EUROPE. Chios.1 The Scythian cauldrons for cooking_the CHAP. V. flesh of their sacrifices are compared with the Lesbian mixing-vessels, only the former were much larger.2 Hecaton nesi. Tenedos. Lemnos, atrocities there. The HECATONNESI, or Hundred Islands; a group of small islands, of which the real number is reckoned by some at 20, by others at 40, in number. They lay between Lesbos and the continent, and their name, according to Strabo, is derived not from Kaтov, a hundred, but from "Ekaros, a surname of Apollo. Herodotus merely mentions the solitary circumstance of their containing one Aeolian city. TENEDOS he also names as containing one Aeolian city, and having been netted by the Persians like Chios." 7 3 The island of LEMNOS was famous for bloody atroatrofitted cities. In ancient times all the Lemnian women murdered their husbands. Subsequently the island was occupied by the descendants of the Argonauts, called Minyans, who were expelled by the Pelasgians. These Pelasgians carried off the Athenian women from Brauron. The sons of the latter, however, were perpetually fighting with the sons of the Pelasgian women, and accordingly the Pelasgians murdered all the Athenian women and their progeny. In consequence of this atrocity, and of the former murder of the Lemnian husbands by their wives, Lemnian Deeds became a proverb in Greece for all atrocious acts. Lemnos was still inhabited by Pelasgians when taken by Otanes, the general of Darius, against whom they fought bravely. Miltiades subsequently delivered Lemnos from the Persians, and brought it under the sway of Athens, the Hephaestians yielding at once, but the Myrinaeans not surrendering until after the siege.10 Some islands are mentioned as lying off Lemnos, and Onomacritus was discovered in the very act of interpolating among the oracles of Musaeus a prophecy importing that these isles would disappear beneath the sea." IMBROS was taken by the Persians at the same Imbros. 1 vi. 31. 7 iv. 145. 8 9 9 v. 26. CHAP. V. time as Lemnos, and was also inhabited by the EUROPE. Pelasgians.' SAMOTHRACE was celebrated as having been also occupied by Pelasgians who taught the Samothrace mysteries of the Cabeiri." valuable The island of THASOS was visited by Herodotus, Thasos, its who found there a temple of Heracles, which had minele been founded by the Phoenicians five generations before Heracles the son of Amphitryon appeared in Greece.3 The Phoenicians discovered the island and its valuable mines whilst sailing in search of Europa, and being led by Thasus they called it after him. Before the Persian conquest the Thasians derived a clear surplus revenue of 200 talents yearly, and sometimes even 300 talents; of which sum 80 talents came in from the gold mines of Scapte Hyle on the opposite coast of Thrace, whilst the mines in the island itself produced somewhat less, and the produce of the soil was exempt from taxes. Herodotus himself saw the mines in Thasos, and says that the most wonderful were those which were discovered by the Phoenician colonists. These were between Aenira and Coenyra, opposite Samothrace, and a large mountain had been thrown upside down in the search for ore. The Thasians having been besieged by Histiaeus the Milesian, applied their wealth to building ships of war and fortifying their city with a stronger wall; but at the command of Darius they demolished the wall and sent their ships to Abdera.* The entertainment to Xerxes cost the Thasians 400 silver talents." They possessed several cities in Thrace, of which Stryme is mentioned." Next comes the island of SCIATHUS, which is prin- Sciathus. cipally celebrated as being one of the posts of observation at the invasion of Xerxes. Between Sciathus and Magnesia was a sunken rock, called Myrmex or Ant, upon which the crews of three of the ten 1 v. 26; vi. 41. 5 vii. 118. 2 ii. 51. 4 vi. 46, 47. 7 Bobrik makes pua signify a sand-bank; but this is an evident mistake. EUROPE. Persian vessels erected a stone pillar to mark its posiCHAP. V. tion. Three Greek ships were stationed at Sciathus at the Persian invasion, and from thence announced the approach of the enemy by fire signals.' Euboea. The large island of EUBOEA, now called the Negropont, contained the following cities and districts2 Eretria. mentioned by Herodotus. The most important was the town and territory of Eretria, from whence the Gephyraeans of Athens said that they themselves were sprung; but Herodotus found upon diligent inquiry that they formed part of those Phoenicians who came with Cadmus to Boeotia.3 An Eretrian was amongst the suitors for the hand of the daughter of Clisthenes of Sicyon, and at that time it was flourishing. The territory of Eretria also included the towns of Tamynae, Choereae, and Aegilia. The city of Eretria was plundered, its temples fired, and its inhabitants enslaved by the Persians in accordance with the commands of Darius. Eretria sent seven ships to Artemisium, and the same number to Salamis. The people were Ionians, and those who were enslaved by the Persians were transported to a station called Arderica in Cissia.9 Chalcis. 7 6 5 8 The city of Chalcis was situated at the straits of Euripus.10 The most opulent of the Chalcidians were called Hippobotae, and after the defeat of the Chalcidians near Euripus, their lands were occupied by 4000 Athenian settlers." The Chalcidians were Ionians. They manned 20 ships at Artemisium, which were furnished by the Athenians, and the same number at Salamis.2 The city of Styra sent four ships to Artemisium, and the same to Salamis. The Styreans were Dryopes, and also possessed a small island called Aegilia. The following towns and localities are Geraestus. also briefly noticed. Geraestus, where Hermolycus Styra. 14 1 vii. 179-183. 13 2 The Histiaeans dwelt in the north, with the Ellopians in their neighbourhood. In the south were Dryopes. The centre of the island was inhabited chiefly by Ionians, and it was in this part of Euboea that the Athenians planted the colonies of Chalcis and Eretria. 6 viii. 1. 7 viii. 46. 11 Ibid. 12 viii. 1, 46. 3 v. 57. 4 vi. 127. 9 vi. 119. 13 viii. 1, 46. 8 viii. 46. 5 vi. 101. 10 V. .77. 14 vi. 107. |