Palakion Explained

Palakion (Παλάκιον), according to Strabo, was a Scythian fortress in the steppes of Crimea.^[1] The only information about it is from an inscription on the gravestone of a dweller of Chersonesos who died in a battle at the walls of Palakion.^{[2] [3]}

Strabo suggests that Palakion, Chabon (Chabaioi^[4]) and Scythian Neapolis were named after sons of Scythian ruler Skilurus (Palakus, in the case of Palakion).^[1]

Peter Simon Pallas speculated that the name of Balaklava is a corruption of 'Palakion'.^[5] There is no historical evidence to this.^[6]

Notes and References

1. http://www.paulyonline.brill.nl/entries/der-neue-pauly/palakion-e904220?s.num=66&s.start=60 "Palakion"
2. http://www.chersonesos.org/?p=out_ant_palakiy&l=eng "Palakion"
3. Web site: История Балаклавы.
4. http://www.chersonesos.org/?p=out_ant_habei&l=eng Chabaioi (Chabon)
5. http://www.sevastopol.info/toponim/balaklava.htm "Balaklava"
6. http://sevastopol_toponyms.academic.ru/663/%D0%9F%D0%90%D0%9B%D0%90%D0%9A%D0%98%D0%99%2C_%D0%9F%D0%90%D0%9B%D0%90%D0%9A%D0%98%D0%9E%D0%9D%2C_%D0%B3%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B4 ПАЛАКИЙ, ПАЛАКИОН, город