: Eth. Χῖος , contracted from Χίϊος; , Scio; Saki Adassi , as
the Turks call it, or Sakisadasi , according to other
authorities), an island of the Aegean, opposite to the peninsula
in which Erythrae was situated. The various fanciful reasons for
the name are collected by Stephanus (s. v. Χίος : comp. Paus.
7.6.4 The earlier names of the island were Aethalia, according
to Ephorus quoted by Pliny (5.31 ), and Macris, an epithet
probably derived from its form, and Pityusa or Pine island, from
the pine forests. (Plin. l.c.; Strab. p. 589.) A strait 5 miles
wide in the narrowest part separates the island from the
mainland of Asia. Seen from the sea to the NE. “the bold and
yellow mountains of Scio form a striking outline against the
blue sky” (Hamilton, Researches, &c. vol. ii. p. 5). Chios lies
from north to south, and its extreme length is about 32 miles.
The greatest width, which is in the northern part, is about 18
miles; and in the narrowest part, which is somewhat nearer to
the southern than the northern ext