Εμφανίζονται 100 (επί συνόλου 603) τίτλοι με αναζήτηση: Πληροφορίες για τον τόπο στην ευρύτερη περιοχή: "ΝΟΤΙΟ ΑΙΓΑΙΟ Περιφέρεια ΕΛΛΑΔΑ" .
ΑΓΙΑ ΜΑΡΙΝΑ (Οικισμός) ΣΙΦΝΟΣ
Απέναντι από τις Καμάρες, στους πρόποδες του βουνού του Αγίου Συμεών αναπτύσσεται η συνοικία της Αγίας Μαρίνας ή Πέρα Μπάντα, όπου υπάρχουν ταβέρνες και ενοικιαζόμενα δωμάτια. Τις δύο αγκάλες του λιμανιού που τις χωρίζει η θάλασσα τις ενώνει χρυσαφένια απλόχωρη αμμουδιά στο μυχό του όρμου.
ΚΥΘΝΟΣ (Νησί) ΚΥΚΛΑΔΕΣ
Οι Κύθνιοι φροντίζουν με κάθε τρόπο να διατηρούν τα ήθη και έθιμα
των προγόνων τους, αλλά και να γιορτάζουν με ιδιαίτερη λαμπρότητα τις θρησκευτικές
εορτές. Σχεδόν κάθε οικογένεια στην Κύθνο έχει ένα δικό της εκκλησάκι στο κτήμα
της και κάθε φορά που γιορτάζει ο άγιος στον οποίο έχει αφιερωθεί, η οικογένεια
διοργανώνει ένα πλούσιο πανηγύρι, όπου όλοι είναι ευπρόσδεκτοι. Η γενναιοδωρία
των κατοίκων προσφέρει πλούσια εδέσματα και ντόπιο κρασί και το νησί γεμίζει από
τους ήχους των παραδοσιακών οργάνων του λαούτου και του βιολιού, που παίζουν τις
λεγόμενες “ζύες” ή “ζυγιές” (ζευγάρι οργανοπαιχτών).
Ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον παρουσιάζουν τα έθιμα του Γάμου στη Χώρα
και στη Δρυοπίδα, ενώ τις
απόκριες στην Κύθνο διοργανώνονται διάφορες εκδηλώσεις, με αποκορύφωμα το έθιμο
του Λαζάνη - του βασιλιά καρνάβαλου της Κύθνου - που γίνεται την τελευταία Κυριακή.
Την παραμονή της Πρωτομαγιάς οι νέοι τη νύχτα κλέβουν λουλούδια από
τις αυλές για να τα κρεμάσουν έξω από την πόρτα της κοπέλας για την οποία ενδιαφέρονται,
με συνοδεία μουσικών οργάνων και τραγουδούν το σκοπό του Μάη.
Οι προετοιμασίες για το Πάσχα ξεκινούν τη Μεγάλη Πέμπτη με τη βαφή
των αυγών και το ψήσιμο των Λαμπριάτικων κουλουριών, αλλά και το άσπρισμα σε όλα
τα σοκάκια του χωριού. Ακολουθεί η περιφορά του Επιταφίου τη Μεγάλη Παρασκευή
και οι Θερμιώτικες πίτες το Μεγάλο Σάββατο. Την Κυριακή του Πάσχα αναβιώνει το
έθιμο της Κούνιας.
Το κείμενο παρατίθεται το Φεβρουάριο 2004 από τουριστικό φυλλάδιο
του Δήμου Κύθνου
και της Ένωσης Τουριστικών
Επαγγελμάτων Κύθνου.
ΜΕΓΙΣΤΗ (ΚΑΣΤΕΛΟΡΙΖΟ) (Νησί) ΔΩΔΕΚΑΝΗΣΟΣ
Το όνομα Μεγίστη οφείλει στο ότι είναι η μεγαλύτερη σε μια γραφική
συστάδα νησίδων. Η συνολική έκταση του πολυνήσου είναι 11.978 στρέμματα. Είναι
ορεινό και βραχώδες νησί.
Για την αρχαία ιστορία του νησιού ούτε πολλές γραπτές μαρτυρίες υπάρχουν,
ούτε και συστηματικές ανασκαφές έχουν γίνει. Νεολιθικά εργαλεία, προϊστορικά τείχη,
λαξευτοί τάφοι, ένα χρυσό στεφάνι μυκηναϊκής εποχής, δωρικές επιγραφές κι άλλα
ευρήματα μαρτυρούν ότι το νησί κατοικείται συνεχώς από τους πανάρχαιους χρόνους.
Το ασφαλές φυσικό λιμάνι στη ΒΔ ακτή στάθηκε το κυριότερο γεωφυσικό
χάρισμα του Καστελόριζου, μοναδικό σε μια μεγάλης έκτασης αλίμενη περιοχή. Κι
έτσι καθώς βρίσκεται στο θαλασσινό σταυροδρόμι ανάμεσα στην Ευρώπη, τη Μέση Ανατολή
και την Αίγυπτο, ήταν φυσικό
να δημιουργήσει σημαντική εμπορική και ναυτική κίνηση.
Σήμερα έχει πληθυσμό 275 κατοίκους. Τόσοι απόμειναν από τις 15.000
που είχε στις αρχές του 20ού αιώνα. Οι κάτοικοι ασχολούνται κύρια με τον τουρισμό
και την αλιεία.
Η πόλη έχει ωραία διώροφα και τριώροφα κτίρια χτισμένα σύμφωνα με
τη ντόπια αρχιτεκτονική. Προσφέρει στον επισκέπτη πριν απ’ οτιδήποτε άλλο
την ομορφιά ενός ειδυλλιακού τοπίου και την αίσθηση μιας περασμένης δόξας. Η ελληνικότητά
του ακτινοβολεί στα κτίσματα, στη λιτή αιγαιοπελαγίτικη όψη του οικισμού, στον
αρχαϊκό χαρακτήρα του γλωσσικού ιδιώματος και στις ψυχές των κατοίκων του.
Τα αξιοθέατα του νησιού δεν είναι λίγα. Το “Παλιόγκαστρο”,
ακρόπολη και παλιά οχύρωση στο μέσο περίπου του νησιού, το “Κάστρο”
σε ύψωμα 200μ στο ΝΑ μέρος του λιμανιού κι ένας εντυπωσιακός λαξευτός λυκιακός
τάφος στην ανατολική του πλευρά, αποτελούν πολύτιμη κληρονομιά του πολυκύμαντου
ιστορικού παρελθόντος.
Το Καστελόριζο είναι διάσπαρτο από εκκλησίες και μοναστήρια. Πολιούχοι
του νησιού είναι οι Αγιοι Κωνσταντίνος και Ελένη, στους οποίους είναι αφιερωμένος
ένας ναός εξαιρετικής τέχνης, σε ρυθμό τρίκλιτης βασιλικής, χρονολογούμενος από
το 1835. Δίπλα στο ναό είναι η “Σαντραπεία Αστική Σχολή”, που έγινε
με δαπάνη του Λουκά Σαντραπέ κι εγκαινιάστηκε το 1903. Ιδιαίτερα γραφική είναι
η μονή του Αγίου Γεωργίου
του Βουνού, με κελιά μοναχών δεξαμενές, ένα σπήλαιο-κατακόμβη με πηγή νερού
και περίτεχνο ξυλόγλυπτο τέμπλο.
Εξαιρετικής γραφικότητας είναι τα πασχαλινά λατρευτικά και πανηγυρικά
έθιμα, ενώ σημαντικά πανηγύρια με πλούσια έθιμα είναι του Δεκαπενταύγουστου, της
Αγίας Παρασκευής, της Καθαράς Δευτέρας, της Πρωτομαγιάς και του Προφήτη Ηλία και
των πολιούχων του νησιού Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης.
(Κείμενο: Μανόλης Μακρής)
Το κείμενο (απόσπασμα) παρατίθεται το Φεβρουάριο 2004 από τουριστικό φυλλάδιο
της Τοπικής Ένωσης
Δήμων και Κοινοτήτων Δωδεκανήσου.
ΠΑΤΜΟΣ (Νησί) ΔΩΔΕΚΑΝΗΣΟΣ
Εκτός από τόπος προσκυνήματος η Πάτμος είναι ιδεώδες νησί για ευχάριστες
διακοπές. Η φυσική της ομορφιά, η γραφικότητα των οικισμών της, η παραδοσιακή
αρχιτεκτονική της Χώρας, οι πεντακάθαρες θάλασσες, η ανεπτυγμένη τουριστική
υποδομή της, την καθιστούν μοναδική για ξεκούραση και ανανέωση. Κολυμπήστε στα
διάφανα νερά των παραλιών σε οργανωμένες μικρές πλαζ ή σε έναν από τους πολλούς
απόμακρους και ήρεμους όρμους.
Για τη διαμονή σας μπορείτε να επιλέξετε ένα από τα πολλά ξενοδοχεία
διαφόρων κατηγοριών, ενοικιαζόμενα δωμάτια ή το κάμπινγκ του νησιού. Το νησί προσφέρεται
κυρίως για ήσυχες διακοπές αλλά αν το θελήσετε δε θα σας λείψει και η νυχτερινή
ζωή. Στην επιλογή σας προσφέρονται από γραφικές ταβέρνες με παραδοσιακή ελληνική
μουσική μέχρι νυχτερινά παμπς και ντίσκο που όμως σε καμία περίπτωση αν δεν είναι
της επιλογής σας, δεν θα ενοχλήσουν την ηρεμία σας.
Η Πάτμος φημίζεται για την πατροπαράδοτη φιλοξενία των κατοίκων της,
που διατηρεί ακόμη και μετά την τουριστική ανάπτυξή της. Από τότε που οι περιηγητές
του μεσαίωνα έγραφαν για τη φιλοξενία και τον πολιτισμό της μέχρι σήμερα, η παράδοση
αυτή παραμένει ζωντανή.
(Κείμενο: Μανώλης Πέντες)
Το κείμενο (απόσπασμα) παρατίθεται το Φεβρουάριο 2004 από τουριστικό φυλλάδιο
του Δήμου Πάτμου.
ΡΟΔΟΣ (Πόλη) ΔΩΔΕΚΑΝΗΣΟΣ
Η σύγχρονη πόλη της Ρόδου, αποτελεί μαζί με τους οικισμούς Ασγούρου
και Κρητικά έναν από τους
μεγαλύτερους δήμους της νησιωτικής Ελλάδας,
με μόνιμο πληθυσμό εξήντα χιλιάδων κατοίκων.
Οικονομικό και πολιτιστικό κέντρο του νοτιοανατολικού Αιγαίου,
συνδυάζει το δυναμικό παρόν με το πλούσιο ιστορικό παρελθόν της. Το σπάνιας ομορφιάς
φυσικό της περιβάλλον με τις πεντακάθαρες παραλίες, τα πάρκα και τους χώρους αναψυχής,
ο λαμπρός της ήλιος, η ζεστή φιλοξενία, η άριστη τουριστική υποδομή, οι πολλές
επιλογές διασκέδασης σε νυχτερινή ζωή, σπορ και πολιτιστικές εκδηλώσεις, μονοήμερες
εκδρομές στα γειτονικά νησιά και στη Λίνδο,
αλλά και η γοητευτική δυνατότητα γνωριμίας του πολυτάραχου ιστορικού βίου της
πόλης με επισκέψεις σε μνημεία και μουσεία, την κατατάσσουν μεταξύ των πιο δημοφιλών
θέρετρων της Μεσογείου.
Το κείμενο (απόσπασμα) παρατίθεται το Φεβρουάριο 2004 από τουριστικό φυλλάδιο
του Οργανισμού Προώθησης
Ροδιακού Τουρισμού (1999).
ΣΑΝΤΟΡΙΝΗ (Νησί) ΚΥΚΛΑΔΕΣ
Το νησιώτικο σύμπλεγμα της Σαντορίνης αποτελείται από τα νησιά Θήρα,
το μεγαλύτερο, Θηρασία
το μικρότερο και το Ασπρονήσι
που είναι ακατοίκητο. Τα τρία αυτά νησιά είναι υπολείμματα του προϊστορικού μεγάλου
νησιού με τα ονόματα Στρογγυλή από το σχήμα του και μετέπειτα Καλλίστη από την
ομορφιά του.
Από την καταβύθιση του κέντρου της Στρογγυλής, μετά από μεγάλη ηφαιστειακή
έκρηξη, γύρω στα 1450π.Χ σχηματίστηκε η Καλντέρα (λεκάνη), στην οποία εισέρευσε
η θάλασσα και στο κέντρο της αναδύθηκαν μετά από αιώνες τα νησιά των Ηφαιστείων
(Καμένες), η Παλαιά Καμένη
αρχικά και η Νέα Καμένη μετά
από αιώνες.
(Κείμενο: Μανώλης Λιγνός)
Το κείμενο παρατίθεται το Φεβρουάριο 2004 από τουριστικό φυλλάδιο του Δήμου
Θήρας (2003-2004).
Έντονη είναι η νυχτερινή ζωή στην πόλη και στις παραλίες του νησιού.
