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[[Image:NAMA - Plate by the Anagyrus Painter.jpg|thumb|Plate with depiction of [[gorgon]]s, {{circa|600–575 BC}} recovered at Anagyrous; [[National Archaeological Museum of Athens|National Museum]], [[Attica]].]]
'''Anagyrus''' or '''Anagyrous''' ({{langx|grc|Ἀναγυροῦς}}), also '''Anagyruntus''' or '''Anagyrountos''' ({{lang|grc|Ἀναγυροῦντος}}), was a [[deme]] of [[ancient Attica]], belonging to the ''[[phyle]]'' [[Erechtheis]], situated in the south of Attica near the promontory [[Zoster (Attica)|Zoster]].<ref>{{Cite Strabo|p. 398}}</ref><ref>Harpocrat., ''s.v.''; ''[[Suda]]'', ''s.v.''; {{cite Stephanus|''s.v.''}}</ref> [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] mentions at this place a temple of the mother of the gods.<ref>{{Cite Pausanias|1|31|1}}</ref>

The ruins of Anagyrus have been found near [[Vari]].<ref>{{Cite Barrington|59}}</ref><ref>{{cite DARE|31102}}</ref>

The ancient name was maintained until 600 AD, as mentioned by geographer and historian [[Stephanus of Byzantium]].
 
Anagyrous is an important archaeological site that still remains unexplored, with traces of human habitation dating back to 3rd millennium BCE, that include:<ref>(Leake 1835, Amer Journal of Arch -1909, and others)</ref>
 
* The fortification and acropolis of Lathouriza (7th - 3rd century BC) 
* The remains of 25 small houses
* A sacred altar 
* Ten funerary precincts
* A major [[Mycenaean Greece|Mycenaean]] cemetery 
* A cemetery and [[Palestrina]] of the Classical period
* The Cave of the Nymphs and Pan (converted to a sanctuary by [[Archedemus of Tarsus|Archedimus]] with statues of [[Cybele]], [[Hermes]], [[Pan (god)|Pan]] and others)

[[Eumenes of Anagyrus]] and the [[Anagyrus Painter]] were from the town.

== Etymology ==
===From name of hero Anagyrous===
According to one version, the name derives from the mythical Anagyrous, whose temple was located in the region. Anagyrous made the homes near his sacred grove tremble and collapse. He once exterminated an entire family who had cut trees from his sacred grove—hence the ancient proverb, "Anagryasion Daimon". Offerings and sacrifices were brought to Anagryous as attempts to appease his anger.

===From plant name ''Anagyris''===
Another version derives from the plant Anagyris ''[[Anagyris foetida]]'', the  ''stinking bean trefoil '', referred to as [[vomiting|emetic]] and [[laxative]] by [[Pedanius Dioscorides|Dioscorides]] (9-79 AD) in his monumental ''[[De materia medica]]'' <ref>[[Pedanius Dioscorides]], ''[[De materia medica]]'' Book 3: "Roots of Akanthoda (= Prickly Plants) No. 167 "Anaguris [Onaguris]" http://www.cancerlynx.com/BOOKTHREEROOTS.PDF</ref>
, and as an exorcism of ill fate by the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] [[Suda|Suidas dictionary]]. The plant grows abundantly in the valley, exuding a terrible stench when touched or shaken. [[Aristophanes]] (Lysias 68) cites the following humorist dialogue:

<blockquote>{{lang|grc|Πόθεν εισίν; Αναγυρουντόθεν. Νη τον Δία, ο γουν Ανάγυρος μη κεκινήσθαι δοκεί.}}<br>

({{lang|grc-Latn|Pothen eisin? Anagyrountothen. Nee ton Dia, o goun Anagyros me kekinisthai dokei}})<br>

(Where are you from? From Anagyron, By Zeus, better not shake the Anagyron.)</blockquote>

In this context may also be mentioned a [[pun]]ning exchange near the beginning of Aristophanes’s comedy [[Lysistrata]]: <blockquote>[Several women enter, headed by MYRRHINA, from the deme of Anagyrous. Others soon follow.]

CALONICE: Hi ! but they're coming now : here they all are : First one, and then another - hoity-toity!
Where’s this lot from?

LYSISTRATA: From Anagyrous.

CALONICE: Aha! Well, at any rate we’ve  "stirred up Anagyrous" [homophonic pun upon the plant name "Anagyris"]. *

* Note: {{lang|grc|κινεῖν τὸν ἀνάγυρον}} ({{lang|grc-Latn|kinein tòn anáguron}}) "To stir up [shake] the Anagyris" (meaning the nauseous-smelling shrub ''Anagyris foetida'') was a proverb, used of persons who brought some unpleasantness on themselves [compare "Let sleeping dogs lie"]. Calonice applies the proverb to the [similarly named] Anagyrous, meaning that the influx of Anagyrasian women proved that the deme Anagyrous was thoroughly stirred up [i.e. "in uproar" / "out on the street"].<ref>[The Works of] Aristophanes in Three Volumes
With English translation [of 1924, language updated slightly] by
Benjamin Bickley Rogers M.A., D.Litt ., Barrister-at-Law, sometime fellow of Wadham College Oxford
Pub. London 
William Heinemann Ltd.  MCMXLVI (1946) lines 65-7 pps. 12-13 (original Ancient Greek followed by translation). https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Aristophanes%3B_with_the_English_translation_of_Benjamin_Bickley_Rogers_%28IA_aristophaneswith03arisuoft%29.pdf</ref></blockquote>

A further layer of meaning can be guessed at in the pun: some commentators have inferred that a playful (possibly traditional) jibe at the inhabitants of Anagyrous may have been intended - to the effect that the Anagyrasians were notably [[Body odor|smelly]], because their [[Hygiene|personal hygiene]] was poor. [Aristophanes may here be referencing an [[in-joke]] that his Athenian audience would have appreciated].

==Association with infancy of Plato==
According to Aelian, the countryside near Anagyrous was where Aristion and Periktyoni (Plato's parents) used to lull baby [[Plato]].

"... {{lang|grc|εν ταις πλησίον μυρρίναις, δασείες ούσες και πυκνές, καθεύδοντι δε εσμός μελισσών εν τοις χείλεσι αυτού καθίσασαι, υπήδον την του Πλάτωνος ευγλωττία μαντευόμεναι.}}"

({{lang|grc-Latn|En tais plesion myrrinais, daseies ouses kai pyknes, katheudonti de esmos melisson en tois cheilesi autou kathisasai, upedon ten tou Platonos euglottia mantevomenai}}).

"... nearby the [[Myrtus|myrtle]] plants, dense and leafy as they were, and while he was sleeping, a swarm of bees sat peacefully on his lips, thus surmising the eloquence of Plato."

==References==
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{{DGRG|title=Anagyrus}}

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[[Category:Populated places in ancient Attica]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Greece]]
[[Category:Demoi]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek archaeological sites in Attica]]


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