SA'LAMIS, now 1Coltiri, is a small island adjacent to the coast of Attica. It forms the southern boundary of the beautiful Bay of Eleusis, and is only separated from the mainland, at the eastern and western extremities respectively, by a narrow winding channel. The bay is surrounded on the west, north, and cast by the high land of Attica, of which the northern shore of Salamis seems like a continu ation, and thus the bay has the appearance of a large lake. The two channels have deep water, and a vessel may enter the Bay of Eleusie through them with any wind.
The form of the island is very irregular. It greatest length from north to south is about ten miles, and the longest line that can be drawn in the island, from about east to west, is a little more; but the area is probably not above fifty square miles. It produces good honey. There is only one stream in the island, which enters the ace on the south-west coast, and is probably the Bocaros, or Bocalia.s, of Strabo. The village of Koluri, which is situated on the shore of the deep Bay of Koluri, on the west side of the island, with two other villages called Malki and Ambehlkia (vineyards), and a convent, are the inhabited places on the island.
The old city of Salamis, which was deserted in the time of Strabo, stood on the south coast opposite to :Egina; but the city Salamis of Strabo's time was on the small Bay of Ambelikia, and near the peninsula which projects from the eastern part of the island to the shores of Attica, and terminates in Cape Cynosure. (Herod., viii. 76.) About midway between this peninsula and the Piraeus, but not exactly in the strait leading to the Bay of Eleuais, is the small island of Psyttaleia, now Lipsokutetili, which makes a conspicuous figure in the battle of Salamis. (Herod., viii. 95.)
The ancient names of Salamis were Scinsa and Cychreia, derived from ancient heroes. It was also called Pityna3a, from the pines that grew in it. In Homer the island is only called Salami; a name said to be derived from Salamis, the mother of Ampere. About the time of Solon and Pialstratus there was a dispute about the Island between Megaris and Attica, which terminated ID favour of Attica, and from that time the island became one of the Attic demi. In the time of Pauaanias the city was in a ruined state, but he could trace the remains of the agora, and there was a temple of Ajax with a statue of ebony.
The great event in the history of Salamis is the naval battle fought a.e. 480, between the combined Grecian fleet and the Persian fleet under Xerxes. The battle took place chiefly in the eastern strait, which, being a contracted apace, was very unfavourable to the enormous fleet of the Persians. The Persian king saw the battle from the Attie coast, where he hail his seat at the foot of Mount iEgaleos, with his secretaries by his side to register the events of the action. (l Ierod., 90.) The result was the complete defeat of the Persian armament. (Ilerodotas, viii.; dEschylus, Perste; Strabo, p. 393; Pansanlas, i. 35; Leake, On tee Devi of Attica.)