DOI: 10.53084/2220-9050.2025.31.1.004

S.O. Derkachova
Antigonia, the Cyzicene fortress

Abstract: This article continues a discussion about the location of, mentioned by Stephen of Byzantium s. v. Ἀντιγόνεια. The discussion has been going on for more than 100 years, since F. Hazlak published the classic monograph about the city of Cyzicus in 1910. The settlements with the name Antigonia in the region from Troas to Bithynia are associated with the activities of diadochus Antigonus the One-Eyed at the end of the IV century BC. Asia Minor was the domain of Antigonus due to the distribution of the satrapies. Cyzicene fortress of Antigonia and the Bithynian Antigonia πρὸς τῷ Δασκυλίῳ are considered in the article. In addition to them, the cities of Alexandria in Troas and Nicaea in Bithynia also originally called Antigonia. Stephen of Byzantium points out that the Cyzicene fortress of Antigonia was located in 50 stages from the western sea. Based on Strabo, who was one of the main sources of Stephen, the author of the article argues in favor of the direct interpretation of this passage and in favor of the localization of the fortress in 50 stages from the modern Gulf of Erdek, on the west of the ancient city of Cyzicus. Taking into account some points in the text of Stephen and based on Strabo, the author examines the possibility to identify the Cyzicene fortress of Antigonia (s. v. Ἀντιγόνεια No. 6) and Bithynian Antigonia πρὸς τῷ Δασκυλίῳ (s. v. Ἀντιγόνεια No. 4) with each other.

Keywords: Antigonia, fortress, Cyzicus, Daskyleion, Nicaea, Strabo, Stephen of Byzantium, Antigonus the One-Eyed

To cite this article: Derkachova S.O. Antigonia, the Cyzicene fortress. Aristeas XXXI (2025): 76–93.

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Author:

Svetlana O. Derkachova