Olus

OLUS (Ὄλους, Scyl. p. 19; Xenion, ap. Steph. B. s. v.;Ptol. 3.17.5; al.Ὄλουλις;Stadiasm. 350: Eth. Ὀλούτιοι, Ὀλούτι), a town of Crete, the citizens of which had entered into a treaty with those of Lato. (Böckh, Inscr. vol. ii. No. 2554.) There was a temple to Britomartis in this city, a wooden statue of whom was erected by Daedalus, the mythical ancestor of the Daedalidae, and father of Cretan art. (Paus. 9.40.3.) Her effigy is represented on the coins of Olus. (Eckhel, vol. 2. p. 316; Mionnet, Descr. vol. 2. p. 289; Combe, Mus. Hunter. ) There is considerable difficulty in making out the position of this town; but the site may probably be represented by Aliédha near Spína Lónga, where there are ruins. Mr. Pashley's map erroneously identifies these with Naxos. (Comp. Höck, Kreta, vol. 1. p. 417.)