinus ...

and the

Suda The ''Suda'' or ''Souda'' (; grc-x-medieval, Σοῦδα, Soûda; la, Suidae Lexicon) is a large 10th-century Byzantine encyclopedia of the ancient Mediterranean world, formerly attributed to an author called Soudas (Σούδας) or Souidas ...

. The location of the ancient city is identified with the fortified citadel on

Cape Vrasidas A cape is a clothing accessory or a sleeveless outer garment which drapes the wearer's back, arms, and chest, and connects at the neck. History Capes were common in medieval Europe, especially when combined with a hood in the chaperon. The ...

south of the village of Nea Peramos in the southern part of the bay of

Eleutherai Eleutherae ( grc, Ἐλευθεραί) is a city in the northern part of Attica, bordering the territory of Boeotia. One of the best preserved fortresses of Ancient Greece stands now on the spot of an Ancient Eleutherae castle, dated between ...

References

Thasian colonies Populated places in ancient Thrace Populated places in ancient Macedonia Former populated places in Greece Greek colonies in Thrace Locations in Greek mythology {{AncientThrace-geo-stub

See also

References