CEPH'ALO'NIA, or KEPH'ALLE'NIA (Gk. KccpaXX7p/a, from KEOaXi, head + boos. onus-, donkey). The largest of the Ionian Island.: (q.v.). situated off the coast of Greece. be latitude- :3S anal 3S :3(1' N. and out 21' and •0' 49' E. (nip: Greece. 1; 3). Its greatest length is about 32 miles, and its total area 31)2 square miles. The surface is mountain otts, rising near the centre to an altitude of 3714 feet. The soil is for the most part thin. and water sea rve and the rainfall slight. The climate is warm and dry. but agreeable. Earthquakes are not infrequent. 'the inhabitants are industri ous and enterprising, and have planted vineyards wherever the grape will grow. There is little available land for the cultivation of grain. but the output of fruit is considerable. The chief prod 'lets are olives, currants, and other southern fruits and vegetables, wine. and oil.
'"1'he popula in 1'009 Was s'n.17•;. The language spoken is a Greek dialect. The chief towns are Argostoli 19.v.). the capital. and Lixuri, on the Bay of Livada, on the southwest coast.
Cephalonia is called, by limner, Later the island appears tinder the name of Cephallenia, derived front its inhabitants. It successively fell into the hands of the Athenians, Romans, Byzantines, Normans. and Venetians, from the last of whom it was repeatedly wrested be the Turks. On the fall of the Venetian He public, in 1797, it wits seized by the Freneh, who were in their turn di-lodged by the Russians. In lSo9 it came into the possession of England. It was ceded to Greece in IS64. With Ithaca and some neighboring islets Cephalonia now forms a nomarehy of that kingdom.