One of the most important ancient cities of Phthiotis, due to its strategic position, connecting Thessaly to the Malian gulf and Thessaly to southern Greece, flourished on the northern foot of Mt Othrys, near the mythical river Enipeus, in the 5th century B.C., and was inhabited until Roman times. According to Strabo, it was initially named Pyrrha and the market housed the tomb of Hellen, son of Deucalion and Pyrrha. Melitaea had powerful fortifications and covered a large area, while the deified wind god Boreas was worshipped there.