Dorian Hexapolis

The Doric or Dorian Hexapolis was a federation of six cities (hexapolis) of Dorian foundation, and included:

  • Kos, on the island of the same name in the Aegean sea;
  • Cnidus, in Caria;
  • Halicarnassus, also in Caria;
  • Lindus, on the island of Rhodes;
  • Ialysos, also on Rhodes; and
  • Camirus, also on Rhodes.

The members of this hexapolis were accustomed to celebrate a festival, with games, on the Triopian promontory near Cnidus, in honour of the Triopian Apollo; the prizes in those games were brazen tripods, which the victors had to dedicate in the temple of Apollo; and Halicarnassus was struck out of the league, because one of her citizens carried the tripod to his own house before dedicating it in the temple of Apollo. The hexapolis thus became the Doric Pentapolis. (Herod. i. 144.)