Rhodope

RHO´DOPE(Ῥοδόπη, Hdt. 6.49; Thuc. 2.96; Plb. 34.19; Strab. 4. p. 208, vii. pp. 313, 329, 331; Mela, 2.2.2; Plin. Nat. 3.29, 4.5. s. 17; Ammian. 21.10.3; Malchus, ap. Exc. de Leg. Rom. p. 90), a mountain chain forming the W. continuation of Haemus, and the frontier between Thrace and Macedonia, of which little more is known than the name. On its desolate heights, the lurking places of the fierce Satrae, was the great sanctuary and oracle of the Thracian Dionysus. As the Strymon took its sources in Rhodope (Strab. 8. p. 331) the high ridges round Dúpnitzaand Ghiustendílmust be assigned to Rhodope, which may roughly be said to belong to the central of the three continuous chains, which under the name of the Despoto Daghbranches out to the S. of the Balkan(Haemus) at about 23° E. long.
[E.B.J]