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Sikyoniawas a big
territory, extending more than sixteen miles along the coast, from the
Nemea river to Sythas, and more than thirteen miles inland. To the east
was bordering with Corinthia, to the west with Pellene
and to the south with Phleiasia and Kleonai.
Sikyonia had many comai (villages), the most important was Titane,
a religious center, which was near the borders of Sikyonia and
Phleiasia. There was a road that was connecting Sikyon with Titane, the
one Pausanias took also, a straight one running in parallel with the
Asopos river, starting immediately from the Sacred Gate, which was on
the right corner of the eastern side of the plateau.
The ancient belief had Titane founded by Titane, the brother of
Helios. Here was the famous Asklepieion of
Titane, which had been founded by Alexanor, son of Machaon, son of
Asklepios. Inscription for Asklepios has been found in the hill on the
grave yard, but most probably the sanctuary was down, west of the hill.
On the hill, in a grove of cypresses (the
Acropolis of Titane), there was the sanctuary of Athena, her temple
containing the wooden statues of Asklepios and
Hygieia. The temple, by Pausanias time, had
been destroyed. This incident coinsides with the known misfortune which
happened the 6th century BC, when the statue of Athena, the one Dipoinos
and Skyllis had created, was destroyed by lightning.
On the slope of the hill, there was the altar of the Winds.
Every year rites, using also Medeia's spells, were performed in order to
control the winds. Titane seems to be as old as Sikyon itself. There is
evidence that was occupied during the Bronze age and Archaic period.
Various others cities and sites are mentioned by Pausanias and Xenophon
and other writers, but no serious work for identification has been made.
We just mention some of the suggestions that have been given.
Pausanias mentions a town in the Sikyonian territory Phoibia,
which was captured by Epameinondas. This has been identified to be
located near Kastraki and Chania, at the borders with Phleiasia.
Xenophon mentions of the site Derai, which was
captured by Dionysios of Syracuse in 369 BC, after a battle with
Sikyonians in the plain. Derai has been identified with Stimanga,
in the south-east of Sikyonia.
Epieikia was another site close to Corinthia
and Xenophon in Hellenika tell us that the Spartan garisson was there
during the Corinthian war. It has been identified today as a place close
to the today's Pournari.
Plataiai, a town in Sikyonia mentioned by
Strabo, has been identified with Tsagriza.
Other comai of Sikyon of importance were Gonousa,
from which the family of Kypselos had come. |
