MALLUS(Μαλλός: Eth. Μαλλώτης), an ancient city of Cilicia, which, according to tradition, was founded in the Trojan times by the soothsayers Mopsus and Amphilochus. (Strab. 14. p. 675, &c. Arrian, Arr. Anab. 2.5.) It was situated near the mouth of the river Pyramus, on an eminence opposite to Megarsus, as we must infer from Curtius (Curt. 3.7), who states that Alexander entered the town after throwing a bridge across the Pyramus. Mallus therefore stood on the eastern bank of the river. According to Scylax (p. 40) it was necessary to sail up the river a short distance in order to reach Mallus; and Mela (1.13) also states that the town is situated close upon the river; whence Ptolemy (Ptol. 5.8.4) must be mistaken in placing it more than two miles away from the river. Mallus was a town of considerable importance, though it does not appear to have possessed any particular attractions. Its port-town was Magarsa [MAGARSA], though in later times it seems to have had a port of its own, called Portus Palorum (Geogr. Nub. p.195; Sanut. Secret. Fid. 2.4, 26, whence we learn that in the middle ages it continued to be called Malo;comp. Callim. Fragm. 15; Appian, Mithrid. 96; Dionys. Per. 875; Ptol. 8.17.44; Plin. Nat. 5.22; Stadiasm. Mar. M. §§ 151, 152; Leake, Asia Minor, pp. 216, &c.) COIN OF MALLUS IN CILICIA.
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