Lesbos

Lesbos or Lésvos , island (1991 pop. 87,151), c.630 sq mi (1,630 sq km), E Greece, in the Aegean Sea near Turkey. A fertile island, it has vast olive groves and also produces wheat, wine, and citrus fruit. Fishing, tanning, and livestock raising are significant industries. Mitilíni is the island's chief town. Lesbos was a center of Bronze Age civilization and later (c.1000 BC) was settled by Aeolians. The island was a brilliant cultural center from the 7th to the 6th cent. BC, when the poets Alcaeus and Sappho and the statesman Pittacus were active there. Aristotle and Epicurus lived on the island, and Theophrastus was born on Lesbos. Lesbos joined the Delian League and revolted unsuccessfully against Athens in 428-27 BC Later, Lesbos passed to Macedonia, Rome, and the Byzantine Empire. It was taken by the Ottoman Turks in 1462 and became part of Greece in 1913. The island is sometimes known as Mytilene, which is a variation of Mitilíni.

Lesbos (Lesvos or Mylini) Third-largest Greek island, 10km (6mi) off the nw coast of Turkey, in the Aegean Sea; the capital is Mitilíni. Aeolians settled Lesbos in c.1000 bc. In the 7th and 6th centuries bc, it was a cultural centre. It was held at various times by Persia, the Greek city-states, Macedonia, Rome, and Byzantium. The Ottoman Turks occupied the island from 1462 to 1913, when it passed to Greece. Products include olives, wheat, grapes and citrus fruits. Industries: fishing and tourism. Area: c.1630sq km (630sq mi). Pop. (2001) 103,800.

Lesbos (Lésvos), Greece Ægira, Lasia, Pelasgia, Macaria, Pentapolis An island which is also sometimes called Mytilene or Mitilíni after its capital; Midilli in Turkish. It was called Pelasgia after the Pelasgians who were the first inhabitants, Macaria after Macareus, a prominent settler, and Pentapolis alluded to its five cities. The present name, which is pre‐Hellenic, may mean ‘wooded’, although Lesbos was also said to be the son‐in‐law and successor of Macareus. The word ‘lesbian’ is derived from Lesbos on account of the homosexual practices attributed to the poetess Sappho.