I.a promontory and town in Laconia; on the promontory (now Cape Matapan) was a temple of Neptune, and near it a cavern, the fabled entrance to the infernal regions; it was also famous for its black marble, Mel. 2, 3, 8; Plin. 4, 5, 8, § 16; Liv. Andron. ap. Fest. p. 181 Müll. (Trag. Rel. p. 4 Rib.); Sen. Herc. Fur. 662; Luc. 9, 36; Stat. Th. 2, 32 sq.; Tib. 3, 3, 14; Serv. Verg. G. 4, 467.— Poet., for the infernal regions: “invisi horrida Taenari Sedes,” Hor. C. 1, 34, 10; Sen. Troad. 402.—Hence,
A. Taenărĭus , a, um, adj., of or belonging to Tænarus, Tænarian; poet. also = Laconian, Spartan: “litus,” Plin. 9, 8, 8, § 28 (Jahn: “Taenarum in litus): humus,” Ov. H. 15 (16), 274: “columnae,” of Tænarian marble, Prop. 3 (4), 1, 49. so, “lapis,” Plin. 36, 18, 29, § 135: “deus,” i. e. Neptune, Prop. 1, 13, 22: “Taenariae fauces, alta ostia Ditis,” i. e. the entrance of the infernal regions, Verg. G. 4, 467; so, “fauces,” Luc. 6, 648: “porta,” Ov. M. 10, 13; cf. “vallis,” the infernal regions, id. F. 4, 612: “currus,” i. e. of Pluto, Claud. Rapt. Pros. 1, 2: “Eurotas,” Laconian, Spartan, Ov. M. 2, 247: “marita,” i. e. Helen, id. H. 13, 45.—
B. Taenărĭdes , ae, m., the Tænarian; poet. for the Laconian, i. e. Hyacinthus, Ov. M. 10, 183. —
C. Taenăris , ĭdis, adj. f., Tænarian; poet. for Laconian, Spartan: “ora,” Ov. H. 17, 6: “terra,” id. ib. 16, 30.