AEGEAN SEA, an arm of the Mediterranean sea, between Greece on the west and Asia Minor on the east, and connected by the Dardanelles with the sea of Marmora, and the Black sea. The name archipelago (q.v.) was formerly applied scientifically to this sea. Various derivations suggest origin of "Aegean" from the town of Aegeae, or from Aegea, queen of the Amazons, who per ished in this sea ; or from Aegeus, father of Theseus, who drowned himself here. Structurally the sea is a much-shattered old land block almost entirely submerged, outlined by younger fold-moun tains (being continuations of ranges of Asia Minor), also partly submerged. Both features have accounted for this island-studded sea with its alternating deeps and shallows. Island chains may be traced through Chios, Psara and Skyros to the North Sporades, through Samos, Nikaria, Mykoni, Tinos, Andros and the south east promontory of Euboea, and through Rhodes, Scarpanto, Crete and Cerigo to the south-east promontory of the Pelopon nese. Between the latter chains are the great group of the Cyclades including Naxos, Paros and Milo. Islands in the north ern section of the sea include Thasos, off the Macedonian coast, Samothrace, fronting the Gulf of Saros, and Imbros and Lemnos, in prolongation of the Gallipoli peninsula, while Mitylene lies off the coast of Asia Minor. Important sea basins are those of the Cretan sea with depths of over fathoms, and the trough between Thessaly and the gulf of Saros over 600 fathoms. Many islands are of volcanic formation; and a well-defined volcanic group includes Milo, Kimolos, Santorin (Thira) and Thirasia. The larger islands have some fertile and well-watered valleys and plains. The chief productions are wheat, wine, oil, mastic, figs, raisins, honey, wax, cotton and silk. The people fish for coral and sponges, as well as for bream and mullet. Greece owns most of the islands, but a number collectively known as the Dode canese, including Rhodes, Scarpanto, Kaxo, Astypalaea, Kharki, Symi, Tilos, Nisyros, Kos, Kalymnos, Leros and Patmos and minor ones are in Italian hands. Imbros and Tenedos remain Turkish.