Μπαρ με ζωντανή Ελληνική και ξένη μουσική από συγκροτήματα. Καφετέριες, μπαρ,
καφετέριες και άλλα κέντρα διασκέδασης με μουσική απ’ όλο τον κόσμο δίνουν
την ευκαιρία για ξέφρενη διασκέδαση.
Το κείμενο (απόσπασμα) παρατίθεται το Μάρτιο 2004 από τουριστικό φυλλάδιο
του Δήμου Θήρας.
ΝΟΤΙΟ ΑΙΓΑΙΟ (Περιφέρεια) ΕΛΛΑΔΑ
ΚΥΚΛΑΔΕΣ (Σύμπλεγμα νήσων) ΕΛΛΑΔΑ
Στο κέντρο του Αιγαίου βρίσκεται το σύμπλεγμα των Κυκλάδων, το πολυπληθέστερο
πολυνησιακό συγκρότημα του Αρχιπελάγους. Στον κύκλο που σχηματίζουν γύρω από το
ιερό νησί του Απόλλωνος, τη Δήλο, οφείλουν οι Κυκλάδες το όνομά τους σύμφωνα με
την αρχαία γραμματεία. Στην πραγματικότητα τα κυκλαδονήσια δεν είναι παρά οι κορυφές
των βυθισμένων βουνών, που τα δυτικά τους όρια φτάνουν μέχρι την Εύβοια και την
Αττική, ενώ στα ανατολικά και τα νότια οριοθετούνται με υποθαλάσσια ρήγματα από
την Ικαρία και τη Σάμο, τα Δωδεκάνησα και την Κρήτη αντίστοιχα. Για το λόγο αυτό
άλλωστε τα νησιά των Κυκλάδων στο σύνολό τους σχεδόν παρουσιάζουν έντονο ανάγλυφο
ακτών και απότομες ισοβαθείς. Υπό την έννοια αυτή είναι φανερό ότι οι Κυκλάδες
γεωγραφικά αποτελούν ξεχωριστή ενότητα.
Από γεωλογική άποψη τα νησιά διαφέρουν αρκετά μεταξύ τους. Τα περισσότερα
πετρώματα είναι παλαιά και κρυσταλλικά, όμως στο νότιο τόξο στη Μήλο, τη Θήρα,
τη Σίκινο, τη Φολέγανδρο, είναι ηφαιστειακά. Τα νησιά διαθέτουν άφθονη πέτρα,
υλικό κατάλληλο για κτίσιμο, και η γεωλογική τους ανομοιομορφία αντανακλάται στην
τοιχοδομία των κτιρίων τους ήδη από τα αρχαία χρόνια. Λεπτές σχιστόπλακες σε επιμελημένες
σειρές αποτελούν τους τοίχους των σπιτιών της Κέας, στρογγυλεμένες πέτρες της
παραλίας με κονίαμα και μικρότερες σφηνωμένες στα διάκενα αποτελούν την τοιχοδομία
των σπιτιών της Μήλου, ενώ πελεκημένα κομμάτια ηφαιστειακού υλικού χαρακτηρίζουν
ένα τμήμα του οικισμού στο Ακρωτήρι της Θήρας.
Αυστηρή και επιβλητική η ομορφιά των Κυκλάδων. Στα μάτια των περισσότερων
τα νησιά αυτά φαίνονται βράχοι ξεροί, άγονοι, χωρίς πεδιάδες, με νερό λιγοστό,
με χώμα φτενό, συγχρόνως όμως μαγευτικοί και γοητευτικοί, σταχτοπράσινοι από τον
σχιστόλιθο και τον γνεύσιο, αλλά κι απ' το χρώμα της ελιάς. Και είναι όλα αυτά
τα στοιχεία που διαμόρφωσαν τον τοπικό πολιτισμό και τον κυκλαδικό τρόπο ζωής
από την απώτερη αρχαιότητα ως σήμερα. Είναι εμφανείς οι επιδράσεις αυτές ακόμα
και σήμερα στην αρχιτεκτονική των νησιώτικων οικισμών, εκεί όπου ο παραδοσιακός
τρόπος ζωής διατηρείται έτσι όπως τον διαμόρφωσε το περιβάλλον.
Το φυσικό περιβάλλον, που διαφέρει πολύ από νησί σε νησί, αποτελεί
βασικό στοιχείο της γοητείας τους. Ακόμα και μέσα στο ίδιο το νησί οι αντιθέσεις
του τοπίου πολλές φορές εκπλήσσουν. Τα γυμνά βράχια εναλλάσσονται με δασωμένους
λόφους, τα απότομα υψώματα μαλακώνουν από ζώνες επίπεδης γης. Κοινό χαρακτηριστικό
όμως όλων σχεδόν των νησιών αποτελούν οι πεζούλες, οι αναβαθμίδες, τα αναλήμματα
από ξερολιθιά, που επιτρέπουν την καλλιέργεια σε εδάφη με μεγάλη κλίση, που δουλεύονται
δύσκολα. Όλα τα νησιά, με αποκορύφωμα την Κέα, την Τήνο και τη Φολέγανδρο, είναι
στην κυριολεξία δεμένα με άνδηρα και ξερολιθιές, χαρακτηριστικό της υπεράνθρωπης
προσπάθειας και του μόχθου για την εξοικονόμηση γης.
Τα εδαφολογικά χαρακτηριστικά των νησιών ευνόησαν μια τόσο εκτεταμένη
ανθρώπινη επέμβαση στο φυσικό περιβάλλον, που η αρχή της χρονολογείται στον 6ο
αι. π.Χ. Αναμφισβήτητο γεγονός αποτελεί η καταστροφή των παραδοσιακών αυτών μορφών
χρήσης της γης τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες, αποτέλεσμα της αλλοίωσης των ρυθμών καλλιέργειας,
εξ αιτίας της ερήμωσης της υπαίθρου, η απειλή της επιστροφής των λοφοπλαγιών στη
φυσική τους μορφή.
Aμεση συνέπεια των προηγουμένων είναι η διατάραξη του οικοσυστήματος
των τριών τελευταίων χιλιετιών. Η διάσωση των αναβαθμίδων σημαίνει τη διάσωση
μιας τεράστιας πολιτιστικής παράδοσης, διότι σε επίπεδο τεχνολογίας οι εργασίες
διαμόρφωσης μιας επικλινούς επιφάνειας σε βαθμίδες καλλιέργειας δεν απαιτούν μόνο
ενέργεια και ανθρώπινο δυναμικό, αλλά προϋποθέτουν ανεπτυγμένες γνώσεις τοπογραφίας,
προοπτικών αξιοποίησης ενός φυσικού τοπίου, ικανότητες διάγνωσης των εδαφικών
πλεονεκτημάτων του, της αντιστήριξης των εδαφών, της ορθολογικής χρησιμοποίησης
της εξορυγμένης πέτρας και ελέγχου του υδρογραφικού δικτύου.
Ένα επιπλέον χαρακτηριστικό των νησιών των Κυκλάδων, στοιχείο που
παραπέμπει στην μακρά ιστορική διάρκεια, σε ιστορίες χιλιετιών, αποτελεί το πυκνό
οδικό δίκτυο από μοναδικής τέχνης λιθόστρωτα μονοπάτια. Πολλά τα τεκμήρια ότι
δεν είναι λίγα τα μονοπάτια που διατηρούν σε αρκετά σημεία το αρχαίο λιθόστρωτο,
έτσι όπως διαμορφώθηκε από τους Κυκλαδίτες της κλασικής αρχαιότητας. Η ύπαρξη
λιθόστρωτων οδών μέσα στους κυκλαδίτικους οικισμούς της μυκηναϊκής περιόδου, για
παράδειγμα στη Γρόττα της Νάξου, στηρίζει την υπόθεση ότι πιθανόν να υπήρχαν πλακόστρωτοι
αγροτικοί οδοί, ακόμα και από την δεύτερη προσχριστιανική χιλιετία.
Παρ' όλα αυτά, αν και υπάρχουν όλες οι μαρτυρίες ότι ο πολιτισμός
που γεννήθηκε στο νησιώτικο αυτό σύμπλεγμα πριν μερικές χιλιετίες, συνεχίζει την
αδιάλειπτη πορεία του, ότι εξακολουθεί να υφίσταται σε διάφορες μορφές και εκφάνσεις
του πολιτισμικού, αλλά και του καθημερινού βίου των νησιωτών, οι αλλαγές που σημειώθηκαν
τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες στις Κυκλάδες δεν είναι ευκαταφρόνητες.
Τα τελευταία 30 χρόνια ο πληθυσμός των νησιών μειώθηκε δραματικά,
σε ποσοστό περίπου 30%, ενώ ως τότε είχε διατηρηθεί στο ίδιο σχεδόν υψηλό επίπεδο
που είχε φτάσει στο τέλος του 19ου αιώνα. Την αντίστοιχη χρονική περίοδο των 30
ετών, στις Κυκλάδες υπάρχει μια θεαματική τουριστική άνοδος. Συνέπεια των δύο
αυτών παραμέτρων είναι η εγκατάλειψη της υπαίθρου και της γεωργίας που μέχρι πριν
30 χρόνια αποτελούσε την κύρια απασχόληση των κατοίκων των νησιών.
Αποτελεί κοινό τόπο ότι η ανάπτυξη του τουρισμού σε μια περιοχή είναι
άμεσα συναρτημένη με τη διαθεσιμότητα φυσικών και πολιτιστικών πόρων. Η ποικιλία
και η ποιότητα των πόρων αυτών είναι τα συγκριτικά πλεονεκτήματα για την ανάπτυξη
της τουριστικής δραστηριότητας και της διατήρησης της ανταγωνιστικότητας μιας
περιοχής. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό η ποιότητα του περιβάλλοντος και η ορθολογική ανάδειξη
του μνημειακού πλούτου που σε χρονική διάρκεια ξεπερνά τις 5 χιλιετίες και του
τεράστιου πολιτιστικού εν γένει αποθέματος των Κυκλάδων αποκτά μια τεράστια σημασία.
Είναι αυτονόητο ότι η κατανάλωση αγαθών και υπηρεσιών στον τόπο παραγωγής
και προσφοράς τους έχουν πολλαπλές οικονομικές, κοινωνικές, πολιτισμικές και περιβαλλοντικές
επιπτώσεις στα νησιά. Οι επισκέπτες χρησιμοποιούν τους τουριστικούς πόρους, τις
παραλίες, τους ιστορικούς και αρχαιολογικούς χώρους, για αναψυχή, αλλά και ως
αποδέκτες των αποβλήτων, του κυκλοφοριακού και της ρύπανσης, της οπτικής και ακουστικής
ρύπανσης. Οι Κυκλάδες, και ιδιαίτερα ορισμένα από τα μέλη του συμπλέγματος, η
Μύκονος, η Σαντορίνη, η Ίος, η Πάρος ζουν τα τελευταία χρόνια έντονες τις επιπτώσεις
του τουρισμού.
Πολλά, πάρα πολλά είναι αυτά που έχουν γραφεί για τα νησιά των Κυκλάδων.
Αναρίθμητες σελίδες, σε όλες σχεδόν τις γλώσσες του κόσμου μιλούν για την ιστορία,
το περιβάλλον, τον πολιτισμό, τον τουρισμό, τις θάλασσες των νησιών αυτών. Όμως
πολύ περισσότερα είναι αυτά που θα πρέπει ακόμα να ερευνηθούν και να κατανοηθούν
για την μοναδική αυτή αιγαιοπελαγίτικη πολυνησία. Η κυκλαδική ζωή, ο κυκλαδικός
τρόπος ζωής διαμορφώθηκε σύμφωνα με τη γεωμορφολογία των νησιών, το κλίμα και
τις πλουτοπαραγωγικές τους πηγές, παράγοντες που παραμένουν αναλλοίωτοι από την
3η προσχριστιανική χιλιετία.
Το περιβάλλον ενός τόπου είναι αυτό που διαμορφώνει στον συγκεκριμένο
τόπο τον συγκεκριμένο πολιτισμό
(Κείμενο: Λίνα Μενδώνη, από την έκδοση "Ιστορία του Τοπίου
και Τοπικές Ιστορίες")
Το κείμενο παρατίθεται τον Οκτώβριο 2004 από την ακόλουθη ιστοσελίδα,
με φωτογραφία
ΔΩΔΕΚΑΝΗΣΟΣ (Σύμπλεγμα νήσων) ΕΛΛΑΔΑ
ΚΟΥΦΟΝΗΣΙΑ (Σύμπλεγμα νήσων) ΚΥΚΛΑΔΕΣ
ΚΩΣ (Νησί) ΔΩΔΕΚΑΝΗΣΟΣ
ΛΕΙΨΟΙ (Σύμπλεγμα νήσων) ΔΩΔΕΚΑΝΗΣΟΣ
ΔΩΔΕΚΑΝΗΣΟΣ (Σύμπλεγμα νήσων) ΕΛΛΑΔΑ
ΑΛΑΣΑΡΝΑ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΚΩΣ
Halisarna (Halisarna or Halasarne), a town on the south coast on the
island of Cos, near Cape Laceterium. (Strab. xiv. p. 657; comp. Ross, Reisen auf
den Griech. Inseln, vol. iii. p. 136, and iv. p. 22.)
