Palakion (Παλάκιον), according to Strabo, was a Scythian fortress in the steppes of Crimea.[1] The only information about it is from an inscription on the gravestone of a dweller of Chersonesos who died in a battle at the walls of Palakion.[2][3]

Strabo suggests that Palakion, Chabon (Chabaioi[4]) and Scythian Neapolis were named after sons of Scythian ruler Skilurus (Palakus, in the case of Palakion).[1]

Peter Simon Pallas speculated that the name of Balaklava is a corruption of 'Palakion'.[5] There is no historical evidence to this.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Palakion", Der Neue Pauly. Herausgegeben von: Hubert Cancik,, Helmuth Schneider (Antike), Manfred Landfester (Rezeptions- und Wissenschaftsgeschichte). Brill Online, 2015. (retrieved 9 September 2015)
  2. ^ "Palakion", at the website of the National Preserve of Tauric Chersonesos
  3. ^ "История Балаклавы".
  4. ^ Chabaioi (Chabon)
  5. ^ "Balaklava" at sevastopol.info
  6. ^ ПАЛАКИЙ, ПАЛАКИОН, город, Toponymic Dictionary of Sevastopol (Топонимический словарь Севастополя), EdwART. 2011.