Εμφανίζονται 14 τίτλοι με αναζήτηση: Πληροφορίες για τον τόπο στην ευρύτερη περιοχή: "ΑΙΟΛΙΑ Σύμπλεγμα νήσων ΙΤΑΛΙΑ" .
ΑΙΟΛΙΑ (Σύμπλεγμα νήσων) ΙΤΑΛΙΑ
Aeoliae, Insulae (Aiolides nesoi, Diod. Aidlou nedoi, Thuc. Strab.),
a group of volcanic islands, lying in the Tyrrhenian Sea to the north of Sicily,
between that island and the coast of Lucania. They derived the name of Aeolian
from some fancied connection with the fabulous island of Aeolus mentioned by Homer
in the Odyssey (x. 1, &c.), but they were also frequently termed Vulcaniae or
Hephaestiae, from their volcanic character, which was ascribed to the subterranean
operations of Vulcan, as well as Liparaean (hai Aiearhaion nedoi, Strab. ii. p.
123), from Lipara the largest and most important among them, from which they still
derive the name of the Lipari Islands.
Ancient authors generally agree in reckoning them as seven in number
(Strab. vi. p. 275 ; Plin. iii. 8. 14; Scymn. Ch. 255; Diod. v. 7; Mela, ii. 7;
Dionys. Perieget. 465; Schol. ad Apoll. Rhod. iii. 41), which is correct, if the
smaller islets be omitted. But there is considerable diversity with regard to
their names, and the confusion has been greatly augmented by some modern geographers.
They are enumerated as follows by Strabo, Diodorus, and Pliny:
1. Lipara still called Lipari; the most considerable of the seven, and
the only one which contained a town of any importance.
2. Hiera situated between Lipara and the coast of Sicily. Its original
name according to Strabo was Thermessa (Xhermessa), or, as Pliny writes it, Therasia,
but it was commonly known to the Greeks as Hierha Hiera HePhhaidton, being considered
sacred to Vulcan on account of the volcanic phenomena which it exhibited. For
the same reason it was called by the Romans Vulcani Insula, from whence its modern
appellation of Vulcano. It is the southernmost of the whole group, and is distant
only 12 G. miles from Capo Calava, the nearest point on the coast of Sicily.
3. Strongyle (Strongnle, now Stromboli), so called from its general roundness
of form (Strab.; Lucil. Aetna, 431): the northernmost of the islands, and like
Hiera an active volcano.
4. Didyme (Didnme), now called Salina, or Isola delle Saline, is next to
Lipara the largest of the whole group. Its ancient name was derived (as Strabo
expressly tells us, vi. p. 276), from its form, which circumstance leaves no doubt
of its being the same with the modern Salina, that island being conspicuous for
two high conical mountains which rise to a height of 3,500 feet (Smyth's Sicily,
p. 272; Ferrara, Campi Flegrei della Sicilia, p. 243; Daubeny, On Volcanoes, p.
262). Groskurd (ad Strab.), Mannert, and Forbiger, have erroneously identified
Didyme with Panaria, and thus thrown the whole subject into confusion. It is distant
only three miles NW. from Lipara.
5. Phoenicusa (Phoinikondda, Strab. Phoinikhodes, Diod.), so called from
the palms (Phoinikes) in which it abounded, is evidently Felicudi about 12 miles
W. of Salina.
6. Ericusa (Erikonssa or Erlihodes), probably named from its abundance
of heath (erheike), is the little island of Alicudi, the westernmost of the whole
group. These two were both very small islands and were occupied only for pasturage.
7. Euonymus (Enhonumos), which we are expressly told was the smallest of
the seven and uninhabited. The other six being clearly identified, there can be
no doubt that this is the island now called Panaria, which is situated between
Lipara and Strongyle, though it does not accord with Strabo's description that
it lies the farthest out to sea (pelaghia mhalidta). But it agrees, better at
least than any other, with his statement that it lay on the left hand as one sailed
from Lipara towards Sicily, from whence he supposes it to have derived its name.
Several small islets adjacent to Panaria, are now called the Dattole,
the largest of which Basiluzzo, is probably the Hicesia of Ptolemy (Hikedhia,
Ptol. iii. 4. § 16; Hikhedion, Eustath. ad Hom. Odyss. x. 1), whose list, with
the exception of this addition, corresponds with that; of Strabo. That of Me]a
(ii. 7) is very confused and erroneous: he is certainly in error in including
Osteodes in the Aeolian group.
The volcanic character of these islands was early noticed by the Greeks:
and Diodorus justly remarks (v. 7) that they had all been evidently at one time
vents of eruptive action, as appeared from their still extant craters, though
in his time two only, Hiera and Strongyle, were active volcanoes. Strabo indeed
appears to speak of volcanic eruptions in the island of Lipara itself, but his
expressions, which are not very precise, may probably refer only to outbreaks
of volcanic vapours and hot springs, such as are still found there. Earlier writers,
as Thucydides and Scymnus Chins, allude to the eruptions of Hiera only, and these
were probably in ancient times the most frequent and violent, as they appear to
have attracted much more attention than those of Strongyle, which is now by far
the most active of the two. Hence arose the idea that this was the abode of Vulcan,
and the peculiar sounds that accompanied its internal agitations were attributed
to the hammers and forges of the god and his workmen the Cyclopes. (Thuc. iii.
