Lycastus (Pontus)

Lycastus or Lykastos (Ancient Greek: Λύκαστος), also known as Lycastum or Lykaston, was an ancient Greek city^[1] in ancient Pontus, on a river bearing the same name. It was situated 20 stadia southeast of Amisus.^[2][3][4] Pomponius Mela calls the town Lycasto.^[4] Pherecydes spoke of a town of Lycastia, inhabited by Amazons, and situated between Themiscyra and Chalybia.^[5] The river Lycastus was but a small stream, which after a short course emptied itself into the Euxine close by the town of Lycastus.^[6][3]

The Lycastrus River is identified with the modern Mert River, in Samsun Province, Turkey, but the townsite is treated as unlocated, but likely along that river.^[7]

References

1. Pseudo Scylax, Periplous, § 89
2. Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax 89; Marcian, p. 74; Periplus of the Euxine Sea p. 10; Stephanus of Byzantium. Ethnica. Vol. Χαδισία.
3. Pliny. Naturalis Historia. Vol. 6.3.
4. Pomponius Mela. De situ orbis. Vol. 1.19.
5. Pherecydes ap. Schol. ad Apoll. Rhod. 2.373, comp. ad 2.1001.
6. Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax 89; Marcian, p. 74.
7. Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 87, and directory notes accompanying. ISBN 978-0-691-03169-9.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Lycastus". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.