BALEARES INSULÆ, or the Balearic Islands. The appellation is commonly derived from BALATIN, because the inhabitants were excellent slingers. But Bochart makes the name of Punic or Phœnician original, as were the people: Baal-jare, a master, or skilful at throwing; the Phœnicians and Hebrews being dexterous at the use of the sling. The Greeks called these islands Gymnesiæ, (Strabo); because in summer the inhabitants went naked, (Diodorus, Livy), or rather
ther because only armed with a sling in war (Hefychius). They are two in number, the Greater and the Less, or Major and Minor; and hence the modern names Majorca and Minorca. The Major is distant from the Minor 30 miles to the west, in length 40 miles, and in circuit 150 (Pliny). They were subdued by Quintus Metellus, thence furnished Balearensis, in the year 120 B. C. The Baleares, together with the adjacent islands, were a part of the Provincia Citerior or Tarraconensis, and of the resort of the Conventus Carthaginensis, or New Carthage. These islands are called Chocorades by Apollonius, and Chocorades by Strabo, i. e. "rocky." See MAJORCA and MINORCA.