Tænărus

, now Matapan , a promontory of Laconia, the most southern point of Europe, where Neptune had a temple. There was there a large and deep cavern, whence i ued a black and unwholesome vapour, from which circumstance the poets have imagined that it was one of the entrances of hell, through which Hercules dragged Cerberus from the infernal regions. This fabulous tradition arises, according to Pausanias, from the continual resort of a large serpent near the cavern of Tænarus, whose bite was mortal. The serpent, as the geographer observes, was at last killed by Hercules, and carried to Eurystheus. The town of Tænarus was at the distance of about 40 stadia from the promontory, and was famous for marble of a beautiful green colour. The town, as well as the promontory, received its name from Tænarus, a son of Neptune. There were some festivals celebrated there, called Tænaria , in honour of Neptune, surnamed Tænarius . Homer , Hymn to Apollo , li. 413 .— Pausanias , bk. 3 , ch. 14 .— Lucan , bk. 6 , li. 648 .— Ovid , Metamorphoses , bk. 2 , li. 247 ; bk. 10 , lis. 13 & 83.— Pausanias , bk. 3 , ch. 25 .— Apollo dor us , bk. 2 , ch. 5 .— Mela , bk. 2 , ch. 3 .— Strabo , bk. 8 .