SKYROS (Scyros), an island in the /Egean Sea, belonging to Turkey, lies east of the island of Eubcoa, in 39° 10' N. lat., 25° 12' E. long. The earliest inhabitants were Pelasgians rind Carians, and Dolopcs. Homer records the capture of it by Achilles (' IL,' x. 664), who is said to have been discovered there disguised in female attire before the Trojan war. Theseus was sent into exile to this island, and was murdered by Lycomedee, its king, who became jealous of his popu larity. (Pausan., iii. 6.) In n a. 476 it was taken by Cimon, when the inhabitants were enslaved, and a colony was sent thither from Athens. (Thncyd., i. 98.) Six or seven years after this event the bones of Theseus were removed to Athena. The island afterwards ued out of the hands of the Athenians, but was restored to them by the peace of Antalcidas, n.o. 3S6. It was taken by Demetrius I'oliorcetea, and again given to Athens n.o. 196, in the treaty between Rome and Philip of Macedon. (Livy, xxxiii. 30.) The island is 60 miles round. On the west side is a large bay (Panormo) with several islets, the most western of which, Skyro Poulo, is 8 miles from the nearest part of the island. The harbour here is called Kalamitza by the Greeks, and by the Italians Gem Spiaggia. Opposite to thin, on the other side of the Island, is Port Akhili, named from the Homerio hero Achilles. The isthmus between these two points divides the island into two parts : the southern portion is un cultivated, full of high mountains, iutersected by deep gullies, and rugged and bare, except at their summits, where they are covered with oak, fir, and beech. Mount Cocyla, on the east coast, a little to the south of Port Akhili, is 2588 feet high. At the southern extre mity of the inland is a port called Trimpouchais, or Tabokhi, corruptions of Tre Boche, or the Three Mouths. It is surrounded by
wooded hills, and has three entrances, the one on each aide being about one-third of • mile In width, and the middle one rather narrower. They are all safe and deep. There is a depth of about 20 fathoms water in the centre of the harbour.
The northern division of the island is less mountainous. The town of St. George (Ilagios Giorgioa), on the east coast, covers the north and west sides of a high rocky hill. It contains nearly the whole popu lation of the islaud, which is about 3000. It la the seat of a bishop. On the summit of this hill are the ruins of a castle built during the middle ages, and many houses, all abandoned, which are used by tios ishabitanta to keep stereo in. The houses of Skyros are flat-roofed, of two stories, the lower of stone, the upper of wood, surmounted by terraces covered with earth. This hill was the site of the ancient Acropolis; the remains of Hellenic walls and towers still exist on the bill and its slope towards the town. The greater part of the ancient city lay to the east, near the sea. In this direction there is a large semicircular bastion almost entire. In the neighbourhood of St. George is a plain four square miles in extent, which bears corn, grapes, and figs. There is another at KaIntuit" which is also fertile. Other products of the island are excellent wheat, madder, wine, honey, wax, granges, and lemons. There are a few oxeu, and about 16,003 head of sheep and goats. Felnecas and other vessels are built of mountain pine. Oak-timber is used for fire-wood. The inhabit-I ante of Skyros are good seamen.