Page:The Natural History of Pliny.djvu/352

 818 plint's NATUEAL HISTOET. [Book lY. connesos and the ^gila^ Off the promontory, too, of Grersestus are the Cyclades, lying in a circle around Deles, from which circumstance^ they derive their name. The first of them is the one called Andros^ with a city of the same name, distant from Gersestus 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 ot one mile from Andros and of fifteen from Delos, is Tenos"*, with a city of the same name ; this island is fifteen miles in length. Aristotle says that it was formerly called Hy- drussa, from the abundance of water found here, while some writers call it Ophiussa^ The other islands are, Myconos^, with the mountain of Dimastus^, distant from Delos fifteen^ miles ; Siphnus^ formerly called Meropia and Acis, twenty- eight miles in circumference ; Seriphus^°, twelve miles in circuit ; Prepesinthus^^ ; Cythnos^^ ; and then, by far the most famous among the Cyclases, and lying in the very middle of them, Delos ^^ 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 1 Now called Spitilus, and the group of Micronisia, or " Little Islands," according to Hardoviin. ^ From kvkXo?, " a circle." 3 Now Andi'O. It gives name to one of the comedies of Terence. The ruins of the ancient city were found by the G-erman traveller Eoss, who has published a hymn to Isis, in hexameter verse, which he discovered here. It was famous for its wines. 4 Now Tino. ^ From its aboimding in snakes (o^eis) and scorpions. 6 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. 7 So called from its resemblance to two breasts, fxaZoi. 8 Wheeler says that the distance is but tlu-ee miles ; Toumefort, six. ^ Once famous for its gold and silver mines, but equally notorious for the bad character of its people. It is now called Siphno. 1" Now Serpho, lying between Cythnos and Siphnus. ^^ Now Fermina, according to Hardouin. ^- Between Ceos and Seri})hus. 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. ^•* Still called Delos ; and, though so celebrated, nothhig more than a mere rock, five miles in circumference.