Cestrine

Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography

CESTRINE(Κεστρίνη, Thuc. Paus.; Κεστρινία, Steph. B. s. v. Καμμανία; Κεστρία, Steph. B. s. v. Τροΐα), a district of Epeirus in the south of Chaonia, separated from Thesprotia by the river Thyamis. (Thuc. 1.46.) It is said to have received its name from Cestrinus, son of Helenus and Andromache, having been previously called Cammania. (Paus. 1.11.1, 2.23.6; Steph. B. s. v. Καμμανία.) The principal town of this district is called Cestria by Pliny (Plin. Nat. 4.1), but its more usual name appears to have been Ilium or Troja, in memory of the Trojan colony of Helenus. (Steph. B. s. v. Τροΐα.) The remains of this town are still visible at the spot called Paleá Venetía, near the town of Filiátes. In the neighbourhood are those fertile pastures, which were celebrated in ancient times for the Cestrinic oxen. (Hesych. s. v. Κεστρινικοὶ Βοές;Schol. ad Aristoph. Pac. 924.) The inhabitants of the district were called Κεστρηνοίby the poet Rhianus (Steph. B. s. v. Χαῦνοι). (Leake, Northern Greece, vol. iv. pp. 73, 175.)