CEPHALO'NIA, or CEFALONIA, the largest of the seven Ionian islands (q,v.), is.• situated' at the entrance of the gulf of Lepanto or Corinth, in lat. 38° 3' to 38° 30' u., and long. 20° 21' to 20° 49' east. It is irregular in shape. Its greatest length is about 30 iu., and its total area 348 sq. miles. Its surface is mountainous, the soil, for the most part thin, and water very scarce. The inhabitants, however, are industrious and enterprising, and have planted vineyards wherever the grape will grow, and currants and olive-oil are also produced for export. The climate is warm and agreeable. The population in 1870 amounted to 77,382. The numbers who are brought up to the medical profession are remarkable; it is said that there is hardly a town in the Levant which has not a prac titioner from Cephalonia. The inhabitants are also much more disposed to engage in foreign trade than those of Corfu or Zante, and own more vessels. In 1874, the exports
amounted to £189,309, and the imports to £240,410. The island is subject to frequent, but slight earthquakes. There was formerly a small English garrison at Cephalonia. Steamers ply between it and Malta, Patras, and Triest. The language spoken is a Greek dialect. The chief towns are Argostoli (q.v.) and Lixuri.
C. is called by Homer Same or Samos, and during the heroic ages was subject to Ulysses, whose residence was in the neighboring isle of Ithaca (q.v.). Later, C. appears under the name of Cephallenia. It successively fell into the hands of the Athenians, Romans, Byzantines, and Venetians, from the last of whom it was several times wrested by the Turks. On the ruin of the Venetian republic in 1797, it was seized by the French, who were in their turn dislodged by the Russians. In 1809, it came into the possession of England. It was ceded to Greece in 1864.