CHALCIS. (Lat., from Gk. Xa?Kfc, Chalkis). The capital of the island and no marehy of Enlwea, Greece, situated on the Earl pus, the strait which separates the island from lbentia (Slap: Greece. E 3). The Euripus is divided into two channels, of unequal breadth and depth, by a rock, which is surmounted by a castle, partly of Venetian and partly of Turk ish construction. A shallow (Inutile], S5 feet wide, separates the rock from Emotia„ and is crossed by a stone bridge. The main channel, al t 120 feet wide, through which a strong current flows, was at one time crossed by a drawbridge, which has recently been removed in connection with operations for widening and deepening the channel. The site seems to have been occupied in very early times, and during the Ninth and Eighth centuries me. the inhabit ants were active colonizers, specially toward the north, where they gave their name to the Chal eidian peninsula on the :Macedonian coast. They also appear early an allies of the Corinthians in the Greek colonization of Italy and Sicily, where they settled Clime and and gave their alphabet to the Italians. After a long
war with its rival, Eretrin, Chaleis acquired the undisputed headship of Eulsea, and rapidly rose to wealth and importance. Its govern ment was strongly aristocratic, but after a crushing defeat at the hands of the Athenians (we. 506), the nobles were driven out and a democraey established. It subsequently fell un der the power of the Macedonians and Romans, and was at this time a place of great military importance, nearly nine miles in circumference, and had many fine temples, theatres, and other public buildings. Aristotle died at Chalcis. In the Sliddle Ages, it was prosperous under the Venetians, who held it for nearly three centu ries, until its conquest by the Turks in 1470. Not many ancient remains now exit at Chaleis. The streets are narrow, but the houses, many of which owe their origin to the Venetians, are sub stantial and spacious. It suffered from an earthquake in 189.1. Population about 9900.