Hippeios Colonus

In classical Greece Hippeios Colonus (/kəˈloʊnəs/; Greek: Ἵππειος Κολωνός, "Colonus of the Horses") was a deme about 1 km (0.62 mi) to the northwest of Athens, near Plato's Academy. The modern neighborhood of Kolonos is named after it.

Hippeios Colonus held a temple of Poseidon and a sacred grove to the Eumenides.

According to Greek mythology, Oedipus was buried there, as described by Sophocles, who was born there, in his Oedipus at Colonus.

In the Athenian oligarchic revolution of 411, the oligarchs convened at the sanctuary of Poseidon Hippios at Colonus to frame their new constitution.^[1]

In literature

• At the beginning of Oedipus at Colonus by the playwright Sophocles, a character named Xenos describes the area to the blind outcast Oedipus. He claims that the area is sacred to the sea-god Poseidon and to Prometheus, the Titan who brought fire to mankind. It is also sacred to a former ruler and charioteer named Colonus, for whom the region was named and who is now venerated as a venerated hero-god. Later, Oedipus prays to the Eumenides to allow him to take refuge there. At the end of the play, Oedipus' death and burial are described, but his gravesite is to be kept secret to avoid desecration.
• The Gospel at Colonus by Lee Breuer is a modern adaptation of Sophocles' play employing gospel music.

References

Coordinates: 37°59′45″N 23°42′55″E / 37.9958°N 23.7153°E / 37.9958; 23.7153