A´STERIS
A´STERIS (
Ἀστερίς, Hom.,
Ἀστεριά), an island between Ithaca and Cephallenia, where the suitors laid in wait for Telemachus on his return from Peloponnesus (
Hom. Od. 4.846).
This island gave rise to considerable dispute among the ancient commentators. Demetrius of Scepsis maintained that it was no longer in existence; but this was denied by Apollodorus, who stated that it contained a town called Alalcomenae. (
Strab. i. p.59, x. pp. 456, 457). Some modern writers identify Asteris with a rocky islet, now called
Dyscallio; but as this island lies at the northern extremity of the strait between Ithaca and Cephallenia, it would not have answered the purpose of the suitors as a place of ambush for a vessel coming from the south. (Mure,
Tour in Greece, vol. i. p. 62; Kruse,
Kellas, vol. ii. pt. ii. p. 454.)