Ichnae (Thessaly)

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Ichnae (Ancient Greek: Ἴχναι) was a town in ancient Thessaly. Strabo wrote that it is in the district of Thessaliotis and adds that it is the place where Themis Ichnae was venerated.[1] The mention of "Ichnae" as epithet of Themis also appears in the Homeric Hymn to Apollo and in the Alexandra of Lycophron.[2] It is assumed that the epithet derives from the town of Ichnae but it has also been suggested that, since the meaning of Ἴχναι is "the one who tracks," a quality which is perfectly applicable for a goddess of justice, it could be that the toponym of Ichnae derives from the epithet.[3] Its site in unlocated.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Strabo. Geographica. Vol. 9.5.14. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
  2. ^ Homeric Hymn to Apollo, 94; Lycophron, Alexandra, 129.
  3. ^ Himnos Homéricos. La Batracomiomaquia, p.78, nota 57 de Alberto Bernabé Pajares, Madrid: Gredos (2001), ISBN 84-249-2577-7.
  4. ^ Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 55, and directory notes accompanying. ISBN 978-0-691-03169-9.