GREECE. The name by which the mincient, Greeks delighted to call their native country was Hellas (q.v.). The terms Griecia and Grteci were first used by the Romans, being derived probably from a small tribe in Epirus, near Dodona, called Graikoi, with whom the Romans may be supposed to have been, from proximity, best acquainted.
Extent, country, so celebrated in the history of freedom, of literature, of art, of philosophy, and of civilization generally, varied much in size at different periods of its history. Hellas at first was applied only to a small district in Thessaly; at a later period it denoted not only the Mores, and what is commonly called Greece Proper, but also Macedonia, Epirus, and the islands of the YEgean.
Ancient. —The northern limit of ancient Greece may be fixed about the 40th parallel of n. lat.; the s. extremity being in 36° 23'. The barrier separating Greece from Illyricum and Macedonia on the n. was that range of mountains which, starting from the Adriatic as the Ceraunian range, merges into the Cambunian ridge in the center, and runs out into the sea on the e. as the far-famed Olympus. The .,Egean sea washes the country on the e., the Mediterranean on the s., and the Ionian and Adriatic on the west. The greatest length is about 250 English miles, and the greatest breadth 180; the area (not including Epirus, but including Eubcea) is about 21,000 sq.m. —i.e., about two thirds the size of Scotland. The Cyclades are reckoned by themselves. and amount to rather more than 1000 sq. miles. See islands at end of article. (2) Modern. The extent of modern Greece is much more limited. Its n. boundary was fixed in 1834 by a line drawn (in lat. 39° 8' n.) from the gulf of Arta (Ambracia) in the w. to the gulf of Volo (Pagaste) in the e., thus excluding the greater part of Thessaly and much of Acarnan is, with all Epirus. The greatest length of this territory is not more than 200 English miles, and its superficial area, including Eubma, but not the Cyclades, about 15,000 sq.m., or half the size of Scotland.
Physical is essentially a country of mountains, bills, and valleys. From the ridge which forms its northern frontier, there starts in a southerly direction the Pindus chain, the backbone of Greece, dividing Thessaly from Epirus, and giving origin to those numerous streams which water the mainland. About lat. 39°, it sends off two spurs to the e.; Othrys (Gum), which terminates at the gulf of Volo—. and a little further s., CEta (Katavotbra), at the extremity of which is the famous pass of Thermopylm. Some ridges of less note run westward. From this. point the great
central chain extends in a s.e. direction (though with many windings), as far as mount Cithmeron, and even through Attica as far as cape Sunium, under the names of Parnas sus, Helicon, Cithwron, and Hymettus; while in a s.w. course we find many ranges crossing time country towards the Ionian sea and the gulf of Corinth (Lepanto), in a direction parallel with, or slightly inclined to, that of the central chain. The somewhat lateral range of Cithwron and Parties, on the borders of Attica, is extended through Megaris into the Moves or Peloponnesus by a lower ridge,which, passing across the isth mus of Corinth, stretches even to the w. coast. Of this range, the two most conspicuous points are mounts Cyllene and Erymanthus, from which two chains run s on the e. and w. of Arcadia respectively, and under the names Taygetus (Pentcdactylon) and Parson (Malev6), terminate in the promontories of Tamarus and Malea. Besides these, there are many shorter chains and individual peaks, which it would be tedious and out of place to detail. It may be sufficient to state, that there is nc country of Europe, except Switzerland and the w. parts of .Scotland, which can be compared to Greece in the extent, variety, mad irregularity its mountain system. and time number and character of its valleys. otrila t ke:c1 isio us of GrOcce, Arcadia is Most like Switzerland rugged nature and generally elevated surface. Some of the mountain peaks of Greece rise to a great height; thus, Olympus is 9,700 English feet, and is covered with snow: Guiona, on the frontier, 8,240 ft.; Parnassus, 8,001; with many others of 7,000. 6,000, and 5,000. Helicon is 4,963; Cithteron, 4,630; Cyllene, 7,743; while the Acrocorinthus, or citadel of Corinth, is 1869 above the level of the sea. The mountains of Greece are more remarkable for the suddenness of their rise than for their great elevation. So, too. there are many smaller peaks and cones notable for the abruptness with which they spring from the plain, such as the Acrocorinthus, the rock of Ithome, and the Meteora cliffs of Thessaly near the Penaus. These last are huge masses of rock standing out from the plain to heights varying from 100 to 300 or 400 ft., with sides perpendicular as a wall. They assume the shapes of pillars, cones, and other figures more or less regular; they cover a space of nearly two sq.m., the recesses between the pinnacles being filled with trees and dense brushwood. The summits are occupied by monasteries, the only access to which is by baskets, nets, or ladders swung in the air.