ΑΜΟΡΓΟΣ (Νησί) ΚΥΚΛΑΔΕΣ
Amorgos (Amorgos: Eth. Amorginos, also Amorgios, Amorgiies: Amorgo),
an island of the Sporades in the Aegean sea, SE. of Naxos. It is rarely mentioned
in history, and is chiefly celebrated as the birthplace of the iambic poet Simonides.
(Strab. p. 487.) There was in Amorgos a manufactory of a peculiar kind of linen
garments, which bore the name of the island, and which were dyed red. (Steph.
B. s. v.; Eustath. ad Dionys. 526; Pollux, vii. 16.) In dyeing them use appears
to have been made of a kind of lichen, which is still found in the island, and
of which Tournefort has given an account. The soil of Amorgos is fertile. It produces
at present corn, oil, wine, figs, tobacco, and cotton, all of good quality. Hence
it was considered under the Roman empire one of the most favourable places for
banishment. (Tac. Ann. iv. 30.) We learn from Scylax that Amorgos contained three
towns, the names of which, according to Stephanus (s. v. Amorgos), were Minoa
(Minoa, Minuia, Ptol. v. 2. § 33), the birthplace of Simonides, Arcesine (Arkesine),
and Aegiale (Aigiale, Begialis, Ptol.). Remains of all these cities have been
discovered, and a minute description of them is given by Ross, who spent several
days upon the island. They are all situated on the western side of the island
opposite Naxos, Aegiale at the N., and Arcesine at the S., while Minoa lies more
in the centre, at the head of a large and convenient harbour, now called Ta Katapola,
because it is kata ten polin. It appears, from the inscriptions found in the island,
that it possessed other demes besides the above-mentioned towns. It is probable
that Melania (Melania), which Stephanus in another passage (s. v. Arkesine) mentions
as one of the three towns of Amorgos in place of Aegiale, may have been one of
these demes. We learn from several inscriptions that Milesians were settled in
Minoa and Aegiale, and that they formed in the latter town a separate community.
(Bockh, Corp. Inscr. vol. ii. No. 2264; Ross, Inscr. Gr. Lined. vol. ii. No. 112,
120-122.) The island contains at present 3,500 inhabitants. (Tournefort, Voyage,
&c. vol. ii. p. 182, seq.; Fiedler, Reise, &c. vol. ii. p. 325, seq.; and more
especially Ross, Reisen auf den Griech. Inseln, vol. i. p. 173, seq., vol. ii.
p. 39, seq.)
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ΑΝΑΦΗ (Νησί) ΚΥΚΛΑΔΕΣ
Anaphe (Anaphe: Eth. Anaphaios: Anaphe, Namfi or Namfio), one of the
Sporades, a small island in the south of the Grecian Archipelago, E. of Thera.
It is said to have been originally called Membliarus from the son of Cadmus of
this name, who came to the island in search of Europa. It was celebrated for the
temple of Apollo Aegletes, the foundation of which was ascribed to the Argonauts,
because Apollo had showed them the island as a place of refuge when they were
overtaken by a storm. (Orpheus, Argon. 1363, seq.; Apollod. i. 9. § 26; Apoll.
Rhod. iv. 1706, seq.; Conon, 49; Strab. p. 484; Steph. B. s. v.; Plin. ii. 87,
iv. 12; Ov. Met. vii. 461) There are still considerable remains of this temple
on the eastern side of the island, and also of the ancient city, which was situated
nearly in the centre of Anaphe on the summit of a hill. Several important inscriptions
have been discovered in this place, of which an account is given by Ross, in the
work cited below. The island is mountainous, of little fertility, and still worse
cultivated. It contains a vast number of partridges, with which it abounded in
antiquity also. Athenaeus relates that a native of Astypalaea let loose
a brace of these birds upon Anaphe, where they multiplied so rapidly that the
inhabitants were almost obliged to abandon the island in consequence. (Tournefort,
Voyage, &c., vol. i. p. 212, seq.; Ross, Ueber Anaphe und Anaphaische Inschriften,
in the Transactions of the Munich Academy for 1838, p. 401, seq.; Ross, Reisen
auf den Griechischen Inseln, vol. i. p. 401, seq.; Bockh, Corp. Inscr. No. 2477,
seq.)
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ΑΝΔΡΟΣ (Νησί) ΚΥΚΛΑΔΕΣ
The chief city also called Andros, was situated nearly in the middle
of the western coast of the island, at the foot of a lofty mountain. Its citadel
strongly fortified by nature is mentioned by Livy. It had no harbour of its own,
but it used one in the neighbourhood, called Gaurion (Taurion) by Xenophon (Hell.
i. 4. § 22), and Gaureleon by Livy, and which still bears the ancient name of
Gavrion. The ruins of the ancient city are described at length by Ross, who discovered
here, among other inscriptions, an interesting hymn to Isis in hexameter verse,
of which the reader will find a copy in the Classical Museum (vol. i. p. 34, seq.).
The present population of Andros is 15,000 souls. Its soil is fertile, and its
chief productions are silk and wine. It was also celebrated for its wine in antiquity,
and the whole island was regarded as sacred to Dionysus. There was a tradition
that, during the festival of this god, a fountain flowed with wine. (Plin. ii.
103, xxxi. 13; Paus. vi. 26, § 2.) (Thevenot, Travels, Part i. p. 15, seq.; Tournefort,
Voyage, vol. i. p. 265, seq.; Fiedler, Reise, vol. ii. p. 221, seq.; and especially
Ross, Reisen auf d. Griech. Inseln, vol. ii. p. 12, seq.)
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited July 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
ΑΝΔΡΟΣ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΑΝΔΡΟΣ
The chief city also called Andros, was situated nearly in the middle of the western
coast of the island, at the foot of a lofty mountain. Its citadel strongly fortified
by nature is mentioned by Livy. It had no harbour of its own, but it used one
in the neighbourhood, called Gaurion (Taurion) by Xenophon (Hell. i. 4. § 22),
and Gaureleon by Livy, and which still bears the ancient name of Gavrion. The
ruins of the ancient city are described at length by Ross, who discovered here,
among other inscriptions, an interesting hymn to Isis in hexameter verse, of which
the reader will find a copy in the Classical Museum (vol. i. p. 34, seq.). The
present population of Andros is 15,000 souls. Its soil is fertile, and its chief
productions are silk and wine. It was also celebrated for its wine in antiquity,
and the whole island was regarded as sacred to Dionysus. There was a tradition
that, during the festival of this god, a fountain flowed with wine. (Plin. ii.
103, xxxi. 13; Paus. vi. 26, § 2.)
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ΑΝΤΙΠΑΡΟΣ (Νησί) ΚΥΚΛΑΔΕΣ
Oliarus (Oliaros, Olearus, Plin., Virg.: Eth. Oliarios: Antiparo), an island in
the Aegaean sea, one of the Cyclades, said by Heracleides to have been colonised
by the Sidonians and to be 58 stadia from Paros. (Heracleid. ap. Steph. B. s.
v.; Strab. x. p. 485 ; Plin. iv. 12. s. 22; Virg. Aen. iii. 126.) It possesses
a celebrated stalactitic cavern, which has been described by several modern travellers.
(Tournefort, Voyage, &c. vol. i. p. 146, seq., Eng. transl.; Leake, Northern Greece,
vol. iii. p. 87, seq.; Fiedler, Reise dutch Griechenland, vol. ii. p. 191, seq.)
ΑΣΤΥΠΑΛΑΙΑ (Νησί) ΔΩΔΕΚΑΝΗΣΟΣ
Astupalaia, Eth. Astupalaieus, Astupalaiates, Astypalaeensis. Called
by the present inhabitants Astropalaea, and by the Franks Stampalia), an island
in the Carpathian sea, called by Strabo (x. p. 392) one of the Sporades, and by
Stephanus B. (s. v.) one of the Cyclades, said to be 125 (Roman) miles from Cadistus
in Crete (Plin. iv. 12. s. 23), and 800 stadia from Chalcia, an island near Rhodes.
(Strab. l. c.) Pliny describes Astypalaea (l. c.) as 88 miles in circumference.
The island consists of two large rocky masses, united in the centre by an isthmus,
which in its narrowest part is only 450 or 500 feet across. On the N. and S. the
sea enters two deep bays between the two halves of the island; and the town, which
bore the same name as the island, stood on the western side of the southern bay.
To the S. and E. of this bay lie several desert islands, to which Ovid (Ar. Am.
ii. 82) alludes in the line:--cinctaque piscosis Astypalaea vadis. From the castle
of the town there is an extensive prospect. Towards the E. may be seen Cos, Nisyros,
and Telos, and towards the S. in clear weather Casos, Carpathus, and Crete.
Of the history of Astypalaea we have hardly any account. Stephanus
says that it was originally called Pyrrha, when the Carians possessed it, then
Pylaea, next the Table of the Gods (Theon trapeza), on account of its verdure,
and lastly Astypalaea, from the mother of Ancaeus. (Comp. Paus. vii. 4. § 1.)
We learn from Scymnus (551) that Astypalaea was a colony of the Megarians, and
Ovid mentions it as one of the islands subdued by Minos. ( Astypaleia regna, Met.
vii. 461.) In B.C. 105 the Romans concluded an alliance with Astypalaea (Bockh,
Inscr. vol. ii. n. 2485), a distinction probably granted to the island in consequence
of its excellent harbours and of its central position among the European and Asiatic
islands of the Aegaean. Under the Roman emperors Astypalaea was a libera civitas.
(Plin. l. c.) The modern town contains 250 houses and not quite 1500 inhabitants.
It belongs to Turkey, and is subject to the Pashah of Rhodes, who allows the inhabitants,
however, to govern themselves, only exacting from them the small yearly tribute
of 9500 piastres, or about 601. sterling. This small town contains an extraordinary
number of churches and chapels, sometimes as many as six in a row. They are built
to a great extent from the ruins of the ancient temples, and they contain numerous
inscriptions. In every part of the town there are seen capitals of columns and
other ancient remains. We learn from inscriptions that the ancient city contained
many temples and other ancient buildings. The favourite hero of the island was
Cleomedes, of whose romantic history an account is given elsewhere. Cicero probably
confounds Achilles with this Cleomedes, when he says (de Nat. Deor. iii. 18) that
the Astypalaeenses worship Achilles with the greatest veneration.
Hegesander related that a couple of hares having been brought into
Astypalaea from Anaphe, the island became so overrun with them that the inhabitants
were obliged to consult the Delphic oracle, which advised their hunting them with
dogs, and that in this way more than 6000 were caught in one year. (Athen. ix.
p. 400, d.) This tale is a counterpart to the one about the brace of partridges
introduced from Astypalaea into Anaphe. Pliny (viii. 59) says that the muscles
of Astypalaea were very celebrated; and we learn from Ross that they are still
taken off the coast.
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ΓΥΑΡΟΣ (Νησί) ΚΥΚΛΑΔΕΣ
Gyaros or Gyara (Guaros, Strab., Steph. B.; Gyarus, Tac.; ta Guara,
Arrian, Diss. iv. 4; Gyara, Juv., Plin.: Eth. Guareus), a small island in the
Aegaean sea, reckoned one of the Cyclades, and situated SW. of Andros. According
to Pliny, it was 62 (Roman) from Andros and 12 miles in circumference. (Plin.
iv. 12. s. 23.) It was little better than a barren rock, though inhabited in antiquity.
It was one of the few spots in Greece visited by Strabo, who relates that he landed
in the island and saw there a little village inhabited by fishermen, who deputed
one of their number to go to Augustus, then at Corinth after the battle of Actium,
to beg him to reduce their yearly tribute of 150 drachmae, since they could scarcely
pay one hundred. (Strab. x. p. 485.) So notorious was it for its poverty that
it was said, in joke, that the mice in this island gnawed through iron. (Antig.
Carys. 21; Plin. viii. 43. s. 82; Steph. B. s. v. Gnaros). Under the Roman empire
it was used as a place of banishment, and was one of the most dreaded spots employed
for that purpose:
Aude aliquid brevibus Gyaris et carcere dignum. (Juv. i. 73; comp. Tac.
Ann. iii. 68, 69, iv. 30; Plut. de Exsil. 8.)
Among others, the philosopher Musonius was banished to Gyaros, in
the reign of Nero. (Philostr. Vit. Apoll. vii. 16.) In the time of the Antonines
a purple fishery was carried on here by divers. (Lucian, Toxar. 18.) The island
is now uninhabited, except in the summer time by a few shepherds who take care
of the flocks sent there by some of the inhabitants of Syros, to whom the island
now belongs. It is called ta Gioura,, pronounced Jura. (Tournefort, Voyage, &c.
vol. i. p. 263, Engl. Transl.; Ross, Reisen auf den Griech. Inseln, vol. i. p.
5, vol. ii. p. 170, seq.; Fiedler, Reise durch Griechenland, vol. ii. p. 158,
seq.)
