Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VIII.djvu/194

 186 GREECE the north of these ; Attica, forming the eastern extremity of the whole peninsula ; and Megaris, on the narrow land N. E. of the isthmus of Cor- inth, and between the Corinthian and Saronic gulfs. The Peloponnesus, including all of Greece S. and W. of the isthmus of Corinth, comprised Achaia and Sicyonia, on the Corinthian gulf; Corinthia, on the isthmus and the Corinthian and Saronic gulfs ; Argolis, Laconia, Messenia, and Elis, all coast countries ; and in the centre, completely surrounded by these, Arcadia. The exact boundaries of all the Greek states were frequently varied by war and political changes, but the divisions named above retained their identity throughout the period of the country's ancient history. The islands which lie in the Ionian and ^Egean seas, and in the Mediterra- nean, within a short distance of the coasts of the peninsula, formed an important part of the ancient Greek possessions. Of these islands, the largest is Euboea, about 100 m. long and 6 to 30 m. wide, lying E. of central Greece. S. E. of this lie the Cyclades, the large group which surrounded the famous holy island of Delos. E. of the Cyclades, and along the Asia- tic coast, extend the Sporades. The islands of Crete and Rhodes lie further S. in the Mediter- ranean sea. Between Attica and Argolis, in the Saronic gulf, are Salamis and j^Egina. Along the W. coast of Greece, in the Ionian sea, ex- tend Corcyra, Paxos, Leucas, Cephallenia, Ith- aca, and Zacynthus, which with Cythera, at the S. extremity of Laconia, are now known as the Ionian islands. The surface of Greece is moun- tainous through almost its whole extent. The continuous range already mentioned as form- ing the N. boundary of the ancient country, including Mt. Olympus and the Cambunian and Ceraunian mountains, is crossed at its centre by the great chain of Pindus, which, running near- ly N. and S. through the middle of northern Greece, formed a natural boundary between ancient Ej>irus and Thessaly. Near its S. end it divides into two branches, one stretching S. E. through central Greece, bearing the names of (Eta, Parnassus, Helicon, Cithseron, and Hy- mettus, and finally terminating at the extrem- ity of Attica ; the other extending S. W. under the names of Corax and the Ozolian moun- tains, and terminating near the W. end of the Corinthian gulf. The mountains of the Pelo- ponnesus, also very numerous and closely con- nected, nevertheless belong to an entirely dif- ferent system from that of the Pindus; in- stead of stretching in long ranges through the peninsula, they are clustered in knots and groups around a lofty central mass, which rises in northern Arcadia to the height of nearly 8,00' ft. The principal peaks of the whole country are as follows : in northern Greece lite. Olympus (9,754 ft.), Ossa (6,407), and Pe- hon (5,000) ; in central Greece, Mts. Parnas- sus (highest summit, 8,068), (Eta (7,071), Heli- con (about 5,000), Cithseron (4,620), and Par- ses OM93); in the Peloponnesus, Cyllene (7,788), Erymanthus (7,297), Taygetus (highest peak, 7,904), Artemisius (5,814), and Lycseus (4,659). The mountain system, the chief ranges of which have been thus described, had a very important effect upon the political as well as the physical divisions of ancient Greece. By dividing with natural walls the habitable and arable plains and less rugged portions of the country one from another, it prescribed the boundaries of states almost as definitely as could have been done by the most exact trea- ties. The rivers of Greece are generally un- important, save on account of their historic associations. Many of the streams are entirely dry during the summer months ; none are navi- gable at any season. In northern Greece the principal rivers are the Achelous, rising in the Pindus in N. E. Epirus, and flowing S. through Epirus and central Greece into the Ionian sea, and the Peneus, also rising in the Pindus, and flowing E. through northern Thessaly into the Thermaic gulf. In central Greece are the Ce- phissus in Phocis and Boeotia, and the Asopus in Boaotia. In the Peloponnesus are the Al- pheus in Arcadia and Elis, and the Eurotas in Laconia. Small lakes are numerous, and there are several of noteworthy size : Nessonis and Boebeis in Thessaly, Trichonis in ^Etolia, Copais in Boeotia, and Stymphalus and several others in Arcadia. The climate of Greece, which is gen- erally temperate and pleasant, would appear to have been more generally healthy in ancient times than of recent years. Such of the clas- sic authors as allude to it, speak of it as pecu- liarly bracing and invigorating, and do not notice the malarial tendencies which now ren- der the summer months unhealthy except in the higher regions. The denser population and the universal cultivation of the land in ancient times probably in part prevented this evil. The mineral and vegetable productions of the coun- try will be noticed in treating of the modern kingdom. Of the fauna of the peninsula it is also unnecessary to speak here, as the races of domesticated animals are the same in modern times as among the ancient peoples ; while the few kinds of wild animals (wolves, wild boars, and bears) did not differ from those common to the southern parts of Europe. Traditions seem to indicate that lions may have been found in the country at a very early period. The questions of the origin and race charac- teristics of the ancient inhabitants of Greece are inextricably connected with the early his- tory of the country ; they are treated to some extent in the articles on the different divisions, and will be further noticed in the historical por- tion of this article. Trustworthy estimates of the numbers of the population, even at the best known periods of Grecian history, are alto- gether wanting. The early history of Greece is involved in obscurity, and confused by tra- dition and fable. Whether the first emigrants from Asia found in Greece aboriginal tribes whom they subdued or with whom they united, or whether they found the land unoccupied, there are no means at present of deciding.