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 tlie 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 tliat 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 fi'om its hot springs, wliich are much frequented. 



^•* Still called Delos ; and, though so celebrated, nothhig more than a 

 mere rock, five miles in circumference. 



