an island on the coast of Asia, two hundred stadia in compass, and an hundred in length. Its name is said to be from its situation on the coast of Caria. It lies between Rhodes and Crete, in the sea which, from this island, is called the Carpathian sea, and has to the north the Ionian, to the south the Egyptian, to the west the Cretan and African seas. It is two hundred furlongs in compass, and a hundred in length. It had anciently, according to Strabo, four cities; according to Scylax, only three. Ptolemy mentions but one, which he calls Posidium. This island is now called Scarpano.

CARPÆA, a kind of dance anciently in use among the Athenians and Magnesians, performed by two persons, the one acting a labourer, the other a robber. The labourer, laying by his arms, goes to ploughing and sowing, still looking warily about him as if afraid of being surprized; the robber at length appears; and the labourer, quitting his plough, betakes himself to his arms, and fights in defence of his oxen. The whole was performed to the sound of flutes, and in cadence. Sometimes the robber was overcome and sometimes the labourer; the victor's reward being the oxen and plough. The design of the exercise was to teach and accustom the peasants to defend themselves against the attacks of ruffians.