From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Zeleia (Ζέλεια) was a town of the ancient Troad, at the foot of Mount Ida and on the banks of the river Aesepus, at a distance of 80 stadia from its mouth.[1][2] It is mentioned by Homer in the Trojan Battle Order in the Iliad, and later when Homer calls it a holy town.[3] Zeleia led a force of warriors to aid Troy during the Trojan War, led by Pandarus, son of Lycaon (the latter Lycaon not to be confused with Lycaon, son of Priam. It is later related that the people of Zeleia are "Lycians", though the Zeleians are distinct from the Lycians who come from Lycia in southwestern Asia Minor, led by Sarpedon and Glaucus. The connection between the 'Lycians' of Zeleia and these Lycians is unclear—if there is any connection at all. Arrian mentions it as the head-quarters of the Persian army before the Battle of the Granicus, in May 334 BCE, where the Persian satraps held a council at Zeleia where they discussed how best to confront Alexander the Great.[4] It existed in the time of Strabo; but afterwards it disappears.[1]

Its site is located near Sarıköy, Asiatic Turkey.[5][6]


  1. ^ a b Strabo. Geographica. xii. p.565, xiii. pp. 585, 587, 603. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
  2. ^ Stephanus of Byzantium. Ethnica. s.v.
  3. ^ Homer. Iliad. 2.824, 3.103.
  4. ^ Arrian Anabasis Alexandri 1.13
  5. ^ Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 56, and directory notes accompanying.
  6. ^ Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.

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

Coordinates: 40°12′13″N 27°35′42″E﻿ / ﻿40.2035643°N 27.5950731°E﻿ / 40.2035643; 27.5950731