Parnassus
(Παρνασσός), a son of Cleopompus or Poseidon and the nymph Cleodora, is said to have been the founder of Delphi, the inventor of the art of foretelling the future from the flight of birds, and to have given his name to Mount Parnassus. (Paus. 10.6.1.) [L.S]
PARNASSUS (Παρνασσός) a town in the northern part of Cappadocia, on the right bank of the Halys, and on or near a hill, to which it owed its name, on the road between Ancyra and Archelais, about 63 miles west of the latter town. (Plb. 25.4; It. Ant. pp. 144, 206; It. Hieros. p. 576; Geogr. Sacr. p. 255.)
[L.S](Παρνασσός). A name applied (1) to a range of mountains extending from Oeta and Corax southeast through Doris and Phocis, and terminating at the Corinthian Gulf between Cirrha and Anticyra where it was called Cirphis (Κίρφις); and
(2) to the highest part of the range a little north of Delphi (q.v.), where it attains an elevation of some 8000 English feet. Its twin peaks are called Tithorea (Τιθορέα) and Lycorea (Λυκώρεια). Here the mountain forms a crescent-shaped curve of cliffs, known as Φαιδριάδες or “the resplendent,” since they face south and receive the full rays of the sun during the heat of the day. On the southern slope of Parnassus lay Delphi. The modern name is Liákoura.
On the sides of Parnassus were many caves, romantic grottoes, and ravines, and it was regarded as a principal abode of Apollo and the Muses. On Mount Lycorea was the Corycian cave of the latter, and just above Delphi lay the famous Castalian spring flowing from between the two cliffs known as Nauplia and Hyamplia. Between Parnassus proper and Mount Cirphis was the valley of the Plistus, with the sacred road which ran from Delphi to Daulis and Stiris. At the branch of this road where the two ways parted, Oedipus slew his father Laïus. See Oedipus.
(3) A town in northwestern Cappadocia, between Ancyra and Archelaïs.
- a refuge for the Delphians: Hdt. 8.27, Hdt. 8.32, Hdt. 9.31
- Mount Parnassus named after Parnassus: Paus. 10.6.1
- Deucalion on: Apollod. 1.7.2
- snowy: Paus. 10.8.9
- makes climate of Lilaea cold in winter: Paus. 10.33.5
- ascent of: Paus. 10.5.1, Paus. 10.32.2, 7
- path over: Paus. 10.32.8
- orgies of Dionysus held by Thyiads on: Paus. 10.4.3, Paus. 10.32.7
- repulse of Persians there: Hdt. 8.37
- Parnassian glen: Paus. 10.6.1
- founds Delphi: Paus. 10.6.1