Carpasia

CARPA´SIA (Καρπασία, Strab., Ptol., Diod., Steph. B.; Καρπασεία, Stadiasm.; Καρπάσιον, Hierocl.; Plin. Nat. 5.31. s. 35; Κάρπασος, Const. Porph.: Eth. Καρπασεῶτης, Καρπασεύς, Steph. B.: Carpas), a town and port of Cyprus, to the NE. of the island, facing the promontory of Sarpedon on the Cilician coast. (Strab. 14. p. 682; Ptol. 5.14.4; Scylax.) According to legend, it was founded by Pygmalion. (Steph. B. s. v.) It was taken by Demetrius Poliorcetes, together with a neighbouring place called Urania. (Diod. 20.48.) Pococke (Trav. vol. 2. p. 219) speaks of remains at Carpas, especially of a wall nearly half a mile in circumference, with a pier running into the sea. (Engel, Kypros, vol. i. pp. 83, 174; Mém. de l'Acad. des Inscrip. vol. 32. p. 543; Mariti, Viaggi, vol. 1. p. 163.)