Cithaeron

English > Greek (Woodhouse)

(Mt.) Κιθαιρών, -ῶνος, ὁ.

of Cithaeron, adj. V. Κιθαιρώνειος, Ar. Κιθαιρώνιος.

Latin > English (Lewis & Short)

Cĭthaeron: (Cĭthĕron, Aus. Idyll. 11, 32), ōnis, m., = Κιθαιρών,
I a mountain of Bœotia, now Elatia, sacred to Bacchus and the Muses, and famous for the death of Pentheus and Actœon, Mel. 2, 3, 4; Plin. 4, 7, 12, § 25; Verg. G. 3, 43; id. A. 4, 303; Ov. M. 2, 223; 3, 702 sq.; Sen. Oedip. 930; id. Phoen. 256; Val. Fl. 5, 81 (in all these passages only in nom.).—Gen. Cithaeronis, Prop. 3 (4), 1, 43; 3 (4), 15, 25; Liv. 31, 26, 1.—Acc. Cithaeronem, Lact. 1, 22, 15; Serv. ad Verg. A. 7, 641; 10, 163; id. G. 3, 291.

Latin > French (Gaffiot 2016)

Cĭthærōn,¹² ōnis, m. (Κιθαιρών), Cithéron [mont de Béotie, célèbre par ses troupeaux ; théâtre des orgies des Bacchantes] : Virg. G. 3, 43 ; Ov. M. 3, 702.

Latin > German (Georges)

Cithaerōn, ōnis, m. (Κιθαιρών), ein mächtiges Waldgebirge, das die Nordgrenze von Megaris u. Attika gegen Böotien bildet, der vielbesungene Schauplatz der bacchischen Orgien, j. zum Teil Kithairon, zum Teil Livadostro und Elatias, Verg. georg. 3, 43. Ov. met. 2, 223. Lact. 1, 22, 15. – / Nbf. Citheron, Auson. Griphus (XXV I) 2, 32. p. 130 Schenkl.

Wikipedia EN

Cithaeron or Kithairon (Κιθαιρών, -ῶνος) is a mountain and mountain range about sixteen kilometres (ten miles) long, in Central Greece. The range is the physical boundary between Boeotia in the north and Attica in the south. It is mainly composed of limestone and rises to 1,409 metres (4,623 ft). The north-east side of the range is formed by the mountain Pastra.

The range was the scene of many events in Greek mythology and was especially sacred to Dionysus. In Euripides' Bacchae, Dionysus carries out his dances and rites with his bacchants, his priestesses, on Cithaeron. Oedipus was exposed on the mountain, while Actaeon and Pentheus were both dismembered on its slopes. It was also the place where Heracles or Alcathous hunted and killed the Lion of Cithaeron.

In historic times, the mountain acted as a backdrop to the Battle of Plataea of 479 BC and was the scene of much skirmishing before the battle itself. In later times fortifications were built both at Plataea and Erythrai as the mountain formed the disputed natural border between Athens and Thebes.

The people of Plataea also personified the mountain as their primal king: "But the Plataeans know of no king except Asopus and Cithaeron before him, holding that the latter gave his name to the mountain, the former to the river". In one tale, Cithairon was said to have engaged in a singing contest against Helikon, which was judged by the Muses. Cithairon won the contest and was adorned with garlands by the Muses, and Helikon became so angry due to his defeat that he smashed one of the large rocks on his slopes.

In the Middle Ages, the village of Myoupolis on its slopes was the site of a monastery founded by Meletios the Younger.

Translations

arz: كيثيرون; bg: Китерон; br: Kithairon; ca: Citeró; ceb: Kithairón Óros; de: Kithairon; el: Κιθαιρώνας; en: Cithaeron; es: Citerón; et: Kithairónas; eu: Ziteron; fi: Kithairónas; fr: Mont Cithéron; it: Monte Citerone; ja: キサイロナス; ko: 키타이론산; la: Cithaeron; lb: Kithairon; nl: Kithairon; nn: Kitherónas; no: Kithairon; pl: Kitajron; pt: Monte Citerão; ru: Китерон; sh: Kiteron; sv: Kithairon