METHA´NA
METHA´NA (τὰ Μέθανα, Paus., Strab., et alii; Μεθώνη1, Thuc. 4.45; Diod. 12.65; Μεθήνη, Ptol. 3.16.12: Méthana), a striking rocky peninsula, connected by a narrow isthmus with the territory of Troezen in Argolis, and containing a city of the same name. Pausanias describes Methana as an isthmus running far into the sea (2.34.1); Thucydides more correctly distinguishes between the isthmus and chersonesus (4.45); and Ptolemy also speaks of the chersonesus (3.16.12). The isthmus is only about 1000 feet broad, but it immediately spreads out equally on both sides; The outline of the peninsula is grand and picturesque. The highest mountain, called Chelóna, which is 2281 (French) feet above the level of the sea, is of a conical form, and was thrown up by a volcano. The whole peninsula bears marks of volcanic agency. The rocks are composed chiefly of that variety of lava called trachyte; and there are hot sulphureous springs, which were used in antiquity for medicinal purposes. Pausanias speaks of hot baths at the distance of 30 stadia from the city of Methana, which were said to have first burst out of the ground in the time of Antigonus, son of Demetrius, king of Macedon, after a violent volcanic eruption. Pausanias adds that there was no cold water for the use of the bather after the warm bath, and that he could not plunge in the sea in consequence of the sea-dogs and other monsters. (Paus. l.c.) Strabo, in describing the same volcanic eruption to which Pausanias alludes, says that a hill 7 stadia high, and fragments of rocks as high as towers, were thrown up; that in the day-time the plain could not be approached in consequence of the heat and sulphureous smell, while at night there was no unpleasant smell, but that the heat thrown out was so great that the sea boiled at the distance of 5 stadia from land, and its waters were troubled for 20 stadia (i. p. 59). Ovid describes, apparently, the same eruption in the lines beginning “Est prope Pittheam tumulus Troezena” (Met. 15.296), and says that a plain was upheaved into a hill by the confined air seeking vent. (Comp. Lyell's Principles of Geology, pp. 10, 11, 9th ed.) The French Commission point out the site of two hot sulphureous springs; one called Vroma, in the middle of the north coast, and the other near a village Vromolímni, a little above the eastern shore. There are traces of ancient baths at both places; but the northern must be those alluded to by Pausanias. The peninsula Methana was part of the territory of Troezen; but the Athenians took possession of the peninsula in the seventh year of the Peloponnesian War, B.C. 425, and fortified the isthmus. (Thuc. 4.45.) There are still traces of an ancient fortification, renewed in the middle ages, and united by means of two forts. In the peninsula there are Hellenic remains of three different mountain fortresses; but the capital lay on the west coast, and the ruins are near the small village of the same name. Part of the walls of the acropolis and an ancient town on the north side still remain. Within the citadel stands a chapel, containing stones belonging to an ancient building, and two inscriptions on marble, one of which refers [p. 2.350]to Isis. This, accordingly, was the site of the temple of Isis, mentioned by Pausanias, who also speaks of statues of Hermes and Hercules, in the Agora. (Leake, Morea vol. ii. p. 453, seq., Peloponnesiaca, p. 278; Boblaye, Récherches, &c. p. 59; Curtius, Peloponnesos, vol. ii. p. 438, seq.)