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CHAP. 22.—THE CYCLADES.

Beyond Eubœa, and out in the Myrtoan1 Sea, are numerous other islands; but those more especially famous are, Glau- connesos and the Ægila2. Off the promontory, too, of Geræstus are the Cyclades, lying in a circle around Delos, from which circumstance3 they derive their name. The first of them is the one called Andros4 with a city of the same name, distant from Geræstus ten miles, and from Ceos thirty-nine. Myrsilus tells us that this island was at first called Cauros, and after that Antandros; Callimachus calls it Lasia, and others again Nonagria, Hydrussa, and Epagris. It is ninety-three miles in circumference. At a distance of one mile from Andros and of fifteen from Delos, is Tenos5, with a city of the same name; this island is fifteen miles in length. Aristotle says that it was formerly called Hydrussa, from the abundance of water found here, while some writers call it Ophiussa6. The other islands are, Myconos7, with the mountain of Dimastus8, distant from Delos fifteen9 miles; Siphnus10, formerly called Meropia and Acis, twenty-eight miles in circumference; Seriphus11, twelve miles in circuit; Prepesinthus12; Cythnos13; and then, by far the most famous among the Cyclades, and lying in the very middle of them, Delos14 itself; so famous for its temple of Apollo, and its extensive commerce. This island long floated on the waves, and, as tradition says, was the only one that had never experienced an earthquake, down to the time of M. Varro15; Mucianus however has informed us, that it has been twice so visited. Aristotle states that this island received its name from the fact of its having so suddenly made its appearance16 on emerging from the sea; Aglaosthenes, however, gives it the name of Cynthia, and others of Ortygia17, Asteria, Lagia, Chlamydia, Cynthus, and, from the circumstance of fire having been first discovered here, Pyrpile. Its circumference is five miles only; Mount Cynthus18 here raises his head.

Next to this island is Rhene19, which Anticlides calls by the name of Celadussa, and Callidemus, Artemite; Scyros20, which the old writers have stated to be twenty miles in circumference, but Mucianus 160; Oliaros21; and Paros22, with a city of the same name, distant from Delos thirty-eight miles, and famous for its marble23; it was first called Platea, and after that, Minois. At a distance of seven miles from this last island is Naxos24, with a town of the same name; it is eighteen miles distant from Delos. This island was formerly called Strongyle25, then Dia, and then Dionysias26, in consequence of the fruitfulness of its vineyards; others again have called it the Lesser Sicily, or Callipolis27. It is seventy-five28 miles in circumference—half as large again as Paros.

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

2 Now called Spitilus, and the group of Micronisia, or "Little Islands," according to Hardouin.

3 From κύκλος, "a circle."

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

5 Now Tino.

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

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

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

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

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

11 Now Serpho, lying between Cythnos and Siphnus.

12 Now Fermina, according to Hardouin.

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

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

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

16 From its then becoming δῆλος, "plain," or "manifest." It was after the fall of Corinth that Delos became so famous for its commerce. Its bronze was in great request.

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

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

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

20 Now Syra; famous for its wine and corn.

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

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

23 Chiefly obtained from a mountain called Marpessa.

24 Now Naxia, famous both in ancient and modern times for its re- markable fertility.

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

26 From διόνυσος, or Bacchus, the god of wine.

27 Or "Fine City." It took its other name from the fact of its rivalling the fertility of Sicily.

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

The Natural History. Pliny the Elder. John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S. H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A. London. Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 1855.

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