PELOPONNESUS, (Dionysius), a large peninsula to the south of the rest of Greece; called, as it were, Pelopis nesus or insula, though properly not an island, but a peninsula; yet wanting but little to be one, viz. the isthmus of Corinth, ending in a point like the leaf of the platane or plane-tree. Anciently called Asia and Pelasgia; a peninsula second to no other country for nobleness; situated between two seas, the Egean and Ionian, and resembling a platane leaf, on account of its angular recesses or bays, (Pliny, Strabo, Mela). Strabo adds from Homer, that one of its ancient names was Argos, with the epithet Achaicum, to distinguish it from Theffaly, called Pelasgicum. Divided into six parts; namely, Argolis, Laconica, Messenia, Elis, Achaia, and Arcadia, (Mela). Now called the Morea.