PIRÆEUS PORTUS, (anc. geog.), a celebrated port to the west of Athens, consisting naturally of three harbours or basins, (Thucydides); which lay neglected, till Themistocles put the Athenians on making it a commodious port, (Nepos); the Phalerus a small port, and not far from the city, being what they used before that time, (Paufanias, Nepos). Piræus was originally a village of Attica, (Paufanias); an island, (Strabo); and though distant 40 stadia from Athens, was joined to it by two long walls, (Thucydides), and itself locked or walled round, (Nepos): A very commodious and safe harbour. The whole of its compass was 60 stadia, including the Munichia. Not far from the Piræus, stood the sepulchre of Themistocles; whither his friends conveyed his bones from Magnesia, into the Hither Asia, (Cicero, Plutarch, Paufanias). It is still at this day a famous port, much frequented, and called Porto Lione.