Halae Araphenides or Halai Araphenides (Ancient Greek: Ἁλαὶ Ἀραφηνίδες, romanizedHalái Araphenídes) was a deme of ancient Attica, situated on its eastern coast between Brauron and Araphen, and was the harbour of Brauron, whence persons crossed over to Marmarium in Euboea.

Halae Araphenides
Ἁλαὶ Ἀραφηνίδες
Halae Araphenides is along the right coast
LocationRafina, Attica, Greece
RegionAttica
Coordinates37°59′14″N 24°00′16″E / 37.987192°N 24.004472°E / 37.987192; 24.004472
TypeDeme
History
PeriodsArchaic Greek
Satellite ofAthens, Aigeis tribe, trittys of Paralia [el; it]

Etymology

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The deme draws the first part of its name from the saltiness along the coast, while the second part was introduced to distinguish it from the deme of Halae Aexonides.

History

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Halae was mentioned by Euripides[1] as close to the chain of Karystia. In this place was conserved a statue of Artemis Tauria brought from Tauris by Iphigenia and Orestes.

In the deme, expiatory rites were held which consisted of withdrawing drops of blood from the throat of a man by means of a knife; furthermore, they had midnight feasts and Pyrrhic dances.

Its port was also used by citizens of a Brauron and for the marble quarries of Karystos, near the island of Euboea, being the closest port of Attica.[2]

Location

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The site of Halae Araphenides is located near modern Artemida, Attica (formerly, Loutsa).[3][4]

Notes

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  1. ^ Euripides. Iphigenia in Tauris. p. 1451.
  2. ^ Strabo IX.1.22; X.1.6.
  3. ^ Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.
  4. ^ Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 59, and directory notes accompanying. ISBN 978-0-691-03169-9.

Bibliography

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Primary sources
Secondary sources
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