Greek Texts & Translations

to Sigrium, which is the length of the island, 560 stadia, thence to Methymna 210 stadia. ^note

Mitylene, the largest city, lies between Methymna and Malia, at the distance from Malia of 70 stadia, and from Canae of 120, and as many from the Arginussae islands, ^note which are three small islands near the continent, and situated near Canae. In the interval between Mitylene and Methymna, at a village called Aegeirus in the Methymnaean territory, is the narrowest part of the island, having a passage of 20 stadia to the Pyrrhaean Euripus. ^note Pyrrha ^note is situated on the western side of Lesbos, at the distance of 100 stadia from Malia.

Mitylene has two harbours; of which the southern is a close harbour and capable of holding 50 triremes. The northern harbour is large, and deep, and protected by a mole. In front of both lies a small island, which contains a part of the city. Mitylene is well provided with everything. 3

It formerly produced celebrated men, as Pittacus, one of the Seven Wise Men; Alcaeus the poet, and his brother Antimenidas, who, according to Alcaeus, when fighting on the side of the Babylonians, achieved a great exploit, and extricated them from their danger by killing a valiant warrior, the king's wrestler, who was four cubits in height.
Contemporary with these persons flourished Sappho, an extraordinary woman; for at no period within memory has any woman been known at all to be compared to her in poetry.

At this period Mitylene was ruled by many tyrants, in consequence of the dissensions among the citizens. These dissensions are the subject of the poems of Alcaeus called Stasiotica (the Seditions). One of these tyrants was Pittacus: Alcaeus inveighed against him as well as against Myrsilus, Melanchrus the Cleanactidae, and some others; nor was he