SYRNA
(Bayir) Turkey.
Town in Caria on the
Loryma peninsula SW of Marmaris. Founded, according
to the legend (Steph. Byz. s.v.), by Podaleirios son of
Asklepios and named after his wife Syrna. The site was
determined in 1948 by a decree of the Syrnians, found
near Bayir, recording a donation for the celebration of
sacrifices in the precinct of Asklepios. An Asklepieion at
Bayir was previously known from another inscription
listing contributions to some building connected with it.
Both inscriptions date from the 2d c. B.C. when Syrna
was included in the Rhodian Peraea, though not actually
a deme. The ruins are scanty, almost entirely isolated
ancient stones; the site of the Asklepieion has not been
located. The former identification of Bayir with the deme
of Hygassos on the strength of an epitaph of husband
and wife, both Hygassians, found there, is now superseded.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
G. Cousin & R. Dechamps in
BCH 18
(1894) 30; E. Hula & E. Szanto,
SBWien 132 (1894) 32-33; P. M. Fraser & G. E. Bean,
The Rhodian Peraea (1954) 28-32, 57.
G. E. BEAN