Chapter 255

2620Venetico and Formignes are the names of two of them.

2621Now Servi.

2622The modern Cerigo.

2623It is much further from the Cape of Malea or Santo Angelo than the distance here mentioned. It derived its name of Porphyris from the purple fishery established here by the Phœnicians.

2624The modern Isle of Port Tolon. Irine is the present Hipsyli according to Leake, who also identifies Ephyre with Spetzia.

2625At the south of Argolis.

2626The modern Dhoko, according to Leake. Some authorities think that Tiparenus, and not Ephyre, is the modern Spetzia.

2627Leake thinks that Colonis and Hydreia, now called Hydra, were the same island; but Kiepert thinks it the same as the small island to the south of Spetzia.

2628Now Poros.

2629These are the islands now called Moni Jorench, Kophinidia, and San Giorgio d’Arbora. It is perhaps impossible to identify them, except that Belbina is generally supposed to be the island of San Giorgio.

2630Now Kyra.

2631The modern Angistri.

2632Which name, or Eghina, it still retains.

2633See c.9of this Book.

2634Probably the modern Laoussa, one of this group.

2635By Brotier said to be the modern Pentenesia. The other islands here mentioned seem not to have been identified.

2636Now Cerigotto.

2637Dalechamps suggests Hesperus.

2638The island “of the Blessed.”

2639Now Capo Salomon.

2640From the Greekκριοῦ μέτωπον, “the ram’s forehead”; now called Capo Crio.

2641Also called Elæa. Pococke speaks of it as a promontory called Chaule-burnau.

2642Hardouin calls it Chisamo.

2643The modern Khania. The quince derived its Latin name, “Malum Cydonium,” from this district, to which it was indigenous. From its Latin name it was calledmelicotoneby the writers of the Elizabethan period.

2644Now Minolo, according to Hardouin.

2645The port of Apteron, or Aptera, which Mr. Pashley supposes to be denoted by the ruins of Palæokastro; he also thinks that its port was at or near the modern Kalyres.

2646Now La Suda, according to Hardouin, who says that Rhithymna is called Retimo; Panormus, Panormo; and Cytæum, Setia.

2647Supposed by Ansart to have stood in the vicinity of the modern city of Candia.

2648Strabo says that it stood on the narrowest part of the island, opposite Minoa. Vestiges of it have been found at the Kastéle of Hierapetra. Its foundation was ascribed to the Corybantes.

2649Now Lionda.

2650Next to Cnossus in splendour and importance. Mr. Pashley places its site near the modern Haghius Dheka, the place of the martyrdom of the ten Saints, according to tradition, in the Decian persecution.

2651It has been remarked, that Pliny is mistaken here if he intends to enumerate Cnossus among the towns of the interior of Crete. The only remains of this capital of Crete, situate on the north of the island, are those seen at Makro-Teikho, or the “Long Walls,” so called from the masses of Roman brick-work there seen.

2652Though an inland town, it probably stood in the vicinity of the headland or promontory of the same name, which is now called Kavo Stavro. Many of these names are utterly unknown.

2653One of the most important towns of Crete, on the N.W. slope of Mount Ida, about fifty stadia from the port of Astale. Mr. Pashley says that some remains probably of this place are still to be seen on a hill near a place called Eletherna, five miles south of the great convent of Arkadhi.

2654The loftiest point of the mountain-range that traverses the island of Crete from west to east. Its head is covered with snow. The modern name is Psiloriti, looking down on the plain of Mesara. The wordIdais supposed to mean a mountain in which mines are worked, and the Idæi Dactyli of Crete were probably among the first workers in iron and bronze. The position of Mount Cadistus, belonging to the range of White Mountains, has been fixed by Hoeck at Cape Spadha, the most northerly point of the island. It is thought that Pliny and Solinus are in error in speaking of Cadistus and Dictynnæus as separate peaks, these being, both of them, names of the mountain of which the cape was formed; the latter name having been given in later times, from the worship and temple there of Dictynna.

2655Now Grabusa, the N.W. promontory of Crete.

2656Now Ras-al-Sem, or Cape Rasat, in Africa. The distance, according to Brotier, is in reality about 225 miles.

2657Now Skarpanto.

2658According to Hardouin, all of these are mere rocks rather than islands.

2659The modern Haghios Theodhoros.

2660According to Hoeck, they are now called Turlure.

2661Now called Standiu.

2662Now Capo Xacro, on the east, though Cape Salomon, further north, has been suggested. In the latter case, the Grandes islands would correspond with Onisia and Leuce, mentioned by Pliny.

2663Now Gaidurognissa. None of the other islands here mentioned seem to have been identified.