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ΔΗΛΟΣ (Νησί) ΚΥΚΛΑΔΕΣ
Delos or Delus (Delos: Eth. and Adj. Delios, Delia, Delias, Deliakos),
the smallest of the islands called the Cyclades in the Aegaean sea, lying in the
strait between Rheneia and Myconus. It appears in the earliest times as one of
the holiest spots in Hellas. According to the most generally received tradition,
it was called out of the deep by the trident of Poseidon, but was a floating island,
until Zeus fastened it by adamantine chains to the bottom of the sea, that it
might be a secure restingplace to Leto, for the birth of Apollo and Artemis. (Pind.
ap. Strab. x. p. 485; Callim. Hymn. in Del. passim; Virg. Aen. iii. 76; Plin.
iv. 12. s. 22; Dict. of Ant. art. Leto.) As the birthplace of Apollo, it became
one of the chief seats of his worship, and the god is said to have obtained exclusive
possession of the island by giving Calaureia to Poseidon in exchange for it. (Strab.
viii. p. 373.) In the same way the Delphians related that Apollo gave Calaureia
to Poseidon in order to obtain possession of Delphi. (Paus. x. 5. § 6.) Delos
was called by various other names by the poets and mythographers. Pliny mentions
the names of Asteria, Ortygia, Lagia, Chlamydia, Cynthus, Pyrpile; and Stephanus
B. those of Asteria, Pelasgia, and Chlamydia. Its name of Asteria is alluded to
by Poseidon, who speaks of Delos as the unshaken prodigy of the earth, which mortals
call Delos, but the gods in Olympus the farfamed star (astron) of the dark earth.
(Pind. Frag. 57, 58, ed. Bergk.) Callimachus also says that it was called Asteria,
when Leto found refuge upon it. (Ibid. 40.) It received the name of Ortygia because
according to one version of the legend Leto was changed by Zeus into a quail (ortux),
in order to escape from Hera, and in this form arrived at the floating island.
(Serv. ad Virg. Aen. iii. 72; Strabo also mentions the name Ortygia, x. p. 486.)
The name of Delos was supposed by the ancient writers to have been given to the
island from its becoming clear or plain (delos) after floating about in the sea.
(Aristot. ap. Plin. iv. 12. s. 22; Serv. ad Virg. Aen.) In consequence of its
having been fastened by Zeus to the bottom of the sea, it was supposed to be immovable
even by earthquakes, to which the surrounding islands were frequently subject.
Hence Pindar, in the passage already quoted, calls Delos the unshaken prodigy
of the earth (chthonos akineton teras). Down to the time of Pliny it was only
twice shaken by earthquakes, and on each occasion the phenomenon was regarded
with alarm by the whole of Greece. The first occurred just before the Persian
invasion (Herod. vi. 98), and the second shortly before the Peloponnesian War
(Thuc, ii. 8). It is a curious circumstance that Herodotus speaks of the former
earthquake, and Thucydides of the latter as the only one which had ever taken
place; and accordingly some commentators suppose that Thucydides actually refers
to the same earthquake as the one mentioned by Herodotus.
Respecting the origin of the worship of Apollo at Delos, we have no
trustworthy information. K. O. Muller supposes that it was introduced by the Dorians
on their voyage to Crete (Muller, Dor. vol. i. p. 238); but this is only an hypothesis,
unsupported by evidence. In the earliest historical times the island was inhabited
by Ionians, and is represented as the centre of a great periodical festival in
honour of Apollo, celebrated by all the Ionic cities on the mainland as well as
in the islands. In this character it is represented in the Homeric hymn to Apollo,
which cannot probably be later than 600 B.C. (Hom. Hymn. in Apoll. 146, seq.;
Grote, Hist of Greece, vol. iii. p. 222.) The festival was conducted with great
splendour; and, as at Delphi, there were musical, as well as gymnastic contests.
Like the Olympic and other great festivals of Hellas, it doubtless grew out of
one of a more limited character; and we are expressly informed that Delos was
originally the centre of an Amphictyony, to which the Cyclades and the neighbouring
islands belonged. (Thuc. iii. 104; Strab. x. p. 485; comp. Bockh, Inscr. vol.
i. p. 252, seq.) The Athenians took part in this festival at an early period,
as is evident from the mention of the Deliastae in one of Solon's laws (Athen.
vi. p. 234). It was related at a later period that the Athenians instituted the
festival to commemorate the safe return of Theseus from Crete, and that the vessel
in which the sacred embassy sailed to the festival was the identical one which
had carried Theseus and his companions. (Plut. Thes. 21; Plat. Phaed. sub init.)
The two Ionic despots, Peisistratus of Athens and Polycrates of Samos, both took
a warm interest in the festival: Peisistratus purified the island by removing
all the tombs which were within view of the temple; and Polycrates dedicated the
neighbouring island of Rheneia to the Delian Apollo, by fastening it with a chain
to Delos. But owing to various causes, among which undoubtedly was the conquest
of the Ionic cities in Asia Minor by the Persians, the festival had fallen into
decay at the commencement of the Peloponnesian War. In the sixth year of this
war, B.C. 426, the Athenians purified Delos. They removed all the tombs from the
island, and declared it to be unlawful henceforth for any living being to be born
or die within it, and that every pregnant woman should be carried over to the
island of Rheneia in order to be delivered. (Thuc. l. c.; Strab. x. p. 486.) On
this occasion the Athenians restored the ancient festival under the name of the
Delia, of which an account is given elsewhere. (Dict. of Ant. art. Delia.)
The sanctity of Delos was respected by Datis and Artaphernes, who
would not anchor here, but passed on to Rheneia. They also sent a herald to recall
the Delians, who had fled to Tenos, and they burnt upon the altar of the god 300
talents of frankincense. (Herod. vi. 97.) On the formation of the confederacy
in B.C. 477, for the purpose of carrying on the war against Persia, Delos was
chosen as the common treasury (Thuc. i. 96); but subsequently the transference
of the treasury to Athens, and the altered character of the confederacy, reduced
the island to a condition of absolute political dependence upon Athens. The purification
of Delos by the Athenians in B.C. 426 has been already mentioned; but four years
afterwards (B.C. 422) the Athenians thinking the removal of the Delians themselves
essential to the complete purification of the island, banished all the inhabitants,
who obtained a settlement at Atramyttium (Adramyttium), which was given to them
by the satrap Pharnaces. (Thuc. v. 1; Paus. iv. 27. § 90) Here, some years afterwards
(B.C. 411), several of them were murdered by Arsaces, a general of Tissaphernes
(Thuc. viii. 108).
After the fall of Corinth (B.C. 146) Delos became the centre of an
extensive commerce. The sanctity of the spot and its consequent security, its
festival which was a kind of fair, the excellence of its harbour, and its convenient
situation on the highway from Italy and Greece to Asia, made it a favourite resort
of merchants. (Strab. x. p. 486.) So extensive was the commerce carried on at
Delos, that 10,000 slaves are said to have changed hands here in one day. (Strab.
xiv. p. 668.) Delos was celebrated for its bronze, and before the invention of
the Corinthian bronze the aes Deliacum had the greatest reputation in antiquity,
and the vessels made of it were in very great request. (Plin. xxxiv. 2. s. 4;
vasa Deliaca, Cic. pro Rosc. Am. 46, Verr. ii. 34; Dict. of Ant. p. 25, b., 2nd
ed.) The Romans confirmed the Athenians in the possession of the island; but in
the Mithridatic War the generals of Mithridates inflicted upon it a devastation,
from which it never recovered. In the time of Strabo it still belonged to the
Athenians. (Polyb. xxx. 18; Strab. l. c.; Appian, Mithr. 28; Paus. iii. 23. §
§ 3, 4.) Pausanias describes it as almost deserted in his time (viii. 33. § 2,
comp. ix. 34. § 6).
Delos is little more than a rock, being only 5 miles in circumference,
according to Pliny. The town is described by Strabo (x. p. 485) as lying in a
plain at the foot of Mount Cynthus, and the only buildings which he specifies
in the island are the hieron of Apollo, and the temple of Leto. The town was situated
on the western side of the island. Mount Cynthus, from which Apollo and Leto are
so often called, is a bare granite rock not more than 400 or 500 feet high. It
was probably the acropolis of the ancient town, and seems to have been surrounded
by a wall. On its sides are many architectural fragments of white marble, and
on its summit are the foundations and remains of a large building of the Ionic
order. In antiquity two flights of steps led up to the summit of the mountain;
the one on the northern, and the other on the western side. On the western side
is an ancient gate, of which the roof is formed of two stones rudely shaped, and
resting against each other at an angle so obtuse that the rise is only 4 feet
2 inches, above a breadth of 16 feet 2 inches. (Leake.)
The ancient writers speak of a little river Inopus (Inopos) in the
island. They compare its rising and falling with the same phaenomena of the Nile,
and some even suppose there was a connection between it and the Aegyptian river.
(Strab. vi. p. 271, x. p. 485; Callim. Hymn. in Del. 206, 263, in Dian. 171; Paus.
ii. 5. § 3; Plin. ii. 103. s. 106.) We also find mention of a lake or tank, called
limne trochoeides by Herodotus (ii. 170) and Theognis, trochoessa by Callimachus
(in Del. 261), containing the water necessary for the service of the temple of
Apollo. Its name, as well as the epithet perieges given it by Callimachus (in
Apoll. 59), sufficiently proves that it was oval or circular; and there can be
no doubt that it is the oval basin, 100 yards in length, situated in the northern
half of the island, and a little inland east of the ancient harbour, which Tournefort
and the earlier writers absurdly supposed to be a Naumachia. This lake is frequently
mentioned by other ancient writers; and near it Leto is said to have brought forth
her divine children. (Aesch. Eum. 9; Eurip. Ion, 169, Iphig. Taur. 1103.) Others
again represent the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis as near the Inopus (Hom.
in Apoll. 18; Callim. in Del. 206); and as the exact spot was pointed out in later
times, the Inopus would appear to have been situated in the northern part of the
island, near the oval basin mentioned above. Leake, however, identifies the Inopus
with the small brook which flows down from Mount Cynthus and joins the sea at
the port of Furni, since it is the only running stream in the island, and that
only in winter. Leto is said to have grasped a palm-tree when she bore her children;
and the palm, which does not grow in Greece Proper, was held in especial reverence
in Delos. (Comp. Paus. viii. 48. § 3; Hom. Od. vi. 162; Aelian, V. H. v. 4; Hygin.
Fab. 140.) The identical palm-tree of Leto was shown by the Delii in the time
of Cicero (de Leg. i. 1).
Delos is now a heap of ruins. Whole shiploads of columns and other
architectural remains were carried off, centuries ago, to Venice and Constantinople.
Of the great temple of Apollo, of the stoa of Philip, of the theatre, and of numerous
other buildings, there is scarcely the capital of a column or an architrave left
uninjured. Not a single palm-tree is now found in the island, and the only inhabitants
are a few shepherds, taking care of some flocks of sheep and goats brought over
from Myconus. The chief buildings of Delos lay between the oval basin and the
harbour on the western side of the island. The ruins of the great temple of Apollo
and of the stoa of Philip III. of Macedon may here be distinctly traced. (Bockh,
Inscr. n. 2274.) There are still remains of the colossal statue of Apollo dedicated
by the Naxians, and in front of the basis we read Naxioi Apolloni. This statue
was thrown down in antiquity. A brazen palm-tree, which had been dedicated by
Nicias, according to Plutarch (Nic. 3), or by the Naxians themselves, according
to Semus (Athen. xi. p. 502), having been blown down by the wind, carried with
it the colossal statue. The theatre stood at the western foot of Mount Cynthus,
facing Rheneia, and not far from the stoa of Philip. Its extremities were supported
by walls of white marble of the finest masonry, but of a singular form, having
had two projections adjacent to the orchestra, by which means the lower seats
were in this part prolonged beyond the semicircle, and thus afforded additional
accommodation to spectators in the situation most desirable. The diameter, including
only the projections, is 187 feet. The marble seats have all been carried away,
but many of the stones which formed their substruction remain. Immediately below
the theatre, on the shore, are the ruins of a stoa, the columns of which were
of granite. In a small valley which leads to the summit of Mount Cynthus, leaving
the theatre on the left, many ruins of ancient houses are observable; and above
them, in a level at the foot of the peak, there is a wall of white marble, which
appears to have been the cell of a temple. Here lies an altar, which is inscribed
with a dedication to Isis by one of her priests, Ctesippus, son of Ctesippus of
Chius. Like many others, remaining both in this island and in Rheneia, it is adorned
with bulls' heads and festoons. Another fragment of an inscription mentions Sarapis;
and as both these were nearly in the same place where Spon and Wheler found another
in which Isis; Anubis, Harpocrates, wand the Dioscuri were all named, it is very
probable that the remains of white marble belonged to a temple of Isis. Among
them is a portion of a large shaft pierced through the middle, 4 feet 5 inches
in diameter; and there is another of the same kind, 5 feet 8 inches in diameter,
half-way up the peak of Cynthus. (Leake.) After describing Mount Cynthus, of which
we have already spoken, Leake continues: Ruins of private houses surround Mount
Cynthus on every side. On the heights above the Trochoessa, which form the north-western
promontory of the island, are many other similar ruins of ancient houses, neatly
constructed with mortar. On the summit of the same hill, near the remains of a
large house, are some shafts of white marble, a foot and a half in diameter, half
polygonal and half plain. As this quarter was entirely separated from the town
on Mount Cynthus by the valley containing the sacred buildings, there is great
probability that it was the new Athenae Hadrianae, which was built at the expense
of the emperor Hadrian, in a position called Olympieum (Phlegon, ap. Steph. B.
s.v. Olumpieion), perhaps from a temple of Jupiter Olympius, to which the shafts
just mentioned may have belonged. In the northern part of the island are the remains
of the stadium and the gymnasium.
