EITIKE'A (ancient, Euboia; Turkish, Egripo; Ital. Negroponte), the largest island in the .ągean sea, forms a portion of the present kingdom of Greece. Until recently, it was called Negropont. It is bounded on the n. by the Trikeri channel, and on the w. by those of Talanta and Egripo. It extends is a direction parallel to the mainland; is 105 English statute m. long, and 30 m. in extreme breadth, although in one part its breadth is scarcely 4 miles. At 'the narrowest part, it is connected with the main land by a bridge. The island is intersected by a chain of mountains, running n.w and s.e., and attaining in the center, in the range of Mt. Delphi, an elevation of about 4,500 feet. Copper and other metals are obtained in the island, which also contains numerous hot springs. The pastures are excellent, and the declivities of the mountains covered with forests of fir-trees, The climate is salubrious, the valleys well watered and very fertile, but little cultivated. The chief products are cotton, oil, wine, wheat., fruit, and honey. The inhabitants are'chielly engaged in the breeding of cattle; they export wool, hides, and cheese, as well as oil and grain. The chief towns are Chalets (q.v.) on the
n., and Carystos on the s. coast, the latter having a population of 3,000. E. was peopled in the early historic times chiefly by Ionic Greeks. and afterwards by colonists from Athens, who formed a number of independent cities or states. These were at first monarchical in their constitution, but at a later period democratic. They soon rose to power mid prosperity. After the Persian wars, however, E. was subjugated by the Athenians, under whose rule it continued till they, in their turn, were subdued by Philip of Macedon. By the Romans, it was finally united with the province of Achaia under Vespasian. In 1204, it came into the possession of the Venetians, and received the name of Negroponte. In the year 1470, the island was taken by the Turks, in whose hands it remained till 1821, when the inhabitants rose to vindicate their inde pendence at the of the beautiful Modena M:uurogenia. It now forms a portion of the modern kingdom of Greece, and has a population of (1870) 82,541.