2664Between Eubœa and Locris. They are now called Ponticonesi.

2665Now Koluri. It is memorable for the naval battle fought off its coast, when Xerxes was defeated by the Greeks,B.C.480.

2666Now called Lypsokutali.

2667Now Makronisi, or “the Long Island.” Its ancient name was also Macris. Strabo identifies it with the Homeric Cranaë, to which Paris fled with Helen.

2668Usually called Cea, one of the Cyclades, about thirteen miles S.E. of Sunium. Its modern name is Zea. Iulis was the most important town, and the birth-place of the poets Simonides and Bacchylides, of the sophist Prodicus, the physician Erasistratus, and the Peripatetic philosopher Ariston. Extensive remains of it still exist.

2669There are considerable remains of this town, called by the inhabitants Stais Palais.

2670Or Coresia. It was the harbour of Iulis, to which place we learn from Strabo that its inhabitants were transferred.

2671On the S.W. side of the island. Its ruins are inconsiderable, but retain their ancient name.

2672Now called Eubœa, as also Egripo, or Negropont,—a corruption of the former word and “pont,” “a bridge.”

2673Hardouin speaks of this as existing in his time, 1670, and being 250 feet in length. It is supposed to have been first constructed aboutB.C.411, for the purpose of uninterrupted communication with Bœotia.

2674Now Capo Mandili.

2675Now Kavo Doro, or Xylofago.

2676Now Lithadha, with a mountain 2837 feet above the sea.

2677These measurements are not exactly correct. The length from north to south is about ninety miles; the extreme breadth across, thirty, and in one part, not more than four miles.

2678Still extant in the time of Strabo, who speaks of it as an inconsiderable place.

2679Its site is now called Lipso. It contained warm baths sacred to Hercules, and used by the Dictator Sylla. They are still to be seen.

2680Now Egripo, or Negropont, having given name to the rest of the island. The Euripus is here only forty yards across, being crossed by a bridge, partly of stone, partly of wood. The poet Lycophron and the orator Isæus were natives of this place, and Aristotle died here.

2681Near the promontory of that name, now Capo Mandili. In the town there was a famous temple of Poseidon, or Neptune. According to Hardouin, the modern name is Iastura.

2682One of the most powerful cities of Eubœa. It was destroyed by the Persians under Darius, and a new town was built to the south of the old one. New Eretria stood, according to Leake, at the modern Kastri, and old Eretria in the neighbourhood of Vathy. The tragic poet Achæus, a contemporary of Æschylus, was born here; and a school of philosophy was founded at this place by Menedemus, a disciple of Plato.

2683Now Karysto, on the south of the island, at the foot of Mount Ocha, upon which are supposed to have been its quarries of marble. There are but few remains of the ancient city. The historian Antigonus, the comic poet Apollodorus, and the physician Diocles, were natives of this place.

2684Probably on the promontory of the same name. It was off this coast that the Greek fleet engaged that of Xerxes,B.C.480.

2685There were tame fish kept in this fountain; and its waters were sometimes disturbed by volcanic agency. Leake says that it has now totally disappeared.

2686From the fact of its producing copper, and of its being in shape long and narrow.

2687Strabo remarks, that Homer calls its inhabitants Abantes, while he gives to the island the name of Eubœa. The poets say that it took its name from the cow (Βοῦς) Io, who gave birth to Epaphus on this island.

2688Hardouin remarks here, that Pliny, Strabo, Mela, and Pausanias use the term “Myrtoan Sea,” as meaning that portion of it which lies between Crete and Attica, while Ptolemy so calls the sea which lies off the coast of Caria.

2689Now called Spitilus, and the group of Micronisia, or “Little Islands,” according to Hardouin.

2690Fromκύκλος, “a circle.”

2691Now Andro. It gives name to one of the comedies of Terence. The ruins of the ancient city were found by the German traveller Ross, who has published a hymn to Isis, in hexameter verse, which he discovered here. It was famous for its wines.

2692Now Tino.

2693From its abounding in snakes (ὄφεις) and scorpions.

2694Now Mycono, south-east of Tenos and east of Delos. It was famous in ancient mythology as one of the places where Hercules was said to have defeated the Giants. It was also remarkable for the great proportion of bald persons among its inhabitants.

2695So called from its resemblance to two breasts,μαζοι.

2696Wheeler says that the distance is but three miles; Tournefort, six.

2697Once famous for its gold and silver mines, but equally notorious for the bad character of its people. It is now called Siphno.

2698Now Serpho, lying between Cythnos and Siphnus.

2699Now Fermina, according to Hardouin.

