or CEPHALLENIA, an island of the Ionian sea, between Ithaca and Zacynthus, known in Homer's time by the names of Same and Epirus Melena, is about eighty miles in length, forty in breadth, and a hundred and thirty in compass. It had anciently four cities, one of which bore the name of the island. Strabo tells us, that in his time there were only two cities remaining; but Pliny speaks of three; adding, that the ruins of Same, which had been destroyed by the Romans, were still in being. Same was the metropolis of the island, and is supposed to have stood in the place which the Italians call Porto Guiccardo. The names of the four cities were, according to Thucydides, Same, Prone, Cranii, and Pala. This island was subdued by the Thebans, under the conduct of Amphitryon, who is said to have killed Pelopidas, who then reigned here. While Amphitryon was carrying on the war in Cephalenia, then called Samos, one Cephalus, a man of great distinction at Athens, having accidentally killed his wife Procris in shooting at a deer, fled to Amphitryon, who, pitying his case, not only received him kindly, but made him governor of the island, which henceforth was called Cephalenia. After it had been long in subjection to the Thebans, it fell under the power of the Macedonians, and was taken from them by the Aetolians, who held it till it was reduced by M. Fulvius Nobilior, who having gained the metropolis after a four months' siege, sold all the citizens for slaves, adding the whole island to the dominions of the republic. Now called CEPHALONIA.