Cerasus or Kerasous (Ancient Greek: Κερασοῦς) was a town of ancient Pontus, on the Black Sea coast, a little to the west of Trapezus.[1] The Ten Thousand, in their retreat, came to Trapezus, and leaving Trapezus, "they arrive on the third day at Cerasus, an Hellenic city on the sea, a colony of the Sinopeis, in Colchis."[2] The Anonymous geographer of Ravenna places Cerasus 60 stadia east of Coralla, and 90 west of Hieron Oros, and on a river of the same name. The name, and possibly the population, of the town were translated to Pharnacia in the Hellenistic era.[3]

Its site is tentatively located near Gelida Kale in Asiatic Turkey.[1][4]

References

  1. ^ a b Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 87, and directory notes accompanying.
  2. ^ Xenophon. Anabasis. Vol. 5.3.2.
  3. ^ Strabo. Geographica. Vol. p. 548. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
  4. ^ Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Cerasus". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.


41°03′29″N 39°19′09″E / 41.05814°N 39.319029°E / 41.05814; 39.319029


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