2700Between Ceos and Seriphus. It is now called Thermia. Cydias the painter was born here, and it was famous for its cheeses. Its modern name is derived from its hot springs, which are much frequented.

2701Still called Delos; and, though so celebrated, nothing more than a mere rock, five miles in circumference.

2702That is, according to Varro, whose statement is ridiculed by Seneca. Some of the editors, however, punctuate this passage differently, making it to mean, “the only island that has never experienced an earthquake. Mucianus however has informed us, that down to the time of M. Varro, it has been twice so visited.”

2703From its then becomingδῆλος, “plain,” or “manifest.” It was after the fall of Corinth that Delos became so famous for its commerce. Its bronze was in great request.

2704Fromὄρτυξ, “a quail”; the legend being, that Latona was changed into that bird by Jupiter, in order to effect her escape thither from the anger of Juno. Its name of Asteria was derived fromἄστρον, “a star,” either in consequence of its being devoted to the worship of the great luminary Apollo, or of its being considered by the gods the star of the earth. It was also called Lagia, fromλαγὼς, “a hare,” that animal abounding there; and Cynæthus, fromκύων, “a dog,” it being famous for its hounds.

2705A bare granite rock, not more than 500 feet in height. The island is now a mass of ruins; a great part of its remains having been carried away in the middle ages to Venice and Constantinople.

2706Divided by a strait of four stadia in width from Delos. Nicias connected the two islands by a bridge. Its name of Celadussa was said to be derived from the noise of the waves,κέλαδος, and of Artemite, from Artemis, or Diana.

2707Now Syra; famous for its wine and corn.

2708Now Antiparos; famous for its stalactite grotto, which is not mentioned by the ancient writers.

2709Now Paro; south of Delos and west of Naxos. The ruins of its town are still to be seen at the modern Paroikia. The Parian Chronicle, inscribed on marble, and containing a chronicle of Grecian history from Cecrops,B.C.1582, toB.C.264, was found here. It is preserved at Oxford.

2710Chiefly obtained from a mountain called Marpessa.

2711Now Naxia, famous both in ancient and modern times for its remarkable fertility.

2712Fromστρογγύλος, “round,” its shape being somewhat inclined to circular, though by Eustathius it is compared to the shape of a vine-leaf. It is commonly called Dia by the poets. Tournefort says that it is distant forty miles from Delos.

2713FromΔιόνυσος, or Bacchus, the god of wine.

2714Or “Fine City.” It took its other name from the fact of its rivalling the fertility of Sicily.

2715According to Brotier, the Jesuit Babin, on visiting it, found its circumference estimated at thirty-six miles only.

2716So called from lying scattered at random as it were,σπορὰς“scattered.”

2717Helene is supposed to be the modern Pira; Phacussa, Fecussa; Nicasia, Rachia; Schinussa, Schinusa; and Pholegandros, Policandro.

2718Now Nikaria, to the west of Samos. According to tradition, it derived its name from Icarus, the son of Dædalus, who was believed to have fallen into the sea in its vicinity.

2719Its length is not so great as is here mentioned by Pliny. Its towns were Drepanum, or Dracanum, Œnoë, and Isti.

2720The first two names are from the Greek, in allusion to its long, narrow shape, and the last bears reference to the fact of its shores abounding in fish.

2721Now Scyro, east of Eubœa, and one of the Sporades. Here Achilles was said to have been concealed by his mother Thetis, in woman’s attire.

2722Now Nio, one of the Sporades, inaccurately called by Stephanus one of the Cyclades. The modern town is built on the site of the ancient one, of which there are some remains. It was said that Homer died here, on his voyage from Smyrna to Athens, and that his mother, Clymene, was a native of this island. In 1773, Van Krienen, a Dutch nobleman, asserted that he had discovered the tomb of Homer here, with certain inscriptions relative to him; but they have been generally regarded by the learned as forgeries. Odia and Oletandros seem not to have been identified.

2723Now called Gioura, or Jura. It was little better than a barren rock, though inhabited; but so notorious for its poverty, that its mice were said to be able to gnaw through iron. It was used as a place of banishment under the Roman emperors, whence the line of Juvenal, i. 73—“Aude aliquid brevibus Gyaris et carcere dignum.”“Dare some deed deserving of the little Gyara and the gaol.” It is now uninhabited, except by a few shepherds in the summer.

“Aude aliquid brevibus Gyaris et carcere dignum.”

“Dare some deed deserving of the little Gyara and the gaol.” It is now uninhabited, except by a few shepherds in the summer.

2724Now Telos, or Piskopi, a small island in the Carpathian Sea, and one of the Sporades. It lies off the coast of Caria. Syrnos appears not to have been identified.

