Lycoreia

Lycoreia or Lykoreia (Ancient Greek: Λυκώρεια) was a town of ancient Phocis situated upon one of the heights of Parnassus above the sanctuary of Delphi, whence came the population of Delphi. This town is said to have been founded by Deucalion, and from it the Delphian nobles, at all events, derived their origin. Hence, Plutarch tells us that the five chief-priests of the god, called osioi (Ὅσιοι), were chosen by lot from a number of families who derived their descent from Deucalion.[1][2][3][4] It appears the inhabitants of Lycoreia were Dorians, who had spread from the Dorian Tetrapolis over the heights of Parnassus. At all events, we know that a Doric dialect was spoken at Delphi; and the oracle always showed a leaning towards the Greeks of the Doric race. Moreover, that the Delphians were of a different race from the Phocians is clear from the antipathy which always existed between the two peoples.

The location of Lycoreia has not been fixed with precision, although some identify it with the modern village of Liakouri, where some ruins of ancient walls remain.[5]

Pausanias: Book 10:

Now this city, so the story goes on, was flooded by the rains that fell in the time of Deucalion. Such of the inhabitants as were able to escape the storm were led by the howls of wolves to safety on the top of Parnassus, being led on their way by these beasts, and on this account they called the city that they founded Lycoreia (Mountainwolf-city).

Another and different legend is current that Apollo had a son Lycorus by a nymph, Corycia, and that after Lycorus was named the city Lycoreia, and after the nymph the Corycian cave. It is also said that Celaeno was daughter to Hyamus, son of Lycorus, and that Delphus, from whom comes the present name of the city, was a son of Celaeno, daughter of Hyamus, by Apollo

References

Strabo. Geographica. ix. pp. 418, 423. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
Scholiast of Apoll. Rhod. 2.711
Pausanias. Description of Greece. 10.6.2.
Plutarch Quaest. Graec. 9, p. 380.

Juan José Torres Esbarranch (2001). Estrabón, Geografía libros VIII-X (in Spanish). Madrid: Gredos. p. 315, n. 434. ISBN 84-249-2298-0.

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Delphi". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.

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