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CHAP. 38.—CHIOS.

At a distance of ninety-four miles from Samos is the free island of Chios1, its equal in fame, with a town of the same name. Ephorus says, that the ancient name of this island was Æthalia: Metrodorus and Cleobulus tell us, that it had the name of Chia from the nymph Chione; others again say, that it was so called from the word signifying snow2; it was also called Macris and Pityusa3. It has a mountain called Pelennæus; and the Chian Marble is well known. It is 1254 miles in circumference, according to the ancient writers; Isidorus however makes it nine more. It is situate between Samos and Lesbos, and, for the most part, lies opposite to Erythræ5.

The adjacent islands are Thallusa6, by some writers called Daphnusa7, Œnussa, Elaphitis, Euryanassa, and Arginusa, with a town of that name. All these islands are in the vicinity of Ephesus, as also those called the Islands of Pisistratus, Anthinæ, Myonnesos, Diarreusa,—in both of these last there were cities, now no longer in existence,—Poroselene8, with a city of that name, Cerciæ, Halone9, Commone, Illetia, Lepria and Rhesperia, Procusæ, Bolbulæ, Phanæ, Priapos, Syce, Melane, Ænare, Sidusa, Pele, Drymusa10, Anhydros, Scopelos11, Sycussa, Marathussa, Psile, Perirreusa, and many others of no note. In the main sea lies the celebrated island of Teos, with a city12 of that name, seventy-one miles and a half distant from Chios, and the same from the Erythræ.

In the vicinity of Smyrna are the Peristerides13, Carteria, Alopece, Elæussa, Bachina, Pystira, Crommyonnesos, and Megale14. Facing Troas there are the Ascaniæ, and the three islands called Plateæ. We find also the Lamiæ, the two islands called Plitaniæ, Plate, Scopelos, Getone, Arthedon, Cœlæ, Lagussæ, and Didymæ.

1 Now known as Khio, Scio, Saka Adassi, or Saksadasi. Chios was declared free by the Dictator Sulla.

2 Χιὼν gen. Χιόνος.

3 Macris, from its length, and Pityusa, from its pine-trees.

4 Dalechamps says 112 is the correct measurement.

5 Mentioned in C. 31 of the present Book.

6 Meaning "green and flourishing."

7 "Productive of laurels." None of these islets appear to have been recognized by their modern names.

8 By Strabo called Pordoselene. He says that the islands in its vicinity were forty in number; of which Pliny here gives the names of two-and-twenty.

9 South of Proconncsus; now called Aloni.

10 Near the city of Clazomenæ. It is now called Vourla, according to Ansart.

11 Now Koutali, according to Ansart.

12 We learn from Strabo and other writers, that this city was on a peninsula, and that it stood on the southern side of the isthmus, connecting Mount Mimas with the mainland of Lydia. It was the birth-place of Anacreon and Hecatæus.

13 Or the "Dove Islands;" probably from the multitude of those birds found on those islands.

14 Now called Antigona, according to Ansart.

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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  • Cross-references to this page (3):
    • Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), LAGUSSAE
    • Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), SIDUSSA
    • Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), TEOS
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