88; Scymn. Ch. 257--261; Schol. ad Apoll. Rhod. iii. 41; Virg. Aen. viii. 418).
According to Strabo there were three craters on this island, the largest of which
was in a state of the most violent eruption. Polybius (ap. Strab. vi. p. 276),
who appears to have visited it himself, described the principal crater as five
stadia in circumference, but diminishing gradually to a width of only fifty feet,
and estimated its depth at a stadium. From this crater were vomited forth sometimes
flames, at others red hot stones, cinders and ashes, which were carried to a great
distance. No ancient writer mentions streams of lava (pnakes) similar to those
of Aetna. The intensity and character of these eruptions was said to vary very
much according to the direction of the wind, and from these indications, as well
as the gathering of mists and clouds around the summit, the inhabitants of the
neighbouring island of Lipara professed to foretell the winds and weather, a circumstance
which was believed to have given rise to the fable of Aeolus ruling the winds.
The modern Lipariots still maintain the same pretension. (Strab.; Smyth's Sicily,
p. 270.) At a later period Hiera seems to have abated much of its activity, and
the younger Lucilius (a contemporary of Seneca) speaks of its fires as in a great
measure cooled. (Lucil. Aetn. 437.)
We hear much less from ancient authors of the volcanic phenomena of
Strongyle than those of Hiera: but Diodorus describes them as of similar character,
while Strabo tells us that the eruptions were less violent, but produced a more
brilliant light. Pliny says nearly the same thing: and Mela speaks of both Hiera
and Strongyle as burning with perpetual fire. Lucilius on the contrary (Aetna,
434) describes the latter as merely smoking, and occasionally kindled into a blaze,
but for a short time. Diodorus tells us that the eruptions both of Hiera and Strongyle
were observed for the most part to alternate with those of Aetna, on which account
it was supposed by many that there was a subterranean communication between them.
Besides these ordinary volcanic phenomena, which appear to have been
in ancient times (as they still are in the case of Stromboli) in almost constant
operation, we find mention of several more remarkable and unusual outbursts. The
earliest of these is the one recorded by Aristotle (Meteorol. ii. 8), where he
tells us that in the island of Hiera the earth swelled up with a loud noise, and
rose into the form of a considerable hillock, which at length burst and sent forth
not only vapour, but hot cinders and ashes in such quantities that they covered
the whole city of Lipara, and some of them were carried even to the coast of Italy.
The vent from which they issued (he adds) remained still visible: and this was
probably one of the craters seen by Polybius. At a later period Posidonius described
an eruption that took place in the sea between Hiera and Euonymus, which after
producing a violent agitation of the waters, and destroying all the fish, continued
to pour forth mud, fire and smoke for several days, and ended with giving rise
to a small island of a rock like millstone (lava), on which the praetor T. Flamininus
landed and offered sacrifices. (Posidon. ap. Strab. vi. p. 277.) This event is
mentioned by Posidonius as occurring within his own memory; and from the mention
of Flamininus as praetor it is almost certain that it is the same circumstance
recorded by Pliny (ii. 87) as occurring in Ol. 163. 3, or B.C. 126. The same phenomenon
is less accurately described by Julius Obsequens and Orosius (v. 10), both of
whom confirm the above date: but the last author narrates (iv. 20) at a. much
earlier period (B.C. 186) the sudden emergence from the sea of an island, which
he erroneously supposes to have been the Vulcani Insula itself: but which was
probably no other than the rock now called Vulcanello, situated at the NE. extremity
of Vulcano, and united to that island only by a narrow isthmus formed of volcanic
sand and ashes. It still emits smoke and vapour and contains two small craters.
None of the Aeolian islands, except Lipara, appear to have been inhabited
in ancient times to any extent. Thucydides expressly tells us (iii. 88) that in
his day Lipara alone was inhabited, and the other islands, Strongyle, Didyme,
and Hiera, were cultivated by the Liparaeans; and this statement is confirmed
by Diodorus (v. 9). Strabo however speaks of Euonymus as uninhabited in a manner
that seems to imply that the larger islands were not so: and the remains of ancient.
buildings which have been found not only on Salina and Stromboli, but even on
the little rock of Basiluzzo, prove that they were resorted to by the Romans,
probably for the sake of medical baths, for which the volcanic vapours afforded
every facility. Hiera on the contrary apparently remained always uninhabited,
as it does at the present day. But the excellence of its port (Lucil. Aetn. 442)
rendered it of importance as a naval station, and we find both Hiera and Strongyle
occupied by the fleet of Augustus during the war with Sex. Pompeius in B.C. 36.
