Thelphusa

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Thelphusa ( Greek  Θέλφουσα ) was an ancient city in Arcadia on the left bank of the Ladon River . Remains of the city wall and the agora are preserved near today's Thelphusa on the road from Psophis to Heraia.

It was named after a nymph Thelphusa , who, according to Pausanias, was a daughter of the river god Ladon . The urban area bordered on Kleitor and Psophis. At its edge was a sanctuary of the Eleusinian Demeter and further downstream the sanctuary of Demeter Erinys near Onkeion .

In mythical times this is said to have been the domain of Onkios , the son of Apollo , and this is also said to have been the place where Demeter in the form of a mare was raped in the form of a stallion by her brother Poseidon . Hence the anger of the goddess and hence the name, Demeter Erinys , "angry Demeter". Finally, however, the anger of the goddess who took a bath in the Ladon to wash away her disgrace subsided, which gave her the nickname Demeter Louisia , "bathing Demeter". Accordingly, there were two statues of Demeter in the sanctuary. Both were made of wood, but the face and hands were made of Parian marble. The portrait of angry Demeter carried a torch in her right hand and held the mystical cista with her left .

In addition, there were also sanctuaries of Apollo and Asclepius at Onkeion .

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Coordinates: 37 ° 42 ′ 55 "  N , 21 ° 52 ′ 44"  E