The strait, which separates Delos and Rheneia, is 4 stadia, or about
half a mile, in width. (Strab. x. p. 486.) In this strait are two rocks, called
Rematiari, of which one is probably the ancient island of Hecate (Hekates nesos,
Harpocrat. and Suid. s. v.; Semus, ap. Athen. xiv. p. 645.)
Rheneia or Rhenaia (Rheneia, Rhenaia, both forms occur in writers
and inscriptions) is much larger than Delos, being about 10 miles in circumference.
The northern and southern halves are divided by a narrow isthmus. The southern
half, which lies opposite Delos, was the burial-place of the latter, as has been
already explained, and is now covered with remains of sepulchres. There are also
ruins of many private houses, like those at Delos. (Thuc. i. 13, iii. 104; Herod.
vi. 97; Strab. x. p. 486; Diod. xii. 58.)
Both Delos and Rheneia are now called Dhiles. (Besides the earlier
works of Spon, Wheler, Thevenot, and Tournefort, see Leake, Northern Greece, vol.
iii. p. 95, seq.; Ross, Reisen auf den Griech. Inseln, vol. i. p. 30, seq., vol.
ii. p. 167, seq.; Bronsted, Reisen, vol. i. p. 59; Fiedler, Reisen durch Griechenland,
vol. ii. p. 269, seq.; Exped. Scientif. vol. iii. p. 3, seq.; Sallier, Hist. de
l'Isle de Delos, in Mem. de l'Acad. des Inscr. vol. iii. p. 376; Dorville, Miscell.
Observ. vol. vii. p. 1, seq.; Schwenck, Deliacorum Part. I., Francof. 1825; Schlager,
Pauca quaedam de Rebus Deli, Mitav. 1840.)
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ΔΟΝΟΥΣΑ (Νησί) ΚΥΚΛΑΔΕΣ
Donusa or Donysa (Donusa; whence come the corrupt forms Donousia,
Steph. B. s.v.; Eustath. ad Dionys. Per. 530; Dionysia, Mel. ii. 7), a small island
near Naxos, said by Stephanus to have been the island to which Dionysus carried
Ariadne from Naxos, when pursued by her father Minos. This tale, however, appears
to have arisen from confounding Donusa, the name of the island, with Dionysus,
the name of the god. Stephanus also states, though we know not on what authority,
that the island belonged to Rhodes. Virgil (Aen. iii. 125) gives to Donusa the
epithet of viridis, which Servius explains by the colour of its marble; but this
statement is probably only invented to explain the epithet. Donusa was used as
a place of banishment under the Roman empire. (Tac. Ann. iv. 30.)
ΙΟΣ (Νησί) ΚΥΚΛΑΔΕΣ
Ios (Ios: Eth. Ietes, Ietes), an island in the Aegaean sea, one of
the Sporades, and falsely called by Stephanus one of the Cyclades, lay north of
Thera and south of Paros and Naxos. According to Pliny, it was 25 miles in length,
and was distant 18 miles from Naxos and 25 from Thera. (Plin. iv. 12. s. 23.)
Both Pliny and Stephanus state that it was originally called Phoenice. It possessed
a town of the same name (Ptol. iii. 15. § 28), situated upon a height on the western
side of the island. It has an excellent harbour, of a circular form, like the
Peiraeeus: its mouth faces the south-west, and is opposite the island of Sicinus.
The island is now called Nio (en Ioi); and when Ross visited it, in 1836, it contained
505 families or 2500 souls. The modern town is built upon the site of the ancient
one, of which there are still remains.
Ios was celebrated in antiquity as the burialplace of Homer, who is
said to have died here on his voyage from Smyrna to Athens. Long afterwards, when
the fame of the poet had filled the world, the inhabitants of los are reported
to have erected the following inscription upon his tomb.
Enthade ten hieren kephalen kata gaia kaluptei
Andron heroon kosmetora, theion Omeron.
(Pseudo-Herod. Vit. Homer. 34, 36; comp. Scylax, p. 22; Strab. x. p. 484; Paus.
x. 24. § 2; Plin., Steph. ll. cc.) It was also stated that Clymene, the mother
of Homer, was a native of los, and that she was buried in the island (Paus., Steph.
B., ll. cc.); and, according to Gellius (iii. 11), Aristotle related that Homer
himself was born in los. In 1771 a Dutch nobleman, Graf Pasch van Krienen, asserted
that he had discovered the tomb of Homer in the northern part of the island; and
in 1773 he published an account of his discovery, with some inscriptions relating
to Homer which he said he had found upon the tomb. Of this discovery a detailed
account is given by Ross, who is disposed to believe the account of Pasch van
Krienen; but the original inscriptions have never been produced, and most modern
scholars regard them as forgeries. (Ross, Reisen auf den Griech. Inseln, vol.
i. pp. 54, 154, seq.; Welcker, in Zeitschrift fur die Alterthum-swissenschaft,
1844, p. 290, seq.)
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ΙΟΥΛΙΣ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΚΕΑ
Ioulis: Eth. Ioulietes, Ioulieus. The most important town in Ceos,
is celebrated as the birthplace of the two great lyric poets Simonides and Bacchylides,
of the sophist Prodicus, of the physician Erasistratus, and of the peripatetic
philosopher Ariston. From the great celebrity of Simonides he was frequently called
emphatically the Cean; and Horace, in like manner, alludes to his poetry under
the name of Ceae Camenae (Carm. iv. 9. 8), and Cea Nenia (Carm. ii. 1. 38). Iulis
was situated on a hill about 25 stadia from the sea, in the northern part of the
island, on the same site as the modern Zea, which is now the only town in the
island. There are several remains of Iulis; the most important is a colossal lion,
about 20 feet in length, which lies a quarter of an hour east of the town. The
legend already quoted from Heraclides Pont. probably has a reference to this lion;
and the more so as there is a fountain of water gushing from the spot where the
lion stands.
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ΚΑΛΥΜΝΟΣ (Νησί) ΔΩΔΕΚΑΝΗΣΟΣ
Calymna (Kalumna, Kalumna: Eth. Kalumnios: Kalimno), an island off
the coast of Caria between Leros and Cos. It appears to have been the principal
island of the group which Homer calls Calydnae (nesoi Kaludnai, Il. ii. 677):
the other islands were probably Leros, Telendos, Hypseremos (Hypsereisma) and
Plate. (Comp. Strab. x. p. 489.) Calymna is the correct orthography, since we
find it thus written on coins and inscriptions. (Bockh, Inscr. No. 2671.) This
form also occurs in Scylax, Strabo, Ovid, Suidas, and the Etymologicum Magnum;
but out of respect for Homer, whose authority was deemed paramount, most of the
ancient writers call the island Calydna, and some were even led into the, error
of making two different islands, Calydna and Calymna. (Plin. iv. 12. s. 23; Steph.
B, s. vv.)
The island was originally inhabited by Carians, and was afterwards
colonised by Thessalian Aeolians or Dorians under Heraclid leaders. It also received
an additional colony of Argives, who are said to have been shipwrecked on the
island after the Trojan war. (Diod. v. 54; Hom. Il. ii. 675.) At the time of the
Persian war it was subject to Artemisia of Halicarnassus, together with the neighbouring
islands of Cos. and Nisyrus. (Herod. vii. 99.)
Calymna is an island of some size, and contains at present 7000 inhabitants.
A full account of it, together with a map, is given by Ross in the work cited
below. The description of Ovid (de Art. Am. ii. 81) - silvis umbrosa Calymne -
does not apply to the present condition of the island, and was probably equally
inapplicable in antiquity; since the island is mountainous and bare. It produces
figs, wine, barley, oil, and excellent honey; for the latter it was also celebrated
in antiquity. (Fecundaque melle Calymne, Ov. Met. viii. 222; Strab. l. c.)
With respect to the ancient towns, Pliny in one passage (iv. 12. s.
23) mentions only one town, Coos; but in another (v. 31. s. 36) he mentions three,
Notium, Nisyrus, Mendeterus. The principal ancient remains are found in the valley
above the harbour Linaria on the western side of the island; but Ross found no
inscriptions recording the name of the town. The chief ruins are those of a great
church tou Christou tes Hierousalem, built upon the site of an ancient temple
of Apollo, of which, there are still remains. Stephanus (s. v. Kaludna) speaks
of Apollo Calydneus. South of the town there is a plain still called Argos, as
in the island of Casus. (Ross, Reisen auf den Griechischen, Inseln, vol. ii. p.
92, seq., vol. iii. p. 139.)
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ΚΑΡΠΑΘΟΣ (Νησί) ΔΩΔΕΚΑΝΗΣΟΣ
Carpathus (Karpathos; Carpathum, Plin.; in Hom. Il. ii. 676, Krapathos:
Eth. Karpathios: Skarpanto), an island in the sea between Crete and Rhodes, which
was named after it the Carpathian sea. (Karpathion pelagos, Strab. x. p. 488 Carpathium
mare, Hor. Carm. i. 35. 8.) Carpathus is described by the ancient authorities
as 100 stadia in length (Scylax, p. 56), and 200 stadia in circuit (Strab. p.
489); but according to Bondelmonte, the old Italian traveller, it is 70 Italian
miles in circumference. The island consists for the most part of lofty and bare
mountains, full of ravines and hollows; and the coast is generally steep and inaccessible.
The principal mountain, which is in the centre of the island, and is called Lastos,
appears to be 4000 feet in height.
Carpathus is said to have been subject to Minos and to have been afterwards
colonized by Argive Dorians. (Diod. v. 54.) It always remained a Doric country.
At the time of the Trojan war it is mentioned along with Nisyrus, Casus and Cos
(Hom. Il. ii. 676); but at a later period it was under the rule of the Rhodians.
It would seem never to have possessed complete independence, as no autonomous
coins of Carpathus have been discovered; while Rhodian coins are commonly found
in the island.
Carpathus appears to have been well peopled in antiquity. According
to Scylax, it contained three towns; according to Strabo, four. The only name
which Strabo gives is Nisyrus (Nisuros). Ptolemy (v. 2. § 33) mentions another
town, called Poseidium (Poseidion). The name of a third, Arcesine (Arkesine),
is only preserved in an inscription containing the tribute of the Athenian allies.
The site of Arcesine has been determined by Ross. It is now called Arkassa, and
is situated upon a promontory in the middle of the west coast of the southern
part of the island. Poseidium was situated upon a corresponding cape upon the
eastern side of the island, and is now called Pigadin or Posin.
There are ruins of an ancient town upon a rock, Sokastron, off the
western coast, and of another town upon the island Saria, which is ten miles in
circuit, and is separated by a narrow strait from the northern extremity of Carpathus.
The ruins in Saria, which are called Palatia, may possibly be those of Nisyrus.
(Comp. the names Saria, Nismria.
Ptolemy mentions two promontories, one called Thoanteium (Thoanteion),
probably the southern extremity of the island, the modern Akroteri, and the other
Ephialtium (Ephialtion), which Ross conjectures to be a promontory S. of Poseidium,
of which the modern name Aphiartis is perhaps a corruption. The accompanying map
of Carpathus is taken from Ross, who is the only modern traveller that has given
an account of the island. (Comp. Herod. iii. 45; Dionys. Per. 500; Plin. iv. 12.
s. 23, v. 31. s. 36; Pomp. Mel. ii. 7; Steph. B. s. v.; Ross, Reisen auf den Griech.
Inseln, vol. iii. p. 50.)
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ΚΑΣΟΣ (Νησί) ΔΩΔΕΚΑΝΗΣΟΣ
Casus (Kasos: Eth. Kasios), an island between Carpathus and Crete,
is, according to Strabo, 70 stadia from Carpathus, 250 from Cape Sammonium in
Crete, and is itself 80 stadia in circumference. (Strab. x. p. 489.) Pliny (iv.
12. s. 23) makes it 7 M. P. from Carpathus, and 30 M. P. from Sammonium. It is
mentioned by Homer (Il. ii. 676). It is said to have been formerly called Amphe
(Achne) and Astrabe; and it was supposed in antiquity that the name of Mt. Casium
in Syria was derived from this island. (Steph. B. s. vv. Kasos, Kasion Plin. v.
31. s. 36.)
Casus has been visited by Ross, who describes it as consisting of
a single ridge of mountains of considerable height. On the N. and W. sides there
are several rocks and small islands, which Strabo calls at Kasion nesoi. Ross
found the remains of the ancient town, which was also called Casus, in the interior
of the island, at the village of Polin (a diminutive instead of Polion or Polidion).
The ancient port-town was at Emporeion, where Ross also discovered some ancient
remains: among others, ruins of sepulchral chambers, partly built in the earth.