(Appian. B.C. v. 105.) All the islands suffered great disadvantage, as they still
do, from the want of water, consequent on the light and porous nature of the volcanic
soil. (Thuc. iii. 88; Smyth's Sicily, p. 249.) But though little adapted for agriculture
they possessed great resources in their stores of alum, sulphur, and pumice, which
were derived both from Hiera and Strongyle, and exported in large quantities.
The sea also abounded in fish; and produced coral of the finest quality. (Plin.
xxxii. 2. § 11, xxxv. 15. § § 50, 52, xxxvi. 21. § 42; Lucil. Aetn. 432.)
It is scarcely necessary to inquire which of the Aeolian islands has
the most claim to be considered as the residence of Aeolus himself. Homer certainly
speaks only of one island, and is followed in this respect by Virgil. But the
floating island of the elder poet, girt all around with a wall of brass, is scarcely
susceptible of any precise geographical determination. The common tradition among
the later Greeks seems to have chosen the island of Lipara itself as the dwelling
of Aeolus, and the explanation of the fable above alluded to is evidently adapted
to this assumption. But Strabo and Pliny both place the abode of the ruler of
the winds in Strongyle, and the latter transfers to that island what others related
of Hiera. Ptolemy on the contrary, by a strange confusion, mentions the island
of Aeolus (Aiholou nedos, iii. 4. § 17) as something altogether distinct from
the Aeolian islands, which he had previously enumerated separately: while Eustathius
(ad Hom. Odyss. x. 1) reckons it as one of the seven, omitting Euonymus to make
room for it, though in another passage (ad Dionys. Per. 461) he follows Strabo's
authority, and identifies it with Strongyle.
For an account of the present state of the Lipari Islands and their
volcanic phenomena the reader may consult Smyth's Sicily, chap. vii. p. 274--278;
Ferrara, Campi Flegrei della Sicilia, p. 199--252; Daubeny, On Volcanoes, ch.
14, pp. 245--263, 2nd edit. The history of the islands is almost wholly dependent
on that of Lipara, and will be found in that article.
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
A group of islands northeast of Sicily, where Aeolus, the god of the winds, reigned. These islands were also called Hephaestiades or Vulcaniae, because Hephaestus or Vulcan was believed to have his workshop in one of them called Hiera. They were also named Liparenses, from Lipara, the largest of them.
The peaks of the volcanic range of which Vesuvius and Aetna are a
part form this archipelago off Cape of Milazzo in NE Sicily. Greek and Roman tombs
have been located at various points on Filicudi; Salina has produced Roman house
walls and Greek and Latin inscriptions; a Roman habitation with a hypogeum, traces
of wall painting and mosaics is located on Basiluzzo, while Stromboli, famous
in antiquity, has yielded millstones and Roman tombs. Of the entire group, Lipari
(ancient Lipara) is of the greatest importance archaeologically.
Pentathlos' Knidians arrived at Lipara in 580 B.C. and settled on
the site of the modern village in the area now known as Castello or la Cittade.
The colony waged a successful struggle against the Etruscans for control of the
Tyrrhenian Sea. During the intervention of Athens in the affairs of the West in
427 B.C., Lipara was allied with Syracuse and withstood the assault of a combined
force of Athenians and Rhegines. Carthaginian forces succeeded in holding the
site briefly during their struggles with Dionysios I in 394, but once they were
gone the polis entered a three-way alliance which included Dionysios' new colony
at Tyndaris. Lipara prospered, but in 304 Agathokles took the town by treachery
and is said to have lost 50 talents worth of pillage from it in a storm at sea.
Lipara became a Carthaginian naval base during the first Punic war, but fell to
C. Aurelius in 252-251, and again to Agrippa in Octavian's campaign against S.
Pompeius. Under the Empire, it was a place of retreat, baths, and exile.
The excavation of Graeco-Roman Lipara is complicated by the existence
of the modern town over the ancient site. The discovery of the necropolis at the
outskirts of the town indicates that the ancient and modern settlements are coterminous.
During excavation a sanctuary to Demeter and Persephone was discovered on the
ancient road leading to the necropolis. The sanctuary, which consisted of an altar
open to the sky within a temenos, has produced a well-dated series of ex voto
dating from the 4th c. to the Roman capture. Near the Comune, portions of the
Greek defense wall of the 4th-3d c. are still visible. At the site of the museum,
the Castello, the construction of the square in front of the cathedral at the
beginning of this century destroyed all archaeological evidence over a large part
of the acropolis, but what remains shows a "tell deposit" 9 m deep from
the Neolithic to the present. Excavation has traced the Graeco-Roman street grid
and has uncovered house remains. The Hellenistic and Roman remains rest on the
prehistoric strata.
There are important collections from Lipari at Palermo, Cefalu, Syracuse,
Glasgow, and Oxford, in addition to the Aeolian Museum at Lipari.
H. L. Allen, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
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