486 PLINT's ]!irATURAL HISTORY. [Book V. that Dryussa and then Anthemussa^. To these names Aristocritus has added Melamphyllus^ and Cyparissia'* : other WTiters, again, call it Parthenoarussa^ and Stephane^. The rivers of this island are the Imbrasus, the Chesius, and the Ibettes. There are also the fountains of Gigartho and Leucothea ; and Mount Cercetius. In the vicinity of Samos are the islands of Ehypara, Nymphsea, and Achillea. CHAP. 38. — CHIOS. At a distance of ninety-four miles from Samos is the free island of Chios, its equal in fame, with a town of the same name. Ephorus says, that the ancient name of this island was ^^thalia ; Metrodorus and Cleobulus tell us, that it had the name of Chia from the nymph Chioiie ; others again say, that it was so called from the word signifying snow^ ; it was also called Macris and Pityusa^. It has a mountain called Pelennseus ; and the Chian marble is well known. It is 125^^ miles in circumference, according to the ancient writers ; Isi- dorus however makes it nine more. It is situate between Samos and Lesbos, and, for the most part, lies opposite to Erythrae". The adjacent islands are Thallusa^^, by some writers called Daphnusa'^, CEiiussa, Elaphitis, Euryanassa, and Arginusa, with a town of that name. All these islands are in the vici- nity of Ephesus, as also those called the Islands of Pisistra- tus, Anthinse, Myonnesos, Diarreusa, — in both of these last there were cities, now no longer in existence, — Poroselene^*, ^ From its numerous oaks. 2 From the abundance of its flowers. ^ " Of dark," or " black foliage ; " in allusion probably to its cypresses. ^ " Cypress-bearing."
- This is not improbably a compound, formed by a mistake of the
copyists, of the two names, Parthenia and Aryusa, mentioned by Herachdes, ^ " The Crown." This island was the bu'th-place of Pythagoras. 7 Now known as Khio, Scio, Saka Adassi, or Saksadasi. Chios was declared free by the Dictator Sulla. *• Xnov, gen. Xiovos. ^ Macris, from its length, and Pityusa, from its pine-trees. ^0 Dalechamps says 112 is the correct measm'ement. 1^ Mentioned in C. 31 of the present Book. ^2 Meaning " green and flourishing." 13 " Productive of laurels." None of these islets appear to have been rccogTiized by their modern names. ^^ By Strabo called Pordoselene. He says that the islands ia its