2725Near Naxos. Virgil calls it ‘viridis,’ or ‘green,’ which Servius explains by the colour of its marble. Like Gyara, it was used as a place of banishment under the Roman Empire. In C.22, Pliny has mentioned Cynæthus as one of the names of Delos.

2726Now Patmo, one of the Sporades, and west of the Promontory of Posidium, in Caria. To this place St. John was banished, and here he wrote the Apocalypse.

2727A group between Icaria and Samos. They are now called Phurni and Krusi.

2728One of the Sporades, now Lebitha.

2729Now Lero. Its inhabitants were of Milesian origin, and of indifferent character. In its temple of Artemis, the sisters of Meleager were said to have been changed into guinea-fowls. It was opposite the coast of Caria.

2730Now Zinari, N.E. of Amorgos. The artichoke (calledκίναραin Greek) is said to have given name to it.

2731Now Sikino; between Pholegandros and Ios.

2732So called, according to Stephanus, from its cultivation of the vine and produce of wine,οἶνος. It was situate between Pholegandros and Ios. It was said to have had the name of Sicinus from a son of Thoas and Œnoë. Hieracia seems to be unknown.

2733Still known by that name, and lying between Carpathus and Crete. The ruins of the ancient town of Casos are still to be seen at the village of Polin. It is mentioned by Homer.

2734Now Kimoli, one of the Cyclades, between Siphnos and Melos. It took its name of Echinussa from the ‘Echinus,’ or Sea-urchin, of which various fossil specimens are still found on the coast; but nowhere else in these islands, except the opposite coast of Melos. There are considerable ruins of its ancient town.

2735Now Milo, the most westerly of the Cyclades. It is remarkable for its extreme fertility. Its town, which, according to most authorities, was called Byblis, was situate on the north of the island.

2736Ansart remarks, that our author is mistaken in this assertion, for not only are many others of these islands more circular in form, but even that of Kimolo, which stands next to it.

2737Now Amorgo, S.E. of Naxos. It was the birth-place of the Iambic poet Simonides. It is noted for its fertility. Under the Roman emperors, it was used as a place of banishment.

2738Now Polybos, or Antimelos, an uninhabited island near Melos. Phyle seems not to have been identified.

2739Now Santorin, south of the island of Ios. The tradition was, that it was formed from a clod of earth, thrown from the ship Argo. It is evidently of volcanic origin, and is covered with pumice-stone. It was colonized by Lacedæmonians and Minyans of Lemnos, under the Spartan Theras, who gave his name to the island.

2740A small island to the west of Thera, still known by the same name.

2741In Lapie’s map, Ascania is set down as the present Christiana.

2742Now Anaphe, Namfi, or Namphio, one of the Sporades. It was celebrated for the temple of Apollo Ægletes, the foundation of which was ascribed to the Argonauts, and of which considerable remains still exist. It abounds in partridges, as it did also in ancient times.

2743Now Astropalæa, or Stamphalia. By Strabo it is called one of the Sporades, by Stephanus one of the Cyclades. It probably was favoured by the Romans for the excellence and importance of its harbours. From Hegesander we learn that it was famous for its hares, and Pliny tells us, in B. viii. c. 59, that its mussels were (as they still are) very celebrated.

2744None of these islands can be now identified, except perhaps Chalcia, also mentioned by Strabo, and now known as Karki.

2745Now Kalymno, the principal island of the group, by Homer called Calydne. According to most of the editions, Pliny mentions here Calydna and Calymna, making this island, which had those two names, into two islands. Although Pliny here mentions only the town of Coös, still, in B. v. c.36, he speaks of three others, Notium, Nisyrus, and Mendeterus. There are still some remains of antiquity to be seen here.

2746Or Carpathus, now Skarpanto. It gave name to the sea between Crete and Rhodes.

2747It still preserves its ancient name, and presents some interesting remains of antiquity.

2748Brotier says that the distance is really fifty-two miles.

2749So called from the town of Petalia, on the mainland. Ansart says that their present name is Spili.

2750Now Talanti, giving name to the Channel of Talanti.

2751The present Gulf of Volo, mentioned in C.15of the present Book.

2752Ansart suggests that this may possibly be the small island now called Agios Nicolaos.

2753Now Trikeri.

2754In the present Chapter.

2755Now Scangero, or Skantzoura, according to Ansart.

2756Now the Gulf of Saloniki, mentioned in C.17. The islands here mentioned have apparently not been identified.

2757Off the coast of Thessaly, now Piperi.

2758Now Skiathos. It was famous for its wine.

2759Now called Embro, or Imru. Both the island and city of Imbros are mentioned by Homer.

2760This is double the actual circumference of the island.

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