.ISLE OF SAMOS. 67 
town 4 . This island, the most conspicuous ob- CHAP. 
ject, not only of the Ionian Sea, but of all the 
JEgean, is less visited, and of course less known, 
than any other: it is one of the largest and 
most considerable of them all; and so near to 
the main land, that it has been affirmed persons 
upon the opposite coasts may hear each other 
speak 5 . The generality of Greek authors de- 
scribe its circumference as equal to eighty-seven 
and a half of our miles. Strata considers it as 
somewhat less: but its surprising elevation and 
relative position, with regard to the lower 
islands of Fourni and Nicaria, make it a land- 
mark all over the Archipelago. According to 
Constant me Porphyrogenitus any very lofty place 
was called Samos 6 . The name of KATABATH 
was antiently given to the terrible rock which 
forms the cape and precipice upon its western 
side, as collecting the clouds, and generating 
thunder: Jupiter the Thunderer being also called 
Zsu$ 7 . One of the monasteries is 
(4) The relative position of these islands seems to be more accu- 
rately delineated in the old Map of ANTIENT GREECE, by Trillium 
Dclislt, dated Paris, October 1707. 
(a) Dapper, p. 190. Amst. 1703. 
(6) See also Tourne/ort, torn. II. lett. 3. Lyon, 1717- 
(7) Kar/3arj Z.iu;, ita.pa. ra xarafiifitiQi* rtt Kifaajvov. Suidas* Jid. 
Poll. lib. i. cap. 1 . Libanius, Legal, ad Julian. Pausan. Eliac. prior 
Pharnutus 
F 2 
