BALEARIS INSULÆ, or the Balearic Islands. The appellation is commonly derived from ΒΑΛΑΡΙ, because the inhabitants were excellent singers. But Bochart makes the name of Punic or Phoenician original, as were the people: Baal-jare, a master, or skillful at
throwing; the Phoenicians and Hebrews being dexterous at the use of the sling. The Greeks called these islands Gymnesia (Strabo); because in summer the inhabitants went naked (Diodorus, Livy), or rather 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 Balearicus, 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 Choradades by Apollonius, and Choradades by Strabo, i. e. "rocky." See MAJORCA and MINORCA.