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ELAPHONNE´SUS

ELAPHONNE´SUS (Ἐλαφόνησος), or “deer island,” an island of the Propontis, with a good harbour. (Scylax, p. 35.) Strabo says (p. 588): “As you coast along from Parium to Priapus, there is old Proconnesus and the island now called Proconnesus.” Pliny (5.32) says that “Elaphonnesus is in the Propontis, in front of Cyzicus, whence the marble of Cyzicus; it was also called Nevris and Proconnesus.” Now, as Proconnesus was noted for its marble quarries (Strab. p. 588), which supplied materials for the buildings of Cyzicus, it is plain that Pliny takes Elaphonnesus to be the Proconnesus of Strabo. The name Proconnesus probably means the same as Elaphonnesus (προκ).

Stephanus (s. v. Ἀλώνη) describes Halone as an island close to Cyzicus, which was also called Nebris and Prochone. In the passage of Stephanus the common reading is Νευρίς, as it is in Pliny's text (Nevris); but it is corrected by Harduin (Plin. Nat. 5.42, Notae) and by Meineke (ed. Steph.). Pliny places in the Propontis an island Halone, with a town; and there is an island now called Alon, which is separated from the north-western extremity of the peninsula of Cyzicus by a narrow channel. Some geographers assume this island to be Elaphonnesus, which is manifestly a mistake. The text of Stephanus identifies Halone with Nebris and Prochone, from which we can conclude nothing; and the passage in Strabo is such thatú it is. possible he may mean to speak only of one island. Pliny's statement is free from all ambiguity, and probably true.

[G.L]

hide References (2 total)
  • Cross-references from this page (2):
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 5.32
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 5.42
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