Zacynthus

Zacynthus
/zeuh kin"theuhs, -sin"-/, n.
Latin name of Zante.

* * *

also spelled  Zakynthos , Modern Greek  Zákinthos , French  Zante , Italian  Zacinto 

      island, southernmost and third largest of the Ionian Islands (q.v.) of Greece, lying off the west coast of the Peloponnese. Including the tiny Strotádhes Islands to the south, it constitutes the nomós (department) of Zákinthos. Zacynthus is indented by a deep bay with high cliffs on its south coast. The island has an area of 155 square miles (402 square km), the nomós 157 square miles (407 square km). The centre of Zacynthus is a fertile plain bounded on the west by barren limestone hills, 700 to 1,600 feet (200 to 500 m) high, with many sinkholes and steep sea cliffs. The hills culminate in the 2,480-foot- (756-metre-) high Mount Vrakhiónas. The plain is bounded on the east by a low range of hills. The capital of the island and nomós, Zákinthos town, lies on the east coast on the site of ancient Zacynthus; it is the seat of a metropolitan bishop.

      Zacynthus was named for an ancient Arcadian chief; the 5th-century-BC historian Thucydides said that it was colonized by Achaeans from the Peloponnese. The island was used by the Athenians during the Peloponnesian War and again in 374 BC. The Romans captured it in 211 and 191, annexing Zacynthus to keep it out of the Achaean League.

      Zacynthus was repeatedly pillaged by the Vandals and Saracens, and in 1185 it was taken, along with the islands of Corfu, Cephalonia, and Leucas, by Margarito of Brindisi. From 1194 to 1328 it was held by the Orsini and from 1328 to 1482 was in the possession of the counts of Tocchi. Venice was granted the island in 1485, to prevent its falling to the Turks, and held it until 1797, when it was ceded to France by the Treaty of Campo Formio. After a short Russian occupation, it became (1815) part of the British protectorate of the Ionian Islands; it prospered with the revival of Greek culture. In 1864 Zacynthus was ceded, with the other Ionian Islands, to Greece.

      Both the central plains and eastern hills are cultivated. The chief exports are currants, olive oil, wines, and fresh fruit. Destructive earthquakes were experienced in 1514, 1893, and 1953. The island's buildings were extensively rebuilt after the last earthquake disaster. Pop. (1981) nomós and island, 30,014; city, 9,764.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • ZACYNTHUS — olim Thyrrea, vulgo Il Zante, insul. (cum urbe cognomine a Zacyntho Dardano condita, unde nomen, teste Steph.) maris Ionii, uvarum passarum proventu celebris, Peloponneso ad Occidentem adiacens contra Cheloniten promontor. inter Cephalleniam ad… …   Hofmann J. Lexicon universale

  • Zacynthus — /zeuh kin theuhs, sin /, n. Latin name of Zante …   Useful english dictionary

  • ЗАКИНФ —    • Zacynthus,          Ζάκυνθος, н. Занте, прежде Ύρίη, остров в Ионическом море у западного берега Пелопоннеса, самый южный из всех больших западных греческих островов, прямо на западе от элейского мыса Хелоната; очень плодородный и называемый …   Реальный словарь классических древностей

  • The Mediterranean Caper — Infobox Book | name = The Mediterranean Caper image caption = Hardcover Reissue Edition author = Clive Cussler cover artist = Paul Bacon country = United States language = English series = Dirk Pitt Novels genre = Adventure, Techno thriller novel …   Wikipedia

  • Dardanus — For other uses, see Dardanus (disambiguation). In Greek mythology, Dardanus (Greek: Δάρδανος[1]) was a son of Zeus and Electra, daughter of Atlas, and founder of the city of Dardania on Mount Ida in the Troad. Dionysius of Halicarnassus (1.61–62) …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Pylos — Infobox Military Conflict colour scheme=background:#cccccc caption= conflict=Battle of Pylos partof=the Peloponnesian War date=425 BC place=Pylos result=Athenian victory combatant1=Athens combatant2=Sparta commander1=Demosthenes… …   Wikipedia

  • Zakynthos (person) — In Greek mythology, Zakynthos ( el. Ζάκυνθος) (alternatively Zacynthus) was the son of the legendary Arcadian chief Dardanus. The name, like all similar names ending in nthos, is pre Mycenaean or Pelasgian in origin.Dardanus children by Batea… …   Wikipedia

  • Ionian Islands — a group of Greek islands including Corfu, Levkas, Ithaca, Cephalonia, Paxos, and Zante off the W coast of Greece, and Cerigo off the S coast. * * * ancient Heptanesos Group of seven Greek islands (pop., 2001: 214,274) in the Ionian Sea. They… …   Universalium

  • Vesalius, Andreas — Flemish Andries van Wesel born Dec. 1514, Brussels died June 1564, island of Zacynthus, Republic of Venice Flemish physician. Born into a family of physicians, he studied medicine at the University of Paris. As a lecturer in surgery, he insisted… …   Universalium

  • Dion of Syracuse — Dion (Δίων 408–354 BC), tyrant of Syracuse in Sicily, was the son of Hipparinus, and brother in law of Dionysius I of Syracuse. Contents 1 Family 2 Dionysius the Elder s closest adviser 2.1 The arrival of Plato …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”