Coela

COELA(τὰ Κοῖλα τῆς Εὐβοίας), the Hollows,a part of the coast of Euboea, which was very dangerous to vessels in stormy weather, and where a squadron of the Persian fleet was wrecked just before the battle of Artemisium. (Hdt. 8.13.) Strabo (10. p. 445) describes it as a place between Aulis and Geraestus; but as Aulis is misplaced in a description of the Euboean coast, many critics have proposed to read Chalcis. The Epitomizer of Strabo has Caphareus instead of Aulis, a correction which appears to have been made from Ptolemy (Ptol. 3.15.25), who places the Coela between Caphareus and the promontory Chersonesus. But Ptolemy is the only writer who places the Coela on the eastern side of the island; all other ancient writers suppose them to have been on the western coast. (Liv. 31.47; Val. Max.; Lucan (Luc. 5.196, 230.) The Persian fleet must therefore have sailed round the promontory of Geraestus before they were overtaken by the storm. (Groskurd and Kramer, ad Strab. l. c. ）