HALE´SION(Ἁλήσιον πεδίον) the salt-plain,a small district in the south-west of Troas, south of the river Satinoeis. (Strab 13. p. 605.) It derived its name from the circumstance that, during a part of the year, the country was overflown by the sea, which, on withdrawing, left behind a sediment of salt. Salt-works accordingly existed there at a place called the Tragasaean Salines (τὸ Τραγασαῖον ἁλοπήγιον). There was a story that Lysirnachus levied a duty on the collectors of the salt, and that thereupon the salt disappeared altogether, but reappeared on the withdrawal of the tax. (Athen. 3. p. 73; comp. Pollux, 6.10; Plin. Nat. 31.41; Galen, de Temp. Med. Simpl. 2. p. 151; Hesych. s. v. Τραγασαῖοι;Steph. B. s. vv.and Τράγασαι, who, however, by mistake transfers the plain to Epirus.) According to Leake, the neighbouring hills are composed of salt rock; and the salt-works, which are still in existence, are called by the Turks Tuzla. (Asia Minor, pp. 273, foll.)
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