He found no autonomous coins, since the island was probably always dependent either
upon Cos or Rhodes. In the southern part of the island there is a small and fertile
plain surrounded by mountains, called Argos, a name which it has retained from
the most ancient times. We find also an Argos in Calymna and Nisyrus. Before the
Greek revolution, Casus contained a population of 7500 souls; and though during
the war with the Turks it was at one time almost deserted, its population now
amounts to 5000. Its inhabitants possessed, in 1843, as many as 75 large merchant
vessels, and a great part of the commerce of the Christian subjects in Turkey
was in their hands. (Ross, Reisen in den Griech. Inseln, vol. iii. p. 32, seq.)
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ΚΕΑ (Νησί) ΚΥΚΛΑΔΕΣ
Keos, Keos, Kiata, usually Cea by the Latin writers, Eth. Keios; Ion.
Keios: Zea. An island in the Aegaean sea, and one of the Cyclades, situated about
13 English miles SE. of the promontory of Sunium in Attica. The island is 14 English
miles in length from north to south, and 10 in breadth from east to west. Pliny
(iv. 12. s. 20) says that Ceos was once united to Euboea, and was 500 stadia in
length, but that four-fifths of it were carried away by the sea. According to
the legend, preserved by Heraclides Ponticus (Pol. c. 9), Ceos was originally
called Hydrussa, and was inhabited by nymphs, who afterwards crossed over to Carystus,
having been frightened away from the island by a lion; whence a promontory of
Ceos was called Leon. Ovid apparently alludes to this legend (Her. xx. 221): Insula,
Carthaeis quondam celeberrima Nymphis, Cingitur Aegaeo, nomine Cea, maria.
Heraclides Pont. further states that a colony was afterwards planted
in the island by Ceos from Naupactus. In the historical times it was inhabited
by Ionians (Herod. viii. 46; Schol. ad Dionys. Per. 526); and the inhabitants
fought on the side of the Greeks at the battles of Artemisium and Salamis. (Herod.
viii. 1, 46.)
Ceos once possessed four towns, Iulis, Carthaea, Coressia, and Poeeessa,
but in the time of Strabo the two latter had perished, the inhabitants of Coressia
having been transferred to Iulis and those of Poeeessa to Carthaea. (Strab. viii.
p. 486; comp. Plin. l. c.)
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ΚΙΜΩΛΟΣ (Νησί) ΚΥΚΛΑΔΕΣ
Cimolus (Kimolos), a small island in the Aegaean sea, one of the Cyclades,
lying between Siphnos and Melos, and separated from the latter by a narrow strait
only half a mile in breadth. The extreme length of the island is 5 miles, and
its breadth 3 1/2 miles. Pliny relates (iv. 12. s. 23) that Cimolus was also called
Echinusa, a name which is not derived from Echidna, viper, as most modern writers
have supposed, but from Echinus, the seaurchin, of which there are several fossil
specimens on the west coast, and which are not found in any other of the Cyclades
or Sporades, except on the opposite coast of Melos. Cimolus is not mentioned in
political history, and appears to have followed the fate of the neighbouring island
of Melos; but it was celebrated in antiquity on account of its earth or chalk
(he Kimolia ge, Cimolia Creta), which was used by fullers in washing clothes.
This chalk was also employed in medicine. (Strab. x. p. 484; Eustath. ad Dionys.
530; Schol. ad Aristoph. Ran. 713; Plin. iv. 12. s. 23, xxxv. 17. s. 57; Cels.
ii. 33.) This Cimolian earth is described by Tournefort as a white chalk, very
heavy, without any taste, and which melts away when it is put into water. The
island is covered with this white chalk, whence Ovid (Met. vii. 463) speaks of
cretosa rura Cimoli. The figs of Cimolus were celebrated by the comic poet Amphis
(Athen. i. p. 306); and though the soil is barren, figs are still produced in
the vallies. Another writer (quoted by Athenaeus, iii. p. 123, d) speaks of certain
caves of the island, in which water being placed became as cold as snow, though
warm before.
Cimolus contained 1200 inhabitants when it was visited by Ross in
1843. The modern town is in the SE. of the island, about a quarter of an hour
from the harbour, which is both small and insecure. In the middle of the west
coast there is a Paleokastron, situated upon a steep rock about 1000 feet in height;
but it appears only to have been built as a place of refuge to be used in times
of danger. The ancient town was situated at Daskalio, also called St. Andrew,
on the S. coast, opposite Melos. Daskalio, or St. Andrew, is the name given to
a rock, distant at present about 200 paces from the island, to which, however,
it was originally united. The whole rock is covered with the remains of houses,
among which Ross noticed a draped female figure of white marble, of good workmanship,
but without head and hands. As long as the rock was united to the island by an
isthmus, there was a good, though small harbour, on the eastern side of the rock.
Around this harbour was the burial-place of the town; and several of the sepulchral
chambers situated above the water were opened at the end of the last and the beginning
of the present centuries, and were found to contain painted vases and golden ornaments,
while above them were stelae with reliefs and inscriptions; but at present nothing
of the kind is discovered. The strip of coast containing the tombs is called Hellenika.
To the E. of Daskalio on the S. coast there is a small rock, containing a ruined
tower, called Pyrgos; and N. of the present town, there is upon the east coast
a good harbour, called Prasa, where there are said to be some Hellenic sepulchral
chambers. This harbour, and the one at Daskalio, are probably the two, which Dicaearchus
assigns to Cimolos (Descript. Graec. 138, p. 463, ed. Fuhr):
Epeita Siphnos kai Kimolos echomene,
Echousa limenas duo.
The Greeks still call the island Cimoli; but it is also called Argentiera, because
a silver mine is said to have been discovered here. Others suppose, however, that
this name may have been given to it even by the ancients from its white cliffs.
(Tournefort, Travels, &c. vol. i. p. 111, seq., transl.; Fiedler, Reise durch
Griechenland, vol. ii. p. 344, seq.; Ross, Reisen auf den Griech. Inseln, vol.
iii. p. 22, seq.)
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ΚΙΝΑΡΟΣ (Νησί) ΛΕΡΟΣ
Cinara or Cinarus (Kinaros: Zinari), a small island in the Aegaean
sea, NE. of Amorgos, named after the artichoke (kinara) which it produced. (Plin.
iv. 12. s. 22; Mel. ii. 7; Athen. ii. p. 70; Colum. x. 235.)
ΚΥΘΝΟΣ (Νησί) ΚΥΚΛΑΔΕΣ
Cythnus (Kuthnos: Eth. Kuthnios: Thermia), an island in the Aegaean
sea, one of the Cyclades, lying between Ceos and Seriphos. (Strab. x. p. 485;
Dicaearch. p. 462, ed. Fuhr.; Scylax, p. 22, ed. Hudson; Plin. iv. 12. s. 20;
Mela, ii. 7; Ptol. iii. 15. § 28.) It was colonised by the Dryopes, whence it
was also called Dryopis. (Herod. viii. 46; Steph. B. s. v.) Its name rarely occurs
in antiquity. The Cythnians sent a trireme and a penteconter to the battle of
Salamis. (Herod.) After the Peloponnesian war they became the subject allies of
Athens, together with the other islanders in the Aegaean; but they never acquired
power or wealth. (Comp. Dem. Peri Suntaxeos, p. 176.) The only native of the island
mentioned by the ancient writers, was Cydias the painter; and its chief celebrity
in (antiquity was owing to its excellent cheeses. (Steph. B. s. v.; Eustath. ad
Dionys. Per. 525; Athen. xii. p. 516; Plin. xiii. 24. s. 27.) Its political constitution,
however, had not escaped the attention of Aristotle. (Harpocrat. s. v. Kuthnioi.)
In the war between Philip and the Romans in B.C. 200, Cythnus was occupied by
a Macedonian garrison. Attalus and the Rhodians laid siege to the city; but being
unable to take it immediately, they quitted the island at the end of a few days,
as the capture of the place was hardly worth the trouble. (Liv. xxxi. 15, 45.)
After the death of Nero, Cythnus is mentioned as the place where a false Nero
made his appearance, and gathered around him many adherents. (Tac. Hist. ii. 8,
9.)
Cythnus contained a town of the same name, situated about the middle
of the western coast of the island, upon the summit and sides of a hill at least
600 feet in height. Its harbour was formed by a small rock lying in front of the
town. The ruins of the ancient town are now called Hebraeokastron. The circuit
of the walls may still be traced, though the greater part of them has disappeared.
Within this circuit Ross noticed two large rectangular substructions, divided
by a passage a few feet in width; they were probably the foundations of two temples
or other public buildings. From the above-mentioned passage a flight of steps
appears to have been cut out of the rock, leading down to the sea. Near these
steps on the descent to the sea are three chambers cut out of the rock, standing
alongside of one another; they were probably a sanctuary, as there is nothing
to indicate that they were sepulchres.
The modern name of the island, Thermia, is derived from some hot springs
on its north-eastern side, which are now much frequented from various parts of
Greece, for the cure of diseases. They are not mentioned by ancient writers, but
appear to have been used in antiquity, as some ancient remains are found near
them. (Tournefort, Voyage, vol. i. p. 251, transl.; Ross, Reisen auf den Griech.
Inseln, vol. i. p. 105; Fiedler, Reise durch Griechenland, vol. ii. p. 95.)
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ΚΥΚΛΑΔΕΣ (Σύμπλεγμα νήσων) ΕΛΛΑΔΑ
Cyclades (Kuklades), a group of islands in the Aegaean Sea, lying to the south of Attica and Euboea, and so called because they lay in a circle (en kukloi) around Delos, the smallest but the most important of them. According to Strabo they were originally only twelve in number; namely, Ceos, Cythnos, Seriphos, Melos, Siphnos, Cimolos, Paros, Naxos, Syros, Myconos, Tenos, Andros. To these Artemidorus added Prepesinthos, Oliaros, and Cyaros, thus making them fifteen. Scylax differs from all other writers in making two groups of Cyclades, a northern and a southern. In the northern he places Ceos, Helena, Cythnos, Seriphos, Siphnos, Paros, Naxos, Delos, Rhene, Scyros (an error probably of the transcriber, for Syros), Myconos, Tenos, Andros. In the southern group he specifies Melos, Cimolos, Oliaros, Sicinos, Thera, Anaphe, Astypalaea. Most authorities, however, make the Cyclades consist of the twelve islands mentioned by Strabo, with the exception that they substitute Rhene or Rheneia for Melos, which is certainly more correct, since Melos scarcely lay within the circle. Accordingly the twelve, taking them in a circle from the NW. are; Ceos, Cythnos, Seriphos, Siphnos, Paros, Naxos, Delos, Rheneia, Myconos, Syros, Tenos, Andros. Mela, probably only through inadvertence, omits Ceos, and names Sicinos instead of Cythnos. Pliny (iv. 12. s. 22) follows Artemidorus in including Prepesinthos, Oliaros and Cyaros.
According to Thucydides (i. 4) the Cyclades were originally inhabited by Carians, who were expelled by Minos. (Comp. Herod. i. 171.) They were afterwards colonized by Ionians and Dorians, principally by the former.
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ΚΩΣ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΔΩΔΕΚΑΝΗΣΟΣ
Cos (Kos, Koos; Cos, P. Mela; Cous, Liv., Tac.; Cea, Plin.: Eth. Koos
(Kotes in modern Greek): Stanko, or Stanchio, a corruption of es tan Ko), an island
in the Myrtoan sea, one of the most renowned of that beautiful chain, which covers
the western shore of Asia Minor. One of its earlier names was Meropis (Thuc. viii.
41), another was Nymphaea (Plin. v. 31. s. 36). It appears from an inscription
mentioned by Ross, that it was called Lango in the time of the Knights. Its situation
is nearly opposite the gulf of Halicarnassus, and it is separated by a narrow
strait from Cnidus and the Triopian promontory. Its length lies NE. and SW. Strabo
gives the names of three promontories, Scandarium on the NE., Lacter on the S.
(with the town of Halisarna near it), and Drecanon on the W. (near the town of
Stomalimne). Its principal city, bearing the name of the island, was near the
first of these promontories, in lat. 36° 53' and long. 27° 17'. The circumference
of the island, according to Strabo (xiv. p. 657), was 550 stadia, and according
to Pliny 100 Roman miles; but neither of these dimensions is correct: the true
circumference is about 65 geographical miles, and the length about 23. The relation
of Cos to the neighbouring coast and islands is vividly illustrated by such voyages
as those which are described in Liv. xxxvii. 16; Lucan viii.244-250; Act. Apost.
xx. xxi.
Tradition connects the earliest Greek inhabitants of Cos with a migration
from Epidaurus; and the common worship of Aesculapius seems to have maintained
a link between the two down to a late period. (Paus, iii. 23. § 4; Muller, Dor.
bk. i. ch. 6.) In Homer we find the people of the island fighting against the
Carians. (Il. ii. 677, 867.) As we approach the period of distinct history, the
city of Cos appears as a member of the Dorian Pentapolis, whose sanctuary was
on the Triopian promontory. (Herod. i. 144.) Under the Athenian rule it had no
walls, and it was first fortified by Alcibiades at the close of the Peloponnesian
War. (Thuc. viii. 108) In subsequent times it shared the general fate of the neighbouring
coasts and islands. For its relations with Rhodes in the wars against Antiochus
and the Romans, see Polyb. xxx. 7; and Livy, l. c. The emperor Claudius bestowed
upon it the privileges of a free state (Tac. Ann. xii. 61), and Antoninus Pius
rebuilt the city, after it had been destoyed by an earthquake. (Paus. viii. 43).
