Cape Agrilia
Cape Agrilia (Greek: Άκρα Αγριλιά, romanized: Ákra Agriliós), anciently Malea (Ancient Greek: Μαλέα)[1][2] or Malia (Μαλία)[3] or Mania (Μανία),[4] Latin: Malia Promontorium,[5] is the southeasternmost point of the island of Lesbos. It is also known as Agrelias.[5]
Immediately opposite, on the mainland, is Kane Peninsula (anciently known as Cane, Aega, or Aiga) now in Turkey, and the Arginusae islands. During Ottoman rule it was called in Turkish: Zeitun Burun. It is a high and conspicuous point at sea. Xenophon says that the fleet of Callicratidas occupied this station before the sea-fight off Arginusae.[2] There is some obscurity in Xenophon's topography in reference to this place. Thucydides is more confused; he says distinctly that Malea lay to the north of Mytilene, which is inconsistent with the position of Cape Agrilia.[1] Possibly the Malea of Thucydides had some connection with the sanctuary of Apollo Maloeis.
References
- Thucydides. History of the Peloponnesian War. Vol. 3.4, 3.6.
- Xenophon. Hellenica. Vol. 1.6.26-27.
- Strabo. Geographica. Vol. xiii. p.617. Page numbers refer to those of Isaac Casaubon's edition.
- Ptolemy. The Geography. Vol. 5.2.
- Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Malea". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.