one of the two groups of islands in the Aegean Sea, the Sporades being the other. They were originally twelve in number, and derived their name from the fact of their lying in a circle round the sacred isle of Delos, which was the smallest of the group. These twelve were Andros, Coos, Cythnos, Delos, Myconos, Naxos, Paros, Rheneia, Seriphos, Siphnos, Syros, and Tenos. To these three were afterwards added, Prepesinthus, Oliaros, and Cyaros, making in all fifteen. The most important of these islands will be found described under their respective heads.