320 pli^j^y's NATUBAL HISTOBT. [Book lY. 
and after that, Minois. At a distance of seven miles from 
tins last island is Naxos^ with a town of the same name ; 
it is eighteen miles distant from Delos. This island was 
formerly called Strongyle^, then Dia, and then Dionysias^, 
in consequence of the fruitfiilness of its vineyards ; others 
again have called it the Lesser Sicily, or Callipolis'^. It is 
seventy-five^ miles in circumference — half as large again as 
Paros. 
CHAP. 23. — THE SPOEADES. 
The islands thus far are considered as belonging to the 
Cyclades ; the rest that follow are the Sporades^ These 
are, Helene', Phacussa, Nicasia, Schinussa, Pholegandros, 
and, at a distance of thirty-eight miles from JSTaxos, Icaros^, 
which has given its name to the surrounding sea, and is the 
same number of miles in length^, with two cities, and a 
third now no longer in existence : this island used formerly 
to be called Doliche, Macris, and Ichthyoessa^^. It is situate 
fifty miles to the north-east of Delos, and thirty-five from the 
island of Samos. Between Euboea and Andros, there is an 
arm of the sea ten miles in width, and from Icaros to 
Grersestus is a distance of 112^ miles. 
1 Now ISTaxia, famous both in ancient and modem times for its re- 
markable fertility. 
2 From (TTpoyyvXos, "round," its shape being somewhat inclined to 
circular, though by Eustathius it is compared to the shape of a vine-leaf. 
It is commonly called Dia by the poets. Tournefort says that it is distant 
forty miles from Delos. ^ From Aiovvaos, or Bacchus, the god of wine. 
4 Or " Fine City." It took its other name from the fact of its rivalling 
the fertihty of Sicily. 
5 According to Brotier, the J esuit Babin, on visiting it, found its cir- 
cumference estimated at tliirty-six miles only. 
6 So calLedfrom lying scattered at random as it were, aTropds "scattered." 
7 Helene is supposed to be the modern Pira; Phacussa, Fecussa; 
!Nicasia, Rachia ; Schinussa, Schinusa ; and Pholegandros, Pohcandro. 
s Now Nikaria, to the west of Samos. According to tradition, it 
derived its name from Icarus, the son of Daedalus, who was believed to 
have fallen into the sea in its vicinity. 
^ Its length is not so great as is here mentioned by Plmy. Its towns 
were Drepanum, or Dracanum, (Enoe, and Isti. 
10 jg^g^ names are from the Grreek, in allusion to its long, 
narrow shape, and the last bears reference to the fact of its shores 
abounding in fish. 
