LESBOS, a historic island of the /Egean Archipelago, off the northwest coast of Asia Minor, since 1913 belonging to Greece, and called by the Greeks Mitilini or Mytilene, from its capital. In shape it is nearly triangular, but on the south there are two deep and nearly land-locked bays; area, 675 square miles. It is mountainous (the highest peak, Mount Olym pus, is 3,077 feet) but fertile and is one of the finest islands of the archipelago. The culti vated fruits include the olive, vine, fig, orange, pomegranate, apricot, pear and apple. The olive is the most important crop, large quantities of oil being produced. Wine, for which the island was anciently famous, is still made, but after antiquated methods. The chief exports are oil, hides, wool, valonia and fruits. There is ex cellent marble, deposits of iron, copper, alum, etc., and thermal springs utilized in the cure of rheumatism and nervous diseases. There are some tanneries, soap-works, numerous oil-mills, earthenware works, etc. The chief town is Castro, near to which are the ruins of Mitylene, the ancient capital. Pop. (estimate of 1914) 182,167.
The island anciently known as Lesbos was famous as a centre of Greek life and civiliza tion. It formerly contained six cities, by far the most important being Mitylene and Me thymna. It was early inhabited by Greeks of the iEolian race. Its inhabitants made an active resistance to the Persians, but were finally obliged to submit (about 540 ac.). After the defeat of the Persians by the Greeks at the battle of Mycale (479 ac.) it became the ally.of Athens. During the Peloponnesian War it revolted from Athens, whereupon an Athenian fleet was sent against it, the walls of Mitylene were demolished and a thousand of the richest inhabitants put to death. The island itself was divided into 3,000 parts, of which 300 were de voted to the service of' the gods, and the rest divided among the Athenians, by whom they were rented to the ancient proprietors. The cities, nevertheless, soon rebelled again. Alex
ander the Great made a treaty with the Les bians after the battle of Granicus; the island was afterward reduced by the Macedonians and subsequently became part of the Roman province of Asia, and it was placed by Con stantine in the Provincia Insularum. Saint Paul passed through the channel between the island and the mainland on his way from Corinth to Jerusalem (Acts xx, 14). In 1462 A.D., after belonging to a Genoese family, the island was taken by Mahommed II. During the War of Independence, the Turkish and Greek squadrons fought a battle off Mitylene 7 Oct. 1824, on which occasion the Turks were defeated and their fleet was destroyed. In con sequence of strained relations between France and Turkey a French fleet was sent to Mitylene 5 Nov. 1901 and remained there till the Porte agreed in full to the demands made. As one of the islands occupied by Greek forces during the Grwco-Turkish War of 1912-13, it fell to that power on the conclusion of peace.
The Lesbians in ancient times were notori ous for their dissolute manners, and the whole island was regarded as the abode of they and licentiousness. At the same time they had the reputation of the highest refinement and of the most distinguished intellectual cultiva tion. Poetry and music made great progress there. The Lesbian school of music was cele brated and is said to have produced musicians superior to all the other musicians of Greece. Among these the most distinguished were Arlon of Methymna and Terpander of Antissa. Alcxus and Sappho, both Lesbians, were es teemed the first in lyric poetry. Pittacus (one of the seven wise men), the philosophers Theo phrastus and Theophanes (the bosom friend of the great Pompey) and the historians Hel lanicus, Myrtilus, etc., were also natives of this island. It was often chosen as a place of resi dence by distinguished foreigners. Epicurus and Aristotle taught there. Consult Tozer, of the AEgean> (London 1890).