LESBOS (island)
Greek island located in the northeastern Aegean Sea
- Kind of place
- Island
- Where
- 39.21° N, 26.28° E
The island serves as the capital of the Aeolian cities. Strabo 13.2.1 Mitylene is the largest city on the island. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 5.39 ¶1 Achilles offered sacrifices to Apollo, Artemis, and Leto while there. The Aethiopis fr. 1
Described in the sources
Lesbos is described as a rich island situated in the sea. Athenaeus 11.42 +4 The island is situated opposite the mainland region between Ionia and Mysia, specifically facing the districts of Antandria, Cebrene, Neandria, and Hamaxitus, as well as the territory of Thebe, Lyrnessus, and Pedasus. Pausanias 3.2.1 +3 Lesbos is a land that produces wine, including wine harvested from the Methymna vine, and its wine was ranked alongside those of Thasos and Chios by the physician Erasistratus. Athenaeus 13.71 part 2 +2 The island was formerly known by the name Issa. Diodorus 5.81 +1 The city of Methymna is located 60 stadia from the coast. Athenaeus 11.15 +1 The settlement of Arisba was located on the island of Lesbos. Herodotus 1.151.2 +1 Sappho is stated to have come from this island and is described as its home. Athenaeus 13.71 part 2 +1 The island is noted for producing wines of the best kind, similar to the wine produced on Chios. Strabo 14.1.15 +1 Ulysses wrestled with Philomeleides on the island, and the Achaean crowd cheered him for his victory. Odyssey 17 ¶11 +1 The island of Antissa was taken from the sea and added to Lesbos, while the island of Cydonea is situated in front of it. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 2.106 ¶6 +1
Stories and history
The Achaeans captured the island during their military campaign. Apollodorus, Epitome 3.33 +2 Achilles captured and sacked the well-built island of Lesbos during the Trojan War. Ovid Met. 13.1-438 (8) +2 Wine produced on the island naturally possesses a taste resembling sea-water. Athenaeus 11.42 +1 Mitylene possesses two distinct harbours. Strabo 13.2.2 The Pyrrhæan grove on Lesbos was burned down. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 16.19 ¶2 Myrina founded the city of Mitylene on the island. Diodorus 3.55 Priam's former riches included the contents of Lesbos. Strabo 13.1.7 part 2 The southern harbour of Mitylene can hold 50 triremes. Strabo 13.2.2 The island was laid desolate by the flood of Deucalion. Diodorus 5.81 Some people believe the island separated from Mount Ida. Strabo 1.3.19
Myths set at Lesbos
- The Seizure of Briseis. Agamemnon sends heralds to seize Briseis from Achilles, who had taken her as a war prize from Lesbos. Achilles refuses to yield her, declaring he will no longer fight for the Greeks. Iliad 1 ¶30 +5 Achilles
- The Journey to Troy. Menelaus departs on a critical journey to join the war effort, advised to return swiftly. He travels to Troy with an ally, joins a fleet at Lesbos, and consults the gods for a safe sea route. Odyssey 3 ¶15 +3 Menelaus
- The Fate of the Head and Lyre. After Orpheus's death, his severed head and lyre were carried by the river Hebrus to the shores of Lesbos. A serpent attacked the head, but Phoebus intervened to save it. Ovid Met. 11.1-84 (3) Orpheus