38°13′11″N 22°00′44″E / 38.2198°N 22.01219°E Rhypes ( Ancient Greek: Ῥύπες), or Rhypae or Rhypai (Ῥύπαι) [1] was a polis (city-state) [2] of ancient Achaea, 30 stadia west of Aegium, and was one of the original twelve Achaean cities. [3] It had ceased to be a member of the Achaean League in the time of Polybius, who mentions Leontium in its place. [4] Rhypes, however, continued to exist down to the time of Augustus; but this emperor destroyed the city and transferred its inhabitants to Patrae, and its territory (Ῥυπίς, or ἡ Ῥυπική) was divided between Aegium and Pharae. [5] Its ruins were seen by Pausanias, in the 2nd century, at a short distance from the main road from Aegium to Patrae. [6] We learn from Strabo that this town was mentioned by Aeschylus as κεραυνίας Ῥύπας, or "Rhypes stricken by the thunderbolt." It was the birthplace of Myscellus, the founder of Croton. [7]
In the territory of Rhypes there was a suburb called Leuctrum (Λεῦκτρον), [7] and also a seaport named Erineum (Ἐρινεόν or Ἐρινεὸς λιμήν) which is mentioned by Thucydides, [8] and which is described by Pausanias as 60 stadia from Aegium. [9] [10]
The site of Rhypes is located south of modern Koumari. [11] [12]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Rhypes". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.