The ancient constitution of the island seems to have been monarchical, and traces
of its continuance are observed in an inscription as late as Vespasian. It was
illustrious as the birthplace of Ptolemy Philadelphus (Theoc. xvii. 57), and of
the painter Apelles, and the physician Hippocrates. An interesting inscription
(Beckh, No. 2502) associates it with Herod the tetrarch, whose father had conferred
many favours on Cos, as we learn from Josephus (B. J. i. 21. § 11).
The present mixed population of Greeks and Turks amounts to about
8000. The island still gives proof of the natural productiveness which was celebrated
by Strabo. It was known in the old world for its ointment and purple dye, but
especially for its wines (Hor. Sat. ii. 4, 29; Pers. Sat. v. 135), and the light
transparent dresses called Coae vestes. (Tibull. ii. 3. 53; Propert. i. 2.) The
island is generally mountainous, especially on the south and west: but there is
a large tract of level and fruitful ground towards the north and east.
The most ancient capital was called Astypalaea, the position of which
is extremely doubtful. The city of Cos itself has continued to our own times.
An unhealthy lagoon, on the north of the modern town, marks the position of the
ancient harbour. Close to it is the Turkish castle, which Christian travellers
are not allowed to enter. In its walls are some elaborate sculptures, which may
perhaps have belonged to the Aslepieium or temple of Aesculapius. This sanctuary
was anciently the object of greatest interest in the island. A school of physicians
was attached to it, and its great collection of votive models made it almost a
museum of anatomy and pathology. Strabo describes the temple as standing in a
suburb of the town: but the site has not been yet positively identified.
An account of Cos will be found in Clarke's Travels, vol. ii. pt.
i. pp. 196-213, and vol. ii. pt. ii. pp. 321-333. But the best description is
in Ross, Reisen nach Kos, Halicarsnassos, u. s. w. (Halle, 1852), with which his
Reisen auf den Griech. Inseln should be compared, vol. ii. pp. 86-92, vol. iii.
pp. 126-139. There is a monograph on the island by Kuster (De Co Insula, Halle,
1833), and a very useful paper on the subject by Col. Leake (in the Trans. of
the Royal Soc. of Literature, vol. i., second series). Both Leake and Ross give
a map of Cos, reduced from the recent survey.
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ΛΕΡΟΣ (Νησί) ΔΩΔΕΚΑΝΗΣΟΣ
Leros (Leros: Eth. Lerios: Leros), a small island of the Aegean, and
belonging to the scattered islands called Sporades. It is situated opposite the
Sinus Iassius, on the north of Calymna, and on the south of Lepsia, at a distance
of 320 stadia from Cos and 350 from Myndus. (Stadiasm. Mar. Magni, § § 246, 250,
252.) According to a statement of Anaximenes of Lampsacus, Leros was,like Icaros,
colonised by Milesians. (Strab. xiv. p. 635.) This was probably done in consequence
of a suggestion of Hecataeus; for on the breaking out of the revolt of the Ionians
against Persia, he advised his countrymen to erect a fortress in the island, and
make it the centre of their operations, if they should be driven from Miletus.
(Herod. v. 125; comp. Thucyd. viii. 27.) Before its occupation by the Milesians,
it was probably inhabited by Dorians. The inhabitants of Leros were notorious
in antiquity for their ill nature, whence Phocylides sang of them: -
Lerioi kakoi, ouch ho men, hus d'ou,
Pantes, plen Prokleous: kai Proklees Lerios.
(Strab. x. p. 487, &c.) The town of Leros was situated on the west of the modern
town, on the south side of the bay, and on the slope of a hill; in this locality,
at least, distinct traces of a town have been discovered by Ross. (Reisen auf
d. Griech. Inseln, ii. p. 119.) The plan of Hecataeus to fortify Leros does not
seem to have been carried into effect. Leros never was an independent community,
but was governed by Miletus, as we must infer from inscriptions, which also show
that Milesians continued to inhabit the island as late as the time of the Romans.
Leros contained a sanctuary of Artemis Parthenos, in which, according to mythology,
the sisters of Meleager were transformed into guinea fowls (meleagrides; Anton.
Lib. 2; comp. Ov. Met. viii. 533, &c.), whence these birds were always kept in
the sanctuary of the goddess. (Athen. xiv. p. 655.) In a valley, about ten minutes'
walk from the sea, a small convent still bears the name of Partheni, and at a
little distance from it there are the ruins of an ancient Christian church, evidently
built upon some ancient foundation, which seems to have been that of the temple
of Artemis Parthenos. This small island, says Ross, though envied on account of
its fertility, its smiling valleys, and its excellent harbours, is nevertheless
scorned by its neighbours, who charge its inhabitants with niggardliness (l. c.
p. 122; comp. Bockh, Corp. Inscript. n. 2263; Ross, Inscript. ined. ii 188.)
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ΛΙΝΔΟΣ (Αρχαία πόλη) ΛΙΝΔΟΣ
Eth. Lindios: Lindos, one of the most important and most ancient towns
in the island of Rhodes, was situated on the eastern coast, a little to the north
of a promontory bearing the same name. The district was in ancient times very
productive in wine and figs, though otherwise it was, and is still, very barren.
(Philostr. Icon. ii. 24.) In the Homeric Catalogue (Il. ii. 656) Lindus, together
with the two other Rhodian cities, Ialysus and Camirus, are said to have taken
part in the war against Troy. Their inhabitants were Dorians, and formed the three
Dorian tribes of the island, Lindus itself being of one the Dorian hexapolis in
the south-west of Asia Minor. Previous to the year B.C. 408, when Rhodes was built,
Lindus, like the other cities, formed a little state by itself, but when Rhodes
was founded, a great part of the population and the common government was transferred
to the new city. (Diod. xii. 75.) Lindus, however, though it lost its political
importance, still remained an interesting place in a religious point of view,
for it contained two ancient and much revered sanctuaries,--one of Athena, hence
called the Lindian, and the other of Heracles. The former was believed to have
been built by Danaus (Diod. v. 58; Callim. Fragm. p. 477, ed. Ernesti), or, according
to others by his daughters on their flight from Egypt. (Herod. ii. 182; Strab.
xiv.; comp. Plin. H. N. xxxiii. 23; Act. Apost. xvii. 17.) The temple of Heracles
was remarkable, according to Lactantius (i. 31), on account of the vituperative
and injurious language with which the worship was conducted. This temple contained
a painting of Heracles by Parrhasius; and Lindus appears to have possessed several
other paintings by the same artist. (Athen. xii., xv.) Lindus also was the native
place of Cleobulus, one of the Seven Sages of Greece; and Athenaeus (viii.) has
preserved a pretty poem ascribed to Cleobulus, and which the Lindian boys used
to sing as they went round collecting money for the return of the swallows in
spring.
The site of Lindus, as described by Strabo, on the side of a hill,
looking towards the south and Alexandria, cannot be mistaken; and the modern neat
little town of Lindos is exactly the spot occupied by the ancient Dorian city.
The place and its many ancient remains have often been visited and described,
and most recently by Ross in his Reisen auf den Griech. Inseln, vols. iii. and
iv., from which it appears that ancient remains are more and more destroyed. There
are many tombs cut in the rocks, some of which have had beautiful architectural
ornaments; the remains of a theatre at the foot of the hill; and on the acropolis
are seen the ruins of two Greek temples, which, to judge from inscriptions, belonged
to the Lindian Athena and Zeus Polieus. The number of inscriptions found at Lindus
is very considerable.
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ΜΑΚΡΟΝΗΣΟΣ (Νησί) ΚΕΑ
Helena (Helene: Eth. Helenaios, Helenites, Heleneios: Makronisi), a long narrow
island, extending along the eastern coast of Attica from Thoricus to Sunium, and
distant from two to four miles from the shore. It was also called Macris (Makris),
from its length (Steph. B. s. v. Helene). Strabo (ix.) describes it as 60 stadia
in length; but its real length is seven geographical miles. It was uninhabited
in antiquity, as it is at the present day; and it was probably only used then,
as it is now, for the pasture of cattle. Both Strabo and Pausanias derive its
name from Helena, the wife of Menelaus: the latter writer supposes that it was
so called because Helena landed here after the capture of Troy; but Strabo identifies
it with the Homeric Cranae, to which Paris fled with Helena (Il. iii. 445), and
supposes that its name was hence changed. into Helena. There cannot, however,
be any doubt that the Homeric Cranae was opposite Gythium in Laconia. (Strab.
ix., x.; Paus. i. 35.1, viii. 14.12; Steph. B. s. v.; Mela, ii. 7; Plin. iv. 12.
s. 20)
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ΜΕΓΙΣΤΗ (ΚΑΣΤΕΛΟΡΙΖΟ) (Νησί) ΔΩΔΕΚΑΝΗΣΟΣ
Megiste (Megiste), an island off the coast of Lycia, opposite to Antiphellus.
It contained a town which, if the reading in Strabo (xiv. p. 666) be correct,
was called Cisthene (Kisthene), but had perished before the time of Pliny (v.
35). There was also an excellent harbour, which appears to have been capable of
containing a whole fleet. (Liv. xxxvii. 22; comp. Steph. B. s. v., who calls the
town Megiste; Ptol. v. 3. § 9; Scylax, p. 39.) The island, which derived its name
from the fact that it is the largest of a group, is now called Kasteloryzo, or
Castel Rosso. The island seems to have been colonised by the Rhodians, or at least
to have been in their possession, for inscriptions found there are composed in
the Doric dialect. There are but few remains of ancient buildings. (Leake, Asia
Minor, p. 184; Fellows, Lycia, pp. 187, &c.)
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ΜΗΛΟΣ (Νησί) ΚΥΚΛΑΔΕΣ
Melos (Melos: Eth. Melios: Milo), an island in the Aegean sea, and
the most south-westerly of the Cyclades, whence it was called Zephyria by Aristotle
(ap. Plin. iv. 12. s. 23; comp. Steph. B. s. v.), and was even placed by Strabo
in the Cretan sea (x. p. 484). The latter writer says (l. c.) that Melos was 700
stadia from the promontory Dictynnaeum in Crete, and the same distance from the
promontory Scyllaeum in Argolis. The island is in reality 70 miles north of the
coast of Crete, and 65 miles east of the coast of Peloponnesus. It is about 14
miles in length and 8 in breadth. Pliny and others describe it as perfectly round
in shape ( insularum rotundissima, Plin. l. c.; Solin. c. 11; Isidor. Orig. xiv.
6); but it more resembles the form of a bow. On the northern side there is a deep
bay, which forms an excellent harbour. The island is said to have borne several
names in more ancient times. Besides that of Zephyria given to it by Aristotle,
it was also called Memblis by Aristides, Mimallis by Callimachus, Siphis and Acyton
by Heracleides (Plin. l. c.), and also Byblis by Stephanus B. (s. v. Melos); the
latter name is said to have been derived from its receiving a colony from the
town of Bybls in Phoenicia. Other writers mention this Phoenician colony, and
Festus derives the name of Melos from the founder of the colony. (Fest. s. v.
Melos.) Some connect the name with melon, an apple, on account of the round shape
of the island. The Phoenician settlement is probable; but we know that it was
colonised at an early period by the Lacedaemonians, and that it continued to be
inhabited by Dorians down to the time of the Peloponnesian War. According to the
Melians themselves, the Lacedaemonians settled in the island 700 years before
this war. (Herod. viii. 48; Thuc. v. 84, 112.) In the Peloponnesian War, the Melians
remained faithful to their mother city. In B.C. 426, the Athenians made an unsuccessful
attempt upon the island; but in 416 they captured the principal town, put all
the adult males to death, sold the women and children into slavery, and colonised
the island afresh by 500 Athenians. (Thuc. v. 84-116; Diod. xii. 80; Strab. l.
c.)
Melos is now called Milo. It is mountainous and of volcanic origin.
Its warm springs, which are now used for bathing, are mentioned in ancient times.
(Plin. xxxi. 6. s. 23; Athen. ii. p. 43.) Pliny says that the best sulphur was
found in Melos (xxxv. 15. s. 50); and among other products of the island he enumerates
alum (xxxv. 15. s. 52), pummice-stone (xxxvi. 21. s. 42), and a bright colour,
called Melinum pigments (xxxv. 6. s. 19; comp. Vitruv. vii. 7; Diosc. v. 180;
Plaut. Most. i. 3. 107). The mines of alum are on the eastern side of the island,
near a height which emits smoke, and has every appearance of having been a volcano.
In the south-western half of the island, the mountains are more rugged and lofty;
the highest summit bears the name of St. Elias. The island produces good wine
and olives, but there is not much care taken in the cultivation of the vine. In
antiquity Melos was celebrated for its kids. (Athen, i. p. 4.) One of its greatest
deficiencies is want of water. The inhabitants of Kastron depend almost exclusively
upon cisterns; and the only spring in the vicinity is to the westward of the ancient
city, on the sea-side, where is a chapel of St. Nicolas.
In ancient times the chief town in the island was called Melos. It
stood upon the great harbour. It is celebrated as the birthplace of Diagoras,
surnamed the Atheist. The town appears to have been small, since it is called
by Thucydides a chorion, not polis; and of the 3000 men who originally composed
the Athenian expedition, the smaller half was sufficient to besiege the place.
(Thuc. v. 84, 114.) The present capital of Melos is named Kastron, and is situated
upon a steep hill above the harbour. The former capital was in the interior, and
was deserted on account of its unhealthy situation. Between Kastron and the northern
shore of the harbour are the ruins of the ancient town, extending down to the
water-side. On the highest part, which is immediately over-looked by the village,
are some remains of polygonal walls, and others of regular masonry with round
towers. The western wall of the city is traceable all the way down the hill from
the summit to the sea: on the east it followed the ridge of some cliffs, but some
foundations remain only in a few places (Leake). Within the enclosure there is
a small hill, on which stand a church of St. Elias and a small monastery, and
which perhaps served in antiquity as a kind of acropolis. Here several architectural
fragments have boon found. On the southeastern side of the hill are some seats
cut out of the rock in a semi-circular form, of which only four remained uncovered
when Ross visited the island in 1843. They appear to have been the upper seats
of a small theatre or odeum, which was perhaps more ancient than the large theatre
mentioned below. In front of these seats is a quadrangular foundation of regular
masonry, of which in one part four or five courses remain. About 40 steps eastward
of this foundation are the remains of a temple or some other public building,
consisting of fragments of a Corinthian capital and part of a cornice. About a
hundred steps SW. is the larger theatre, which was cleared from its rubbish in
1836 by the king of Bavaria, then Crown Prince. The nine lowest rows of seats,
of white marble, are for the most part still remaining, but the theatre, when
entire, extended far up the hill. From the character of its architecture, it may
safely be ascribed to the Roman period. There are no other remains of the ancient
town worthy of notice.
Eastward of the ancient city is a village named Trupete, from the
tombs with which the hill is pierced in every part. Eastward of Trupete is a narrow
valley sloping to the sea, which also contains several sepulchral excavations.
Some of them consist of two chambers, and contain niches for several bodies. There
are, also, tombs in other parts of the island. In these tombs many works of art
and other objects have been discovered; painted vases, gold ornaments, arms, and
utensils of various kinds. Some very interesting Christian catacombs have also
been discovered at Melos, of which Ross has given a description. (Tournefort,
Voyage, vol. i. p. 114, Engl. tr.; Tavernier, Voyage, vol. i. p. 435; Olivier,
Voyage, vol. ii. p. 217; Leake, Northern Greece vol. iii. p. 77; Prokesch, Denkwurdigkeiten,
vol. i. p. 531, vol. ii. p. 200; Fiedler, Reise, vol. ii. p. 369; Ross, Reisen
auf den Griechischen Inseln, vol. iii. pp. 3, 145.)
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ΜΥΚΟΝΟΣ (Νησί) ΚΥΚΛΑΔΕΣ
Myconus (Mukonos: Eth. Mukonios: Mykono), a small island in the Aegaean
sea, lying E. of Delos, and N. of Naxos. Pliny says (iv. 12. s. 22) that it is
15 miles from Delos, which is much greater than the real distance; but Scylax
(p. 55) more correctly describes it as 40 stadia from Rheneia, the island W. of
Delos. Myconus is about 10 miles in length, and 6 in its greatest breadth. It
is in most parts a barren rock, whence Ovid gives it the epithet of humilis (Met.
vii. 463); and the inhabitants had in antiquity a bad reputation on account of
their avarice and meanness (Athen. i. p. 7; hence the proverb Mukonios geiton,
Zenob. Prov. v. 21; Suidas, Hesch., Phot.). The rocks of Myconus are granite,
and the summits of the hills are strewn with immense blocks of this stone. This
circumstance probably gave rise to the fable that the giants subdued by Hercules
lay under Myconus; whence came the proverb, to put all things under Myconus, applied
to those who ranged under one class things naturally separate. (Strab. x. p. 487;
Steph. B. s. v.) The tomb of the Locrian Ajax was also shown at Myconus. (Tzetz.
ad Lycophr. 401.) Of the history of the island we have no account, except the
statement that it was colonised from Athens, by the Nelide Hippocles. (Zenob.
v. 17; Schol. ad Dionys. Per. ap. Geogr. Min. vol. iv. p. 37, Hudson.) Myconus
is mentioned incidentally by Herodotus (vi. 118) and Thucydides (iii. 29). Ancient
writers relate, as one of the peculiarities of Myconus, that the inhabitants lost
their hair at an early age. (Strab. l. c.; Plin. xi. 37. s. 47; Myconi calva omnis
juventus, Donat. ad Ter. Hecyr. iii. 4. 19.) The highest mountain, which is in
the northern part of the island, has a summit with two peaks, whence it is called
Dimastus by Pliny (iv. 12. s. 22). The promontory of Phorbia (phorbia, Ptol. iii.
15. § 29) was probably on the eastern side of the island. Scylax mentions two
cities (Mukonos, haute dipolis, p. 22). Of these one called Myconus occupied the
site of the modern town, which presents, however, scarcely any ancient remains.
The name and position of the other town are unknown. The coins of Myconus are
rare; and in general very few remains of antiquity are found in any part of the
island. (Ross, Reisen auf den Griechischen Inseln, vol. ii. p. 28, seq.)
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited August 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
ΝΑΞΟΣ (Νησί) ΚΥΚΛΑΔΕΣ
Naxos or Naxus (Nachos: Eth. Nachios: Naxia), the largest and most
fertile of the Cyclades, situated in the middle of the Aegean sea, about halfway
between the coasts of Greece and those of Asia Minor. It lies east of Paros, from
which it is separated by a channel about 6 miles wide. It is described by Pliny
(iv. 12. s. 22) as 75 Roman miles in circumference. It is about 19 miles in length,
and 15 in breadth in its widest part. It bore several other names in ancient times.
It was called Strongyle (Strongule) from its round shape, Dionysias (Dionusias)
from its excellent wine and its consequent connection with the worship of Dionysus,
and the Smaller Sicily (mikra Sikelia) from the fertility of its soil (Plin. iv.
12. s. 22; Diod. v. 50-52); but the poets frequently give it the name of Dia (Dia;
comp. Ov. Met. ii. 690, viii. 174.) It is said to have been originally inhabited
by Thracians, and then by Carians, and to have derived its name from Naxos, the
Carian chieftain. (Diod. v. 50, 51; Steph. B. s. v. Nachos.) In the historical
ages it was colonised by Ionians from Attica (Herod. viii. 46), and in consequence
of its position, size, and fertility, it became the most powerful of the Cyclades.
The government of Naxos was orignally an oligarchy, but was overthrown by Lygdamis,
who made himself tyrant of the island. (Aristot. ap. Ath. viii. p. 348.) Lygdamis,
however, appears not to have retained his power long, for we find him assisting
Peisistratus in his third restoration to Athens, and the latter in return subduing
Naxos and committing the tyranny to Lygdamis. (Herod. i. 61, 64; comp. Aristot.
Pol. v, 5.) But new revolutions followed. The aristocratical party appear to have
again got the upper hand; but they were after a short time expelled by the people,
and applied for assistance to Aristagoras of Miletus. The Persians, at the persuasion
of Aristagoras, sent a large force in B.C. 501 to subdue Naxos: the expedition
proved a failure; and Aristagoras, fearing the anger of the Persian court, persuaded
the Ionians to revolt from the great king. (Herod. v. 30-34.) At this period the
Naxians had 8000 hoplites, many ships of war, and numerous slaves. (Herod. v.
30, 31.) From the 8000 hoplites we may conclude that the free population amounted
to 50,000 souls, to which number we may add at least as many slaves. In B.C. 490
the Persians under Datis and Artaphernes landed upon the island, and in revenge
for their former failure laid it waste with fire and sword. Most of the inhabitants
took refuge in the mountains, but those who remained were reduced to slavery,
and their city set on fire. (Herod. vi. 96.) Naxos became a dependency of Persia;
but their four ships, which were sent to the Persian fleet, deserted the latter
and fought on the side of Grecian independence at the battle of Salamis. (Herod.
viii. 46.) They also took part in the battle of Plataeae. (Diod. v. 52.) After
the Persian wars Naxos became a member of the confederacy of Delos under the headship
of Athens; but about B.C. 471 it revolted, and was subdued by the Athenians, who
reduced the Naxians to the condition of subjects, and established 500 Athenian
Cleruchs in the island. (Thuc. i. 98, 137; Plut. Pericl. 11; Paus. i. 27. § 6.)
From this time Naxos is seldom mentioned in ancient history. It was off Naxos
that Chabrias gained a signal victory over the Lacedaemonian fleet in B.C. 376,
which restored to Athens the empire of the sea. (Xen. Hell. v. 4. 60, seq.; Diod.
xv. 34.) During the civil wars of Rome Naxos was for a short time subject to the
Rhodians. (Appian, B.C. v. 7.)
After the capture of Constantinople by the Latins in 1204, the Aegaean
sea fell to the lot of the Venetians; and Marco Sanudo, in 1207, took possession
of Naxos, and founded there a powerful state under the title of the Duchy of the
Aegaean Sea (Dux Aegaei Pelagi). He built the large castle above the town, now
in ruins, and fortified it with 12 towers; His dynasty ruled over the greater
part of the Cyclades for 360 years, and was at length overthrown by the Turks
in 1566. (Finlay, Medieval Greece, p. 320, seq.) Naxos now belongs to the new
kingdom of Greece. Its population does not exceed 12,000, and of these 300 or
400 are Latins, the descendants of the Venetian settlers, many of whom bear the
names of the noblest families of Venice.
The ancient capital of the island, also called Naxos, was situated
upon the NW. coast. Its site is occupied by the modern capital. On a small detached
rock, called Palati, about 50 yards in front of the harbour, are the ruins of
a temple, which tradition calls a temple of Dionysus. The western portal still
remains, consisting of three huge marble slabs, two perpendicular and one laid
across, and is of elegant, though simple workmanship. A drawing of it is given
by Tournefort. Stephanus B. mentions another town in Naxos called Tragia or Tragaea
(s. v. Tragia), but which Ross believes to be the small island Makares, between
Naxos and Donussa. Aristotle also (ap. Athen. viii. p. 348) mentioned a place,
named Lestadae (Lestadai), of which nothing further is known.
In the centre of the island a mountain, now called Zia, rises to the
height of 3000 feet. From its summit 22 islands may be counted; and in the distance
may be seen the outline of the mountains of Asia Minor. This mountain appears
to have been called Drius (Drios) in antiquity (Diod. v. 51); its modern name
is probably derived from the ancient name of the island (Dia). On it there is
a curious Hellenic tower; and near the bottom, on the road towards Philoti, an
inscription, horos Dios Melosiou. Another mountain is called Koronon (to Koronon),
which is evidently an ancient name, and reminds one of the Naxian nymph Coronis,
who brought up the young Dionysus (Diod. v. 52). The mountains of Naxos consist
partly of granite and partly of marble, the latter being scarcely inferior to
that of Paros. Good whetstones were also obtained from Naxos. (Hesych. s. v. Nachia
lithos; Plin. xxxvi. 6. s. 9.) There are several streams in the island, one of
which in ancient times was called Biblus (Biblos, Steph. B. s. v. Bibline).
The fertility of Naxos has been equally celebrated in ancient and
modern times. Herodotus says that it excelled all other islands in prosperity
(v. 28). It produces in abundance corn, oil, wine, and fruit of the finest description.
In consequence of the excellence of its wine Naxos was celebrated in the legends
of Dionysus, particularly those relating to Ariadne. Moreover, the priest of Dionysus
gave his name to the year, like the Archon Eponymus at Athens. (Bockh, Inscr.
2265.) The finest wine of Naxos is now produced at a place called Aperathos. It
is a superior white wine, and is celebrated in the islands of the Aegaean under
the name of Bacchus-Wine.
The plant which produces ladanum is found at Naxos; and in Thevenot's
time it was collected from the beards of goats, in the manner described by Herodotus
(iii. 112). Emery is also found there, particularly in the southern part of the
island, and forms an article of export. The goats of Naxos were celebrated in
antiquity. (Athen. xii. p. 540.)
One of the most remarkable curiosities in the island is an unfinished
colossal figure, still lying in an ancient marble quarry near the northern extremity
of the island. It is about 34 feet in length, and has always been called by the
inhabitants a figure of Apollo. On the side of the hill, at the distance of five
minutes from the statue, we still find the inscription, horos choriou hierou Apollonos.
Ross conjectures that the statue may have been intended as a dedicatory offering
to Delos. (Thevenot, Travels, p. 103, Engl. transl.; Tournefort, Voyage, vol.
i. p. 163, Engl. transl.; Leake, Northern Greece, vol. iii. p. 93; Ross, Reisen
auf den Griech. Inseln, vol. i. p. 22, seq.; Gruter, De Naxo Insula, Hal. 1833
Curtius, Naxos, Berl. 1846.)
This is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited August 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
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