Pleuron

Pleuron (ITAɛupov) Place name, town of the AETOLIANS, mentioned in the CATALOGUE OF SHIPS (II. 2.639-640) together with OLENOS, Pylene, CHALCIS (2), and KALYDON as part of the contingent of THOAS (1); figures together with Kalydon as a reference point to the Aetolian region (13.217-218, 14.116; Visser 1997, 601 602). Fought over in the mythical encounters between MELEAGER and the KURETES ([Hes.] fr. 25.13 M-W). There are two places called Pleuron. While New Pleuron represents a foundation of the Hellenistic period, the site of Old Pleuron is usually identified with a low hill nearby on the plain north of today's Mesolonghi (Kirsten RE 21.1 s.v. "Pleuron [2]"). Here MYCENAEAN as well as Early Iron Age pottery was reported (Hope Simpson and Dickinson 1979, 181 E1), and a series of local Protogeometric vessels came probably from tombs (Dekoulakou 1971, 1982, 220-224), which indicate the existence of a con temporary settlement. References and Suggested Readings Labarbe 1949; Ferrari 1989; Murray 1996; Clay 2000. DISKIN CLAY