Aliphera

ALIPHE´RA(Ἀλίφηρα, Paus.; Aliphera, Liv.; Ἀλίφειρα, Polyb.: Eth. Ἀλιφηραῖος, on coins ΑΛΙΦΕΙΡΕΩΝ, Aliphiraeus, Plin. Nat. 4.6. s. 10. § 22), a town of Arcadia, in the district Cynuria, said to have been built by Alipherus, a son of Lycaon, was situated upon a steep and lofty hill, 40 stadia S. of the Alpheius and near the frontiers of Elis. A large number of its inhabitants removed to Megalopolis upon the foundation of the latter city in B.C. 371; but it still continued to be a place of some importance. It was ceded to the Eleans by Lydiades, when tyrant of Megalopolis; but it was taken from them by Philip in the Social War, B.C. 219, and restored to Megalopolis. It contained temples of Asclepius and Athena, and a celebrated bronze statue by Hypatodorus of the latter goddess, who was said to have been born here. There are still considerable remains of this town on the hill of Neróvitza, which has a tabular summit about 300 yards long in the direction of E. and W., 100 yards broad, and surrounded by remains of Hellenic walls. At the south-eastern angle, a part rather higher than the rest formed an acropolis: it was about 70 yards long and half as much broad. The walls are built of polygonal and regular masonry intermixed. (Paus. 8.3.4, 26.5, 27. § § 4, 7; Plb. 4.77, 78; Liv. 28.8; Steph. B. s. v.;Leake, Morea, vol. 2. p. 72, seq.; Ross, Reisen im Peloponnes, vol. 1. p. 102; Curtius, Peloponnesos, vol. 1. p. 361, seq.)