Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 11.djvu/27

ISTHMIAN ODES. ISTHMIAN ODES (Gk. 'Ue/uoviKai, Isthmio7iikai, victors in the Isthmian games). Poems of Pindar (q.v.) celebrating the victors in the Ifcthniian games.

ISTHMUS, is'mus (Lat. isthmus, from Gk. i(TBix6i, isfhmos, narrow passage between two seas). In geography, a narrow neck of land joining two portions of land. The name Isthmus was by the ancients often employed without any addition to designate the Isthmus of Corinth, join- ing the Peloponnesus to continental Hellas. At the soutlieast of the Isthmus, was a sacred pre- cinetcontaining templesof Poseidonand Paliemon- Melicertes, where were celebrated the Isthmian Games, one of the four great national festivals of Greece. According to legend, they were estab- lished by Poseidon or Sisyphus in honor of Melicertes, or by Theseus after his victory over Sinis in honor of Poseidon, a version which explained the right of the Athenians to the seats of honor. The regular celebration of the games was dated from B.C. 582. The games seem to have been held every two years, in the spring of the second and fourth years of each Olympiad. The prizes were a palm branch and wreath of parsley during the Greek period, but under the Roman Empire a wreath of fir was substituted. The games were in charge of the Corinthians, and the contests seem to have been those usual at Oljinpia (see Olympic Games), ,to which later musical competitions were added. After the fall of Corinth (B.C. 146) the Sicy- onians continued the games, until the reestablish- nient of the city by Julius Caesar. The contests- were open to all Greeks except the Eleans. Tlie site of the games has been excavated by the French. Near the site of the Isthmian sanctuary can be seen remains of the Diolkos or railway by which, in ancient times, small ships were transported across the Isthmus : and somewhat to the north can be traced the ancient wall by which, at variovis times, the Peloponnesus was protected against invasion. The extant remains belong chiefly to the later Roman Empire or the period of Venetian rule. Consult Ga::ette archc- ologir/ue (Paris, 1884-85). See CoRlNTH, Gulf OF; Corinth Canal.

ISTIR, e-step', or SHTIPLIE, .shtip'lyg. A town of European Turkey, in the Vilayet of Kossovo, situated about 18 miles ea.st of Kiiprili (Map: Balkan Peninsula, D 4). It has a num- ber of mosques and a fine bazaar. Its trade is of considerable importance; the population is estimated at 10.000.

ISTEIA, is'trl-a. An Austrian margraviate and ennvnland, forming part of the modern divi- sion called Kiistenland, or Coast Districts (Map: Austria-Hungary, C 4). It consists' of a penin- sula, the ancient Histria, projecting into the northeast part of the Adriatic Sea, and the islands of Veglia, Cherso, and a few others, cov- ering a total area of 1910 square miles. The peninsula is bordered on the north by Triest, Gcirz and Gradisca, and Carniola. on the east by Fiume, Croatia, and the Bay of Quarnero, and on the south and west by the Adriatic. The penin- sula has well-indented coasts, and is traversed by a chain of rocky mountains from north to soiith, culminating in the peak of Jlonte Maggiore, nearly 4000 feet high. The shores are generally precipitous. The chief streams are the Arsa in the east and the Quieto in the west. The climate is very warm and dry. The severe winds along the coasts are greatly feared by the inhabitants. Istria has little land adapted for tillage, but its pasture lands are extensive a» well as its forests. The climate is favorable to the cultivation of southern fruits, such as olives and figs. Istria also produces an excellent grape, and its Avines are famous. Of mineral products it yields chiefly alum, lignite, and salt. The large forests furnish good material for ships, and ship- building is a very extensive industry. The sea- fishing is also important. The manufacturing industries are as yet undeveloped. Owing to its numerous harbors Istria is one of the most im- portant commercial districts of Austria, and Pola, at the southern end of the peninsula, is the chief naval station of the Empire. The total shipping of all the Istrian harbors amounts to about 6,500,000 tons annually. Istria has a separate Diet of 33 members, and sends 5 repre- sentatives to the Lower House of the Austrian Reichsrat. For administrative purposes it is divided into six districts and the municipality of Rovigno. The population in 1900 was 344,- 173, an increase of 8.4 per cent, for the decade. The population is almost exclusively Roman Catholic. About 40 per cent, of the people are Serbo-Croats, and about 34 per cent. Italians. The capital is the little town of Parenzo. The ancient Istrians belonged to the stock of Illyr- ians, like them were pirates, and were subjected by the Romans under C. Claudius, B.C. 177. Part of their country was later united to Italy, part to Illyricum. It fell into the hands of the Gotha in the fifth century. In the seventh century Slavic peoples penetrated into the region. In the course of the Middle Ages parts of Istria were at different times under the rule of the Byzan- tine emperors, the Franks, the dukes of Carin- thia, margraves of various petty German houses, the Patriarch of Aquileja, the Venetians, the coimts of Gorz, and the House of Austria, the bulk of the peninsula finally remaining in the hands of the Venetians and the northea.stern or German portion in those of Austria. On the extinction of the Venetian Republic, in 1797, the whole of Istria became an Austrian possession.

ISTURIE, e'stoo-reth', (1790-1871). A Spanish statesman, born at Cadiz. An ardent patriot, he was a leader in the Revolution of 1820, and three years later presided at the Cortes, and voted against the Royalists. This stand caused his exile, and lie remained in England until the amnesty of 1834. In 1S30 he was made Minister of Foreign Affairs and Premier. Forced to yield his port- folio during the Revolution of the following August, he became president of the Cortes in 1838. He was now devoted to the cau.se of Queen Maria Christina, and continued to advance her interest and the French alliance by every means in his power. Premier again in 1846, his Minis- try was of short duration, but he afterwards represented his country at the Court of Saint James (1850-54), at Saint Petersburg (1850), and at Paris (1863-64). The revolution of 1868 caused his permanent retirement. IS'TIMBRAS. See.

ISWARA. «sh'w,a-ra (Skt. Uvara, lord). An epithet applied to different Hindu divinities, but in mythological acceptation it mostly designates Siva (q.v.).