A'THOS, O'nos, or 31oN'rE SAN'To, i.e., the Holy hill, the principal moun tain of a chain extending, in a peninsular form, from the coast of Macedonia into the .ZE.gean sea, between the gulfs of Contessa and Monte Santo, and connected with the mainland by a narrow isthmus. The length of the peninsula is 40 in.; breadth, 4 m. Accordinn. to tradition, it received"its name from A., son of Neptune, or from A., a giant who battled against the gods. The highest summit in the chain, or Mt. A. proper, a solitary peak at the southern extremity of the peninsula, rises 6350 ft. above the sea level. In ancient times, several towns were built on A. Herodotus mentions five. The most memorable thing in connection with A., is the canal which Xerxes cut through the isthmus, in order to escape the stormy gales which rendered the navigation round. the promontory very perilous, and which had shattered the fleet of Mardonius some years before. Traces of this canal still exist. In the middle ages, A. was covered with monasteries, of which 20 still remain (besides several hermitages, chapels, etc.). The largest are the monasteries of Ivoron and St. Laura; the richest, Vatoptedi. The entire number of monks who inhabit the "holy hill" is about 8000. They form a kind of
monastic republic under the Turkish government, to which they pay an annual tribute of nearly £4000. The monks follow the rule of Basilius, and lead an ascetic life, engaged chiefly in agriculture, gardening, and the care of bees. In diet, they restrict themselves to herbs, fruits, and fish. They carry on a considerable trade in amulets, images, crucifixes, wooden articles of furniture—all of their own manufacture—and also reap profits from the numerous visits of pilgrims. Karytes, the principal place in the peninsula, is picturesquely situated in the midst of vineyards and gardens, and has 1000 inhabitants. Here the market is held; but no female, even of the animal kind, is per mitted to be present, or even to enter the peninsula. In the middle ages, A. was the center of Greek learning and Christian-Byzantine art. Now, scarcely more than two or three monks, of tolerable education, can be found in a monastery. The libraries are neglected, though containing several beautiful old manuscripts, some specimens of which have been brought to western Europe. They contain, however, little or nothing of value in classical literature.