CHAP. 39.—LESBOS.
But Lesbos4266, distant from Chios sixty-five miles, is the most celebrated of them all. It was formerly called Himerte, Lasia, Pelasgia, Ægira, Æthiope, and Macaria, and is famous for its nine cities. Of these, however, that of Pyrrha has been swallowed up by the sea, Arisbe4267 has perished by an earthquake, and Methymna is now united to Antissa4268; these lie in the vicinity of nine cities of Asia, along a coast of thirty-seven miles. The towns of Agamede and Hiera have also perished. Eresos4269, Pyrrha, and the free city of Mitylene4270, still survive, the last of which was a powerful city for a space of 1500 years. The circumference of the whole island is, according to Isidorus, 168 miles4271, but the older writers say 195. Its mountains are, Lepethymnus, Ordymnus, Macistus, Creon, and Olympus. It is distant seven miles and a half from the nearest point of the mainland. The islands in its vicinity are, Sandaleon, and the five called Leucæ4272; Cydonea4273, which is one of them, contains a warm spring. The Arginussæ4274 are four miles distant from Æge4275; after them come Phellusa4276 and Pedna. Beyond the Hellespont, and opposite the shore of Sigeum, lies Tenedos4277, also known by the names of Leucophrys4278, Phœnice, and Lyrnesos. It is distant from Lesbos fifty-six miles, and twelve and a